An-Najah News - “Silicon Valley,” a step by the Israeli occupation authorities to take over more land in Jerusalem this comes after the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem approved the destruction of dozens of Palestinian businesses in Wad al-Joz neighborhood and served eviction notices to dozens of Palestinian facilities and shops, allowing them until December 30 to leave before the demolitions are carried out.

This plan raised concern and anger of the Palestinian businesses in the area, most of them have been there since before the Israeli occupation in 1967.

The technology park, the Silicon Valley, or Wadi Silicon, would result in the confiscation of 2,000 dunums of Palestinian-owned land with a 2.1-billion shekels ($600 million) project, allocates 250,000 square meters.

It falls within the “East Jerusalem City Center” master project, approved by the Israeli occupation’s planning and zoning committee in April.

many owned businesses by the Palestinians will be included in the demolition of over 200 Palestinian shops, restaurants, and facilities such as car repair and parts shops, in the neighborhood to make room for the construction of some 900 hotel rooms.

The project will include the construction of new roads, a light rail, and a settler park near Kedron Valley.

Palestinians have warned of the risks of the project, which would further isolate their neighborhoods in Jerusalem., and ultimately alter the city’s landscape and erase the Arab and historic character of its markets and business districts.