The decision of building over 9,000 houses for Israeli colonists in that airport, closed by the Israeli army two decades ago, is a new provocation, Salem said in a statement.

This official described the strategy of demolition of Palestinian structures in the West Bank and the so-called Holy City as ethnic cleansing.

Built in 1924, the Qalandia Airport is one of the oldest in the Middle East and, therefore, a symbol of Palestine’s sovereignty, he stressed.

This week, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem sped up the project to build those houses.

This initiative would transform the 124-hectare old airport into a new neighborhood, with parks, hotels, public buildings, commercial areas and houses for the Israeli.

A delegation from the European (EU) visited the place some days ago and condemned this project.

mh/aph/msm/rob