RAMALLAH, February 7, 2011 ( WAFA) – The Israeli West Jerusalem municipality's announcement on Monday of plans to build two settlements in Sheikh Jarrah, an area in East Jerusalem, is an attempt of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, according to a Palestinian Ministry of Information press release.

The Israeli municipality is working on expelling Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, demolishing their homes and building settlements in their place in favor of Israeli extremist groups.

Settlement activities, regardless of  the timing and mechanisms used, serve Israeli interests by imposing Jewish character on Jerusalem and eliminating Palestinian existence, the ministry said.

It pointed out that claims by extremist Israeli groups to legitimize their seizure of Palestinian homes by claiming land ownership are false. 

The ministry demanded  from the United Nations Security Council to take immediate measures to stop Israeli manipulation of international law to legitimize its control over Jerusalem. 

R.S.