WEST BANK (Dispatches) – The Palestinian Authority has reacted strongly to a recent approval by the Zionist regime’s authorities to build 20,000 new settler units in the occupied holy city of al-Quds.
PA spokesman Yousef al-Mahmoud called the move "an Israeli declaration of war against occupied Jerusalem (al-Quds), its Arabic, Palestinian history, and culture,” the Palestinian-run International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) reported.
The violation came as part of the regime’s constant hostility against the city since 1967, when it occupied the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, including East al-Quds, said al-Mahmoud.
"Israel is constantly trying to alter the geography and demography of the city to claim it as the eternal and unified capital,” the official added.
Further illegal construction by the Zionist regime "will lead the region and the world into more conflicts and violence,” he said, stressing that the occupying regime and the United States were responsible for any deterioration that could result from further expansion of settlements.
Mahmoud said the regime’s violations were being carried out with the "full support" of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.  
Under the new settlement plan for al-Quds which was announced on Wednesday, around 12,600 new settler units and an additional 8,000 units will be built as part of "urban renewal initiative” in existing structures. The plan would also include industrial areas and hotels.
Palestinians want the city’s eastern part as the capital of their future state.
Last December, however, U.S. President Trump said Washington endorsed the regime’s claim to the entire city as the regime’s "capital.”
The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted later in the month in favor of a resolution that called on the U.S. to withdraw the controversial recognition.
The U.S. defiantly moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city in May.

Picture taken on July 24, 2018 shows a view of ongoing construction work at Ramat Shlomo, a settlement in the occupied holy city of al-Quds’ eastern part.