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Last update - 09:06 22/03/2009
U.S. furious over Israel's demolition of East Jerusalem homes
By Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya
Tags: Israel news, U.S. 

The dispute between the United States and Israel over the razing of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem is intensifying and will likely become the first clash between the Obama administration and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The U.S. argues that the destruction of homes constitutes a violation of commitments made as part of the road map. Israel says this is a domestic issue of law enforcement and that the future status of Jerusalem is only to be discussed in the final status negotiations.

"Apart from a dispute this issue will lead to nothing," a senior government official told Haaretz.
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U.S. attention to the demolitions began after the visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, catching Israel by surprise. Clinton was highly critical of Israel regarding the matter during her visit. She said that the demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem did not contribute to the peace process. Clinton was under considerable pressure from the Palestinian Authority to condemn the razings. The PA says the demolitions are politically motivated and insists that the issue is a bilateral one between Israel and the Palestinians.

Following Clinton's criticism the State Department asked Israel for detailed clarifications on the issue. Even before Israel had a chance to respond, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat added fuel to the fire by suggesting that Clinton's criticism was baseless.

The Americans reiterated during talks with Israeli officials that the demolitions are a contravention of the road map for peace. An April 2003 document approved by the cabinet states that no punitive action will be taken against Palestinians such as home demolitions.

Senior Foreign Ministry officials who discussed the matter with their U.S. counterparts argued that the East Jerusalem demolitions were not punitive, but rather part of enforcing municipal building codes.

In response to a State Department request Jerusalem prepared a detailed letter on the legal background to the issuing of demolition orders. The Foreign ministry argued that the matter is not a political one, but rather a legal one, and that all demolition orders were approved following a hearing of appeals at the Supreme Court.

The Foreign Ministry also insisted that the matter is internal and suggested that no U.S. involvement is necessary.

A senior political source in Jerusalem said the matter represents a serious disagreement between Israel and the U.S. that will be raised at the start of the dialogue between Washington and the Netanyahu government.

The Israeli embassy in Washington called the issue "sensitive" and said Israel is keen on "restoring the matter to its true proportions so that [the U.S. does] not seek clarification every time a home is demolished in East Jerusalem."

An Israeli diplomat added that "We intend to go to great lengths to reassure the American administration."

