Mapping and planning official in Jerusalem Khalil Al-Tafakji confirmed in a press release that this is the biggest such project and that the plan was formulated by the previous Israeli government and was the first item the new government approved.
The project affects areas from the eastern part of Jerusalem all the way to Bethlehem, and includes infrastructure construction, laying out a railroad, and a number of plants.
The official added the project would in effect achieve the Israeli goal of increasing the Jewish population and changing the demography of the areas concerned.
