Shitrit: My gov’t rejects the establishment of a Palestinian capital in J’lem

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, — Knesset member Meir Shitrit confirmed on Wednesday his government’s rejection of recognizing occupied Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state in any future negotiations, suggesting establishing it in some Arab neighborhoods east of the holy city.

Shitrit told the Hebrew radio this morning that some Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem could be dispensed of and given to the Palestinians to establish their capital.

He stressed that the holy basin and all Jewish holy sites in the old city of Jerusalem, Wadi Kidron and Al-Zeitoun Mount would remain under Israel’s sovereignty.

For his part, Israeli minister of transport Israel Katz said that the construction will be resumed in all settlements in the West Bank immediately after the freeze decision taken by premier Benjamin Netanyahu comes to an end next September.

Katz added during a visit to Gershon Mesika settlement on Tuesday that the Jews will live in Israel forever and ever and even if a peaceful settlement is reached, the settlement outposts will not be removed.

He also presented a new plan to establish a railway network linking all settlements in the West Bank, Haifa and Jerusalem with each other, noting that American, Chinese and Italian companies are interested in participating in this project.