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      1.   first test of american seriousness? 03:49  |  David 22/03/09
      2.   always good with the gab 03:55  |  VIPER 22/03/09
      3.   Israel`s need for continued supply of a glut of US weapons... 03:57  |  Maureen Ann 22/03/09
      4.   Honest broker? 03:57  |  Frank 22/03/09
      5.   No Logical Continuity 04:00  |  Matthew Houston 22/03/09
      6.   SHOW ME THAT ARABS ARE DOING WHAT THEY SAID, THEY R SENDING BOMBE 04:19  |  JEW 22/03/09
      7.   AMAZING! 04:20  |  indrajaya 22/03/09
      8.   Get Real #1 Muslims will NEVER make peace with Jews 04:32  |  Nashville Katz 22/03/09
      9.   What? 04:36  |  John Smith 22/03/09
      10.   Demolitions a matter of Legality? How? East Jerusalem is Occupied 05:00  |  Monitor 22/03/09
      11.   Just stand firm 05:06  |  Moshe 22/03/09
      12.   Hypocritical USA 05:06  |  Ori 22/03/09
      13.   constitutes a violation of commitments 05:09  |  vik 22/03/09
      14.   To Matthew Houston (# 2). Do you really want an answer? 05:11  |  flyingdoc57 22/03/09
      15.   Response to Mr. Nashville Katz 05:15  |  Muslim 22/03/09
      16.   To Answer John Smith 05:20  |  Shane 22/03/09
      17.   #6, response to "What?" 05:30  |  Link 22/03/09
      18.   to Nashville Katz #5 05:41  |  zeev 22/03/09
      19.   Well it is their land 05:55  |  Marilyn 22/03/09
      20.   How about home demolitions in the Bronx? 06:01  |  I 22/03/09
      21.   To #8: United States has $3billion rights to interfere 06:06  |  Jason 22/03/09
      22.   Unhelpful acts 06:09  |  David 22/03/09
      23.   Roadmap is long dead 06:30  |  judith 22/03/09
      24.   Is Israel supposed to build Palestine now ! 06:30  |  Akram Zekaria 22/03/09
      25.   Response to #11 "Muslim" Some Muslims or MOST Muslims? 07:02  |  Nashville Katz 22/03/09
      26.   Obama is Lost in a Surreal Haze & knows not what he Says 07:09  |  david 22/03/09
      27.   CHUTZPA! 07:30  |  jon 22/03/09
      28.   The Arabs of Israel spit in the well from which they drink. 07:40  |  Jean Van Daem 22/03/09
      29.   response to #3 and #12 08:19  |  spewie 22/03/09
      30.   SURPRISE! 08:22  |  PADDY 22/03/09
      31.   Flying doc - is Judaism a peaceful religion? 08:22  |  Palestinian Brit 22/03/09
      32.   What is this talk about a Palestinian State when the Palestinians 08:24  |  Akram Zekaria 22/03/09
      33.   Jason - That we PAY BACK with Jewish blood. ALL of Jerusalem 08:49  |  B 22/03/09
      34.   Uncle Sam!! 08:56  |  brett 22/03/09
      35.   This issue is indeed central to US and global interests 09:07  |  Ivar 22/03/09
      36.   Such a wonderfully circular argument.... 09:17  |  Johnboy 22/03/09
      37.   The US wants Israel to re-open orient house then evac E.Jerusalem 09:20  |  EL 22/03/09
      38.   No 23 - 2 state solution finished 09:23  |  Palestinian Brit 22/03/09
      39.   Road map? 09:25  |  Alan 22/03/09
      40.   N0. 19. The well first belonged to them! 09:27  |  Palestinian Brit 22/03/09
      41.   WHO CARES?IT`S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS OBAMA;DC DOES NOT OWN ISRAEL 09:49  |  glenna 22/03/09
      42.   To #19: the US has $6billion rights to intefere not $3billion! 10:01  |  ramin 22/03/09
      43.   EL - Mrs Clinton has just begun.... 10:15  |  Palestinian Brit 22/03/09
      44.   Palestinian Brit needs a history lesson 10:20  |  Md 22/03/09
      45.   #31 - do your research 10:28  |  Md 22/03/09
      46.   Md - were you born in Jerusalem? 10:32  |  Palestinian Brit 22/03/09
      47.   Israel and the end as we know it! 10:36  |  alan 22/03/09
      48.   An eye for an eye? 10:42  |  Palestinian Brit 22/03/09
      49.   Recognise Jewish history and heritage 10:52  |  Gilad 22/03/09
      50.   Domistic affair? 10:53  |  Evert 22/03/09
      51.   But it`s high time the USA showed some genuine clout... 11:03  |  Esther 22/03/09
      52.   Hypocricy 11:04  |  Friend 22/03/09
      53.   by the way 11:12  |  Md 22/03/09
      54.   #12 Ori 11:13  |  Ernst 22/03/09
      55.   Laughable 11:18  |  Faramarz 22/03/09
      56.   West Bank Settelement Activity 11:26  |  nate 22/03/09
      57.   WHAT ROAD MAP ??? IT DIED WITH ARAFAT 11:32  |  v hardman 22/03/09
      58.   To 18 11:39  |  Guido 22/03/09
      59.   Israel furious over US tals with Iran 11:46  |  Ralph 22/03/09
      60.   U.S. furious over Israel`s demolition !!! 11:47  |  Ralph 22/03/09
      61.   A real U.S. fury or a "faked one"..... 11:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/03/09
      62.   @8: WillJews ever be able to make Peace with Muslims, Mr. Real? 12:29  |  Goy 22/03/09
      63.   Lets be fair. Jerusalem is always newsworthy. 12:31  |  Stephen. 22/03/09
      64.   Israel jumps into the Sea 12:32  |  fritz t. 22/03/09
      65.   Obama is to the Jihadists what Chamberlain was to the Nazis. 12:35  |  Ohev Tsion 22/03/09
      66.   to Akram Zekaria #32 12:41  |  zeev 22/03/09
      67.   Let us look at who own what 12:49  |  Jackie 22/03/09
      68.   Not a huge deal - it will be settled. Jerusalem 12:52  |  17 22/03/09
      69.   Israel is not bound by her commitments 13:09  |  Colin Wright 22/03/09
      70.   to Akram Zekaria #24 13:14  |  zeev 22/03/09
      71.   what is Netanyahoo thinking? 13:32  |  tad chase 22/03/09
      72.   to 48 Math lesson 13:35  |  Guido 22/03/09
      73.   # 60 ralph 13:43  |  Axel 22/03/09
      74.   NO to intrusion 13:53  |  Brod 22/03/09
      75.   Don`t exaggerate, US have their own problems 13:55  |  lily 22/03/09
      76.   Ethnic cleansing as an internal matter 13:55  |  Dan 22/03/09
      77.   How angry are they over the attempted 9/11 at Lev Hamifratz? 13:56  |  lily 22/03/09
      78.   clinton 13:59  |  saul 22/03/09
      79.   DEMOLITION OF MUSLIM HOMES 14:10  |  CARL FORTUNE 22/03/09
      80.   The US angry, so what! 14:13  |  Wise Saba 22/03/09
      81.   America pretends to be upset but knows Israel is right 14:15  |  Baruch Gold 22/03/09
      82.   East Jerusalem Demolitions 14:21  |  Yacoub 22/03/09
      83.   To Swiss (Dino) 14:31  |  Eli 22/03/09
      84.   The US does own Israel Glenna... 14:33  |  BBSNews 22/03/09
      85.   Israeli gov`t should do what it thinks in required 14:47  |  Nechama 22/03/09
      86.   And Israel is furious with the U.S. 15:16  |  Zev 22/03/09
      87.   Esther #51 I find that you don`t know America... 15:50  |  S 22/03/09
      88.   To Palestinian Brit (# 31). Cause and effect are not the same. 15:54  |  flyingdoc57 22/03/09
      89.   The Israeli-American Kabuki dance 15:58  |  Michael N 22/03/09
      90.   why ? 16:40  |  Pintele yid 22/03/09
      91.   Bring it on. The two state "solution" is DOA. 16:47  |  Steven 22/03/09
      92.   A Legal Rather Than Political Matter 17:01  |  Lynne 22/03/09
      93.   furious.. and what is next ? 17:15  |  Circassian Warrior 22/03/09
      94.   Hate to say that but 17:28  |  Daniel 22/03/09
      95.   And israel laughts in Sammy`s face 17:33  |  Mark Lincoln 22/03/09
      96.   to Baruch Gold #81 - 2nd try 17:39  |  zeev 22/03/09
      97.   OMG disaster looms... 17:46  |  Victor 22/03/09
