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Last update - 09:09 20/07/2009
U.K. envoys: The Israelis don't listen to us
By Nir Hasson
Tags: east jerusalem, israel news 

British diplomats touring the Shepherd Hotel recently in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah expressed concern about Israeli construction plans there, particularly in light of the site's close proximity to the British consulate in East Jerusalem.

The tour, which also included American diplomats, was led by Jerusalem city councilman Meir Margalit of Meretz, who is also active in the Committee Against House Demolitions. During the visit, Margalit said, the British diplomats asked their American colleagues to pressure Israel on the issue and take the lead in applying international pressure to stop settlement building.

"The British said explicitly - the Israelis don't pay attention to us, but if you apply pressure, there is a chance," Margalit recounted. The U.K. envoys also expressed concern that construction activity so close to the consulate could lead to an intelligence leak.
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The area was acquired in 1985 by American Jewish philantrhopist Irving Moskowitz and designated for private housing. Two weeks ago, the local planning council approved the construction plan, which calls for the erection of two residential buildings of 20 housing units stretched over a 3,000-square-meter area.

The council recognized the hotel building - which in the 1930s and 40s served as the compound for the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini - as a historic site and designated it for renovation.

Eitan Geva, the Israeli legal representative of Moskowitz, said he was surprised by U.S. opposition to the project, which he characterized as "commercial," and not "ideological."

The Jerusalem municipality commented: "The district planning committee is working according to equitable criteria, and grants building permits to both Jews and Arabs, without regard to the religion, race or nationality of the recipient. The acquisition of property is conducted according to law, and the site has been granted the necessary authorizations."

Sarah Kreimer, associate director of Ir Amim, an Israeli non-profit organization engaged in issues affecting Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem, said yesterday, "All of these small developments constitute a sequence, the goal of which is to encircle the Old City from every direction - Sheikh Jarrah, Wadi Joz, the Mount of Olives, Ras al-Amud, Silwan and the Armon Hanatziv promenade," she said.

"In each of these places, plans are being advanced for construction whose ultimate purpose is to disconnect the Old City from Palestinian Jerusalem," she said.
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  1.   One more historic site to be flushed down the memory hole? 05:39  |  jim the mechanic 20/07/09
  2.   Of course the useless UK diplomats know only how pressurs Arabs!! 05:41  |  Jetset 20/07/09
  3.   they don`t listen to us?? 06:00  |  ron 20/07/09
  4.   Yeah, We Jews Felt The Same Way For 2000 Years. 06:02  |  Heather Czerniak 20/07/09
  5.   UK Diplomats 06:10  |  Louis Fried 20/07/09
  6.   What has the UK ever done for the Jews? 06:31  |  Binyamin Dissen 20/07/09
  7.   Jerusalem is part of Israel- why the concern of the Brits? 06:34  |  Said Shakarchi 20/07/09
  8.   Today they decide ownership of E. Jerusalem, tomorow 06:44  |  Igor 20/07/09
  9.   And why would they? 07:16  |  Dan 20/07/09
  10.   Don`t take it personal 07:25  |  rm 20/07/09
  11.   Heather Czerniak 07:27  |  CJ 20/07/09
  12.   How to get their attention: speak softly, carry & USE a big stick 07:28  |  Ivar 20/07/09
  13.   Who are "they"? Who is "us"? Did they say something? 07:37  |  Israeli citizen 20/07/09
  14.   The UK and occupied territories. 07:58  |  B. Gold 20/07/09
  15.   British and Meretz, oy what a combination 07:58  |  Joe Sittizen 20/07/09
  16.   At home and abroad, the UK suffers one humiliation after another 08:10  |  Arik Silverman 20/07/09
  17.   gideon ben yoash - Since when is Ashkelon in Israel? 08:23  |  CJ 20/07/09
  18.   Moskowitz a "philanthropist"? Not if you`re Palestinian 08:45  |  peacelover 20/07/09
  19.   why should israel listen? 08:52  |  scallywag 20/07/09
  20.   You don`t decide what constitutes Israel CJ 10:03  |  Ki`emli 20/07/09
  21.   why should israel listen? 10:18  |  scallywag 20/07/09
  22.   U.K. envoys: The Israelis don`t listen to us 11:09  |  Alan G 20/07/09
  23.   where is Churchill? Why is Chamberlain still in power? 11:12  |  Andrew 20/07/09
  24.   #14 B Gold Jealous? 11:36  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/07/09
  25.   Ivar, you seem to have a strong educational vocation... 11:37  |  Israeli citizen 20/07/09
  26.   #15 Joe Sittizen 11:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/07/09
  27.   Seems clear the property is owned by Jews so build what they like 12:09  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 20/07/09
  28.   British Apartheid "Don`t build close to us as you may contaminate 12:15  |  Absolute Sweden 20/07/09
  29.   Wasn`t it the Brits who persuaded the Czechoslovak Republic . . . 12:41  |  Zev Davis 20/07/09
  30.   East Jerusalem`s population is half Jewish already 12:46  |  Avram 20/07/09
  31.   Jerusalem muncipality stand-up comedians! 12:51  |  Michael 20/07/09
  32.   Perhaps israel will pay more attention to economic sanctions 13:00  |  jens 20/07/09
  33.   CJ in Sydney 13:15  |  ChanahS 20/07/09
  34.   East Jerusalem is not Israeli 13:16  |  Carine 20/07/09
  35.   perfidious Albion 13:41  |  Chaia 20/07/09
  36.   why should israel listen? 13:51  |  scallywag 20/07/09
  37.   Let EU stop all tread then they`ll listen, money talks 14:47  |  Ezra 20/07/09
  38.   Build! 15:12  |  17 20/07/09
  39.   CJ ,Jordan et all wanted to aquire Israel by wars. 15:13  |  ME 20/07/09
  40.   If I was Israeli I wouldn`t listen to the Brits either 15:13  |  Raymond in DC 20/07/09
  41.   More British perfidy 15:36  |  Bilal 20/07/09
  42.   Since when has the UK listened to us 16:52  |  Gee 20/07/09
  43.   CJ - You Are a Fool 17:16  |  A Literate Person 20/07/09
  44.   Carine - In INTL Jerusalem is Legit 17:22  |  Anon 20/07/09
  45.   To: #19 & 21 Chris 17:23  |  Good 20/07/09
  46.   UK envoys 17:25  |  David Simonim 20/07/09
  47.   Unfortunately Israel doesn`t listen to anyone any more. 17:36  |  Michael 20/07/09
  48.   The brit`s are going down the drain with the Yanks 17:43  |  RME 20/07/09
  49.   The Israelis don`t listen to us 17:48  |  Ralph 20/07/09
  50.   Ignorant Litwaite and US dependence again 17:55  |  JP 20/07/09
  51.   Re # 42 18:05  |  RME 20/07/09
  52.   #43 Good of Florida 18:12  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/07/09
  53.   CJ : Leave Sidney and go to Australia 20:32  |  Israeli citizen 20/07/09
  54.   How About Haaretz Elaborate On This Haj Amin Al Husayni 21:03  |  A Concerned Person 20/07/09
  55.   Why doesn`t Jewish Philanthropy extend to Arabs in Jslm? 21:10  |  binny 20/07/09
  56.   East Jersusalem - 21:29  |  Constance Blackwell 20/07/09
  57.   Israel does`t listen to Brits 21:29  |  Glenn Harbison 20/07/09
  58.   Chris Linthwaite 21:38  |  rich 20/07/09
  59.   binny read the news 22:15  |  petra 20/07/09
  60.   UK Gov investigates Holocaust Denier 22:41  |  O.H. 20/07/09
  61.   CJ`s reply to Heather 22:46  |  Eaglebeak 20/07/09
  62.   To Binny - Your Argument Furthered 22:57  |  Just a Thought 20/07/09
  63.   Benyamin Dissen # 6 23:10  |  Peter Mall 20/07/09
  64.   above 23:35  |  moishe 20/07/09
  65.   55.Israel is the gift that keeps on giving to the Muslims 00:58  |  lydia 21/07/09
  66.   Yes Heather, 04:43  |  r cummings 21/07/09
  67.   U.K. envoys 05:11  |  Jim 21/07/09
  68.   #13 Israeli Citizen Did who say something? 07:03  |  Jim 21/07/09
  69.   #20 Ki`emli 07:29  |  Jim 21/07/09
  70.   #59 incredible hypocritical lectures from oz again 08:39  |  vhardman 21/07/09
  71.   Yeah, We Jews Felt The Same Way For 2000 Years 20:06  |  Raj Chadha 21/07/09
  72.   #61 Get with the news, Eaglebeak 14:35  |  Johnboy 22/07/09
  73.   Hardlines Israeli 14:28  |  Abu Dershowitz 28/08/09
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