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Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.
 (Reuters)
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Last update - 18:56 21/07/2009
'Israel has indisputable right to build in East Jerusalem'
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Shepherd Hotel, Israel news 

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Tuesday that Israel had an "indisputable" right to build anywhere in Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem, following international calls on Israel to halt construction in the disputed area.

The calls come in response to Israel's plan to build some 20 apartments for Jews in the Shepherd Hotel, in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The U.S. has demanded that the project be halted, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the cabinet meeting on Sunday that "Israel will not agree to edicts of this kind in East Jerusalem."

The Russian Foreign Ministry joined the calls on Israel to scrap the plan, and in response, Ayalon said that "Israel has and will continue to act in accordance with its national interests, especially when it comes to Jerusalem."
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Earlier Tuesday, the French news agency AFP quoted Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that "The settlement should be stopped immediately in line with the roadmap [peace plan]." France also objected to the planned construction, with the French foreign minister saying that Israel's ambassador to France had been summoned over the affair.

"Israel's government is not a subsidiary of any other world government," Channel 10 quoted Shas Chairman Eli Yishai as saying. "Israel's government and the state of Israel are free to build anywhere in Israel, certainly after having obtained all the relevant permits by law."

Science Minister Daniel Hershkowitz also issued a response to the Russian demand, Channel 10 reported, saying that "Israel must reject international pressure and the challenges to its sovereignty in Jerusalem. Anyone who opposes construction in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Israel's capital might also oppose construction in the Sheikh Munis neighborhood in Tel Aviv."

Meanwhile Tuesday, a senior member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party also urged Israel not to build more settlements, warning it risked political suicide if it continued to do so.
In unusually strong comments for a German politician, Ruprecht Polenz, the head of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, was quoted as saying Israel's aim of having secure borders would only be possible with a two-state solution.

If Israel did not stop building settlements it ran the risk "of gradually committing suicide as a democratic state," Polenz told the Rheinische Post daily.

Enjoying safe borders would only be conceivable for Israel if East Jerusalem could operate as the capital of a Palestinian state, said Polenz. But he added Israel was trying to cut off East Jerusalem from the West Bank by building more settlements.
"Israel is overlooking the fact that neither Palestinians nor Arab states will agree to a solution without East Jerusalem," Polenz told the paper.
Separately, European Union president Sweden urged Israel to refrain from evicting Palestinians and demolishing their homes in East Jerusalem.

A United Nations report in May said some 1,500 demolition orders were pending for homes built without a permit from Israel's Jerusalem Municipality in the east of the city.

The Swedish president said such actions were illegal under international law and called for them to end.

"These eviction notices follow other recent orders which adversely affect Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and, combined with the increase in settlement activity in East Jerusalem, further threaten the chances of peace."