      98.   Md from Jerusalem Learn to differentiate 17:46  |  Danny 22/03/09
      99.   Mind your own business, America 17:54  |  Clem 22/03/09
      100.   Speaking as an American 18:09  |  Jennifer 22/03/09
      101.   Phony American outrage 18:25  |  Anchimaa Toka 22/03/09
      102.   Jerusalem Homes 18:32  |  Mark 22/03/09
      103.   U,S. furious over Israel`s demolition Palestinians homes 18:43  |  Adel 22/03/09
      104.   Orwellian status 19:14  |  David 22/03/09
      105.   To 97 History lesson 19:33  |  Guido 22/03/09
      106.   Isn`t it funny 19:39  |  rm 22/03/09
      107.   US problems, yeah we have a few. 19:44  |  Dia 22/03/09
      108.   Arrogant words 22:11  |  Don 22/03/09
      109.   Why should Obama be surprised? 02:50  |  Silvienne 23/03/09
      110.   shameful political stupidity 03:16  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/03/09
      111.   #80, wise one, go ahead, keep taking us for granted 03:21  |  newageblues 23/03/09
      112.   WHY is U.S. DEMANDING Israel BREAK the LAW? 03:46  |  Linda Rivera 23/03/09
      113.   Finally, a President I can be proud of 04:24  |  Don 23/03/09
      114.   #27 CHUZPA 07:08  |  Dr. Abe Simhony 23/03/09
      115.   tryin to jumpm the gun 07:15  |  Brandon 23/03/09
      116.   #111 Why does the USA do this, Linda? 07:16  |  Johnboy 23/03/09
      117.   Well, she needs to be furious at the destruction of illigal 07:30  |  Dan 23/03/09
      118.   double standard 09:17  |  Richard 23/03/09
      119.   ISRAEL`S BULLYING THE WORLD 09:20  |  NANNETTE BURNETT 23/03/09
      120.   Israel 13:26  |  One Angry Jew 23/03/09
      121.   hezbolla 18:17  |  joseph 23/03/09
      122.   Just Ain`t Gonna Happen 18:50  |  Quiet Bruce 23/03/09
      123.   Response to Angry Jew 19:12  |  Jeremy A. Ross 23/03/09
      124.   #119, Well said, Nannette! 20:29  |  Silvienne 23/03/09
      125.   to Guido #105 - History lesson - 4th try 20:49  |  zeev 23/03/09
      126.   to Steven #91 - 4th try 20:51  |  zeev 23/03/09
      127.   Linda Rivera #112 - no, the US doesn`t 20:58  |  zeev 23/03/09
      128.   All of Israeli land is illegal, Ms. Rivera 22:30  |  len silk 23/03/09
      129.   70~ Zeev Do you want my honest response ? 2nd try 23:02  |  Akaram Zeakaria 23/03/09
      130.   Ori #12 00:35  |  Justme 24/03/09
      131.   #91 Yes bring it on Steven The two state "solution"is DOA 01:47  |  Whiskey 24/03/09
      132.   To Dia @107 Well said and put in order of merit,OR 01:58  |  Whiskey 24/03/09
      133.   To Guido @105..Your lesson of the true history is valuable. 02:05  |  Whiskey 24/03/09
      134.   #92 a Legal Matter..Lynne absolutely.We have had.. 02:22  |  Whiskey 24/03/09
      135.   Destroyer 05:36  |  JP Zinger 24/03/09
      136.   to Steven #91 - 5th try 11:21  |  zeev 24/03/09
      137.   Linda Rivera #112 - 3rd try 11:28  |  zeev 24/03/09
      138.   To Akram Zekaria...Your reply to Zeev is Spot on and no need. 21:47  |  Whiskey 24/03/09
      139.   to Guido #58 - 8th try 01:15  |  zeev 25/03/09
      140.   to Akram Zekaria #32 02:09  |  yossi 25/03/09
      141.   to JP Zinger #134 - I agree 09:08  |  zeev 25/03/09
      142.   to Akram Zekaria #32 - 2nd try 09:12  |  zeev 25/03/09
      143.   to Guido #58 - 9th try 09:26  |  zeev 25/03/09
      144.   FURIOUS REPORTING 15:16  |  moshe brodetzky 25/03/09
      145.   ISRAEL`s bullying world 19:07  |  annie smith 25/03/09
      146.   Two wrongs.... 18:41  |  Kati 29/03/09
      147.   So what will helpless US do about it? 04:53  |  Fed up 10/04/09
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