Palestinians to launch campaign to defend Jerusalem

A mass conference is to be held in the West Bank city of Ramallah later on Thursday which will mark the launch of a Palestinian campaign to defend East Jerusalem which Palestinians want as capital for a future state.

The conference will be held in the Culture Castle in Ramallah under the auspices of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and other ministers as well as many notables are expected to participate.

The conference will focus on the steps to defend East Jerusalem in a popular campaign, said Khalil al-Tafakji of the Arab Studies Association based in Ramallah which co-sponsored the conference.

Tafakji accused Israel of using four tactics to Judaize Jerusalem -- constructing the separation wall around the city, encouraging Jews to move into East Jerusalem, expanding settlements linking a West Bank settlement with Jerusalem and seizing the Arab properties especially in the East Jerusalem.

Tafakji said the campaign is aimed at defending East Jerusalem and secure it as the capital for a future independent Palestinian state.

Last week, media reports revealed that Israel plans to build 3,500 residential units on occupied West Bank land that will link a Jewish settlement bloc with Jerusalem.

The Palestinians want the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as well as East Jerusalem for an independent state alongside with Israel.