RAMALLAH, Minister of Transport Assem Salem called today upon the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Arab Civil Aviation Organization to urgently intervene to stop the construction of an Israeli settlement neighborhood on the land of the Qalandia Airport in occupied Jerusalem.

In a statement today, Salem said Israel’s approval of the construction of more than 9,000 settlement housing units on the land of the airport was a provocative step that adds to the ongoing attacks by Israeli army and settlers on the Palestinian people, including on schoolchildren.

“The policy of demolishing homes and facilities in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, is ethnic cleansing aimed at displacing Palestinian citizens from their homes to replace them with settlers,” Salem said.

He said these developments coincide with the 20th anniversary of Israel’s destruction of the Yasser Arafat International Airport and the Gaza sea port, describing the new settler neighborhood as a continuation of the aggression and a disregard for international laws.

“Qalandia Airport is located within the pre-1967 borders and is one of the oldest airports in the Middle East. It was established before the so-called occupation state was established, as it was established in 1924 and is a symbol of Palestinian national sovereignty.”

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency