JERUSALEM, February 15, 2011 (WAFA) – The Israeli Haaretz newspaper revealed Tuesday a joint plan by the West Jerusalem municipality and the Israeli Ministry of Defense to build a military base in East Jerusalem.

Even though the municipality and ministry claim that the base will be built inside the 1967 line on an area of Mount Scopus that was under Israeli control, the newspaper said that the construction plans of the architectural firm hired by the municipality show the base will be located on an area on Mount Scopus that was under Jordanian rule before the 1967 war.

A small enclave on Mount Scopus was under Israeli rule since 1948. However, most of the area in which the base is to be built appears to be on land that belonged to Jordan.

The base will include the command and staff school, the school for national security and the military academy that are currently located in a military base in the Galilee, and will house 1400 permanently based soldiers. The base will also house other learning institutes and recreational centers, said the paper.

Haaretz also said that the United States and Europe are expected to criticize the base, as its building activity is considered problematic and obstruct the peace process.

M.N./F.J.