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      1.   E Jerusalem 19:02  |  Arieka 21/07/09
      2.   Wrong Again 19:03  |  johnj 21/07/09
      3.   Jewish and Palestinian rights 19:07  |  Janice 21/07/09
      4.   Don`t get it 19:08  |  Ed 21/07/09
      5.   Right to build in East Jerusalem 19:11  |  fredyr 21/07/09
      6.   right to build in Jerusalem 19:13  |  Ralph 21/07/09
      7.   And the Response Should Be?? 19:13  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/07/09
      8.   The headline says it best 19:21  |  Nun ya 21/07/09
      9.   Because why? 19:22  |  Dave Duncan 21/07/09
      10.   Right to Build 19:24  |  Abarafi 21/07/09
      11.   The World Is Unified Against Israel - Are Sanctions Coming? 19:25  |  chet 21/07/09
      12.   Thy guy is sleeping... 19:28  |  David 21/07/09
      13.   well, apparently it is disputable... 19:31  |  ClearCut 21/07/09
      14.   Lawful?? 19:34  |  Batata 21/07/09
      15.   Russia should give back Polish lands 19:34  |  Nora Tel Aviv 21/07/09
      16.   East Jerusalem Palestinian Capital 19:40  |  Armand 21/07/09
      17.   east Jerusalem 19:42  |  joe 21/07/09
      18.   East Jerusalem IS NOT Israel`s Capital 19:46  |  Town Crier 21/07/09
      19.   hah 19:48  |  tim 21/07/09
      20.   "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain 19:49  |  17 21/07/09
      21.   Embarrassing and Sad...... 19:50  |  Shimon 21/07/09
      22.   Clear legal answer 19:51  |  Forrest Schmidt 21/07/09
      23.   Israel has indisputable right to build 19:56  |  jae 21/07/09
      24.   # 3 `Don`t get it` 19:58  |  Luke 21/07/09
      25.   East Jerusalem issue is nothing compared to what is coming 20:00  |  Harold 21/07/09
      26.   #3ED Not tomany jews site next year East Jerusalem 20:01  |  BIG SUR 21/07/09
      27.   This comment 20:02  |  Justaguy 21/07/09
      28.   Arieka - heck yes, Pals more important than Iran 20:05  |  Don Boston 21/07/09
      29.   The myth of Israeli settlements and occupation 20:07  |  Irina 21/07/09
      30.   Janice - 20:09  |  ChanahS 21/07/09
      31.   #3 isn`t getting it 20:09  |  MAB 21/07/09
      32.   The REAL Clear Legal | Reply to Forrest Schmidt ("Gump") 20:10  |  U.S. Lawyer 21/07/09
      33.   Israel has indisputable right to build in East Jerusalem 20:10  |  Schlash 21/07/09
      34.   answer to #4 20:11  |  flora 21/07/09
      35.   You go Israel, do not bow to these leftists. 20:14  |  4:20 21/07/09
      36.   janice. There are no such thing as palestinians, there has never 20:17  |  jae 21/07/09
      37.   Exploit or Make Peace 20:18  |  Vladek 21/07/09
      38.   above 20:18  |  moishe 21/07/09
      39.   4:20 in Silver Spring, Maryland... 20:23  |  Silvienne 21/07/09
      40.   It is Israel`s Land 20:28  |  Brod 21/07/09
      41.   Simple answer 20:30  |  Chappaqua neighbor 21/07/09
      42.   A right to build? Perhaps. But why not compromise for peace? 20:31  |  S 21/07/09
      43.   I see that Town Crier , clear cut,Harold and others have no clue 20:32  |  BIG SUR 21/07/09
      44.   Maybe a push in a different direction 20:41  |  American 21/07/09
      45.   :: Israel`s `Rights` 20:41  |  Matty Groves 21/07/09
      46.   Jerusalem is the capital of the jewish people, since King David 20:41  |  JP 21/07/09
      47.   Israel 20:42  |  J 21/07/09
      48.   Arab peace before the settlements...? 20:44  |  Irina 21/07/09
      49.   Building on Occupied Lands 20:46  |  Gregory Landsdowne 21/07/09
      50.   For those who thought Israel kicked out in 48 it`s arabs 20:47  |  Big Sur 21/07/09
      51.   `Israel has indisputable right to build in East Jerusalem` 20:47  |  Truth 21/07/09
      52.   Danny Ayalon is right 20:49  |  Chad R. 21/07/09
      53.   Ayalon`s autism 20:49  |  Michael 21/07/09
      54.   Who Agrees With That Declaration? 20:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/07/09
      55.   Why wasn`t there peace when East Jerusalem was Judenrein? 21:01  |  Binyamin Dissen 21/07/09
      56.   build in jerusalem 21:04  |  Dr. Nina Zeldis 21/07/09
      57.   Building in East Jerusalem 21:06  |  Mitch 21/07/09
      58.   # 16 Don Boston 21:11  |  Mike B 21/07/09
      59.   Israel`s right to build 21:11  |  Debbie Harris 21/07/09
      60.   #16 Don Boston 21:17  |  Gianni 21/07/09
      61.   Israeli national interest is violation of 4th Geneva Convention 21:21  |  Ivar 21/07/09
      62.   BIG SUR? why are you in my country? you are zionist 21:22  |  get out 21/07/09
      63.   what`s rights got to do with it? 21:23  |  sweyn 21/07/09
      64.   To Arieka 21:24  |  J 21/07/09
      65.   Town Crier 21:25  |  Freddy 21/07/09
      66.   I`m not sure... 21:27  |  Avi Yerushalmi 21/07/09
      67.   Indisputable? 21:29  |  Natallie Durson 21/07/09
      68.   Israpressure 21:35  |  Shlomo 21/07/09
      69.   Stand firm 21:37  |  Mark Klein MM 21/07/09
