RAMALLAH, October 28, 2009 (WAFA)- Israel has expropriated about 35% of East Jerusalem's territory; over 24,000 dunoms of land (1 dunom=1000m²), from its Palestinian owners despite the fact that, in 20 years, the majority of Jerusalem's population will be Palestinians, the Jordan times reported from a study.

According to the study, compiled by the Germany-based Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Palestinians currently make up 35% of the city's population, compared with 25.5% in 1967. The study added that, 'in the absence of a political agreement on the borders of the city and the status of its Palestinian residents, Jerusalem is approaching a bi-national urban reality.'

The Jordan times said that the study examined the building policies in Jerusalem intended to change the facts on the ground and ensure a solid Jewish majority in the city.

'The study highlights that since 1967, Israeli governments developed building and planning policies that were designed primarily according to the current struggle occurring in Jerusalem. The central tool used by the Israeli governments was the expropriation of land from private hands,' the press release said, adding: 'Since 1967, Israel has expropriated over 24,000 dunoms, mostly from their Palestinian owners.'

The report, prepared in partnership with the Macro Centre for Political Economics, indicated that about 50,000 housing units were built exclusively for the Jewish Israeli population within the framework of new neighborhoods/settlements, while for the Palestinian population, Israel has built less than 600 housing units since 1967, in the scope of government assistance, the most recent of which was over 30 years ago.