Israeli authorities plan to construct more than a hundred new illegal settler units in East al-Quds, irrespective of the international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime’s land grab policies in the Palestinian territories.

The al-Quds Governorate stated on Wednesday that the project, designated Plan No. 1602689, includes construction of 122 units in the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, targets the site of the historic Shepherd Hotel, and will cover an area of approximately 5.8 dunams (1.4 acres) with buildings up to 12 stories high.

According to informed sources, the plan, which remains in its preliminary stages, is scheduled to be presented for the first time to the al-Quds District Planning and Building Committee on November 11.

Amana, the settlement arm of the Gush Emunim movement, is promoting the project and providing construction materials and logistical assistance, along with funding from some regional settlement councils.

The historic Shepherd Hotel was once owned by the Palestinian al-Husseini family. However, it was taken over by Israeli authorities under the so-called Absentees’ Property Law. Ownership was subsequently transferred to settlement organizations, including Ateret Cohanim.

A residential settlement complex comprising numerous housing units was previously constructed adjacent to the hotel. The units have remained vacant since their completion.

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The new plan involves demolishing the current residential structures to make way for a larger illegal settlement project, while retaining the historic hotel building.

The al-Quds Governorate emphasized that the plan comes amid an upsurge in the unlawful settlement expansion activities in the Sheikh Jarrah district, which seek to impose a new reality at the expense of Palestinian communities and forcibly expel the indigenous Palestinian population.

It cautioned that the expansion of Israeli settlements in the neighborhood threatens to fundamentally alter its demographic and geographic character and undermine Palestinians’ rights to their land and property, as part of the Tel Aviv regime’s ongoing efforts to Judaize occupied al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are deemed illegal by the UN as they are built on occupied land. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in several resolutions.