      70.   No Right at All 21:37  |  Lee Kaplan 21/07/09
      71.   But, of course..... 21:42  |  Sanders 21/07/09
      72.   E. Jerusalem "settlements" ? 21:44  |  Rafael 21/07/09
      73.   The US should annex E Jerusalem 21:51  |  steve 21/07/09
      74.   Isreal is right they can build,,however 21:56  |  Mr Build 21/07/09
      75.   Bibi unites the world... 22:03  |  robk 21/07/09
      76.   If I may 17 @8 I CONCUR WITH YOU.Jerusalem was/is the undisputed 22:05  |  Whiskey/Bravo 21/07/09
      77.   Israel has 22:09  |  Jol 21/07/09
      78.   East Jerusalem 22:10  |  R. Estes 21/07/09
      79.   Freddy on Waking Up 22:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/07/09
      80.   "East" Jerusalem 22:10  |  marvls 21/07/09
      81.   There can be no peace 22:12  |  Scott Shapiro 21/07/09
      82.   Davi@4 Whether the world approves or not,FACTS ARE: 22:12  |  Whiskey/Bravo 21/07/09
      83.   Israel 22:15  |  TC 21/07/09
      84.   Netanyahu won`t be satisfied until full confrontation with US 22:15  |  Uri Levy 21/07/09
      85.   Israel be bold 22:19  |  oxo 21/07/09
      86.   `Israel has indisputable right to build in East Jerusalem` 22:21  |  PLT 21/07/09
      87.   Stop with the God stuff 22:41  |  WHG 21/07/09
      88.   Jump High Or Jump Low The Occupation Has Got To Go! 22:41  |  Cool B 21/07/09
      89.   No kidding.. 22:42  |  Michael N 21/07/09
      90.   marvls who are you trying to convince 22:46  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/07/09
      91.   Israeli rights in E. Jerusalem 22:54  |  Paul 21/07/09
      92.   What Polenz neglects to realize 22:56  |  Jordan Ariel 21/07/09
      93.   Ed Does not get it well Ed 22:57  |  Gil 21/07/09
      94.   how much land do Arabs need 22:57  |  jr 21/07/09
      95.   #33 Uri Levy 23:00  |  Jordan Ariel 21/07/09
      96.   #28 Yaakov Canada England and Finland wanted Jerusalem 23:01  |  BIG SUR 21/07/09
      97.   Yaakov Sullivan #36 There is only Jerusalem 23:10  |  BIG SUR 21/07/09
      98.   Seems everyone`s disputing it anyway 23:14  |  sh 21/07/09
      99.   Israel is not the 51st State of the US 23:20  |  Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf 21/07/09
      100.   To Gil from Haifa 23:20  |  Bill 21/07/09
      101.   Right on the mark 23:41  |  Brod 21/07/09
      102.   There seems to be confusion 23:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 21/07/09
      103.   indisputable? I`m not sure he knows what that word means 23:48  |  binny 21/07/09
      104.   don from Boston 23:48  |  Drew 21/07/09
      105.   Build more 23:56  |  Mazin 21/07/09
      106.   why only jews can build and rule? 23:59  |  Raulita 21/07/09
      107.   How much land do US Jews need? 00:00  |  Sylvie 22/07/09
      108.   I`ve got to hand it to Netanyahu 00:03  |  Ryan 22/07/09
      109.   If not subsidiary, stop taking our tax dollars 00:10  |  Fed up 22/07/09
      110.   Good luck Ladies 00:20  |  Dean 22/07/09
      111.   wasn`t ayalon investigated along w/wife for beating maid? 00:20  |  anti ayalon 22/07/09
      112.   To Gil 00:21  |  Apa 22/07/09
      113.   Israel has indisputable right to tick everyone off. 00:26  |  MIKE 22/07/09
      114.   e jerusalem 00:26  |  tommy keogh 22/07/09
      115.   e jerusalem 00:29  |  tommy keogh 22/07/09
      116.   Scott Shapriro 00:39  |  johnj 22/07/09
      117.   legal right does not make moral right and vice versa 00:52  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 22/07/09
      118.   Ayalon takes on the world 00:53  |  Ussishkin 22/07/09
      119.   WORLD OPINION IS SHIFTING TOWARDS JUSTICE 01:00  |  Isaac 22/07/09
      120.   1 million arabs in israel 01:13  |  real vision 22/07/09
      121.   jae and borders 01:27  |  Janice 22/07/09
      122.   `Israel has indisputable right to build in East Jerusalem` 01:32  |  Heather Czerniak 22/07/09
      123.   Paul - OK smart rrrs If Israel is a Sovereign Nation, 01:36  |  CJ 22/07/09
      124.   Israelis have to decide: Do they want peace, or Palestinian land 01:43  |  peacelover 22/07/09
      125.   What about the Christians 01:51  |  citizen of the world 22/07/09
      126.   You said it! 02:11  |  Nechama 22/07/09
      127.   Pure and Simple 02:17  |  Bazmann 22/07/09
      128.   Gil. Let`s apply your criterion .... 02:17  |  CJ 22/07/09
      129.   Jlm is Israel`s under Intn`l law 02:27  |  yael 22/07/09
      130.   Can`t build on stolen land 02:34  |  ID 22/07/09
      131.   hope for a first civilized cabinet member 02:38  |  soeasywinfriends 22/07/09
      132.   The Capitol of Israel aint Jerusalem but.. 03:19  |  R.Heidrich 22/07/09
      133.   The ass does the talking while the heads buried in the sand 03:23  |  maoriboy 22/07/09
      134.   Right to defy international law, United Nations, and civility. 03:24  |  Daniel 22/07/09
      135.   Israel has indisputable right to build in East Jerusalem 03:28  |  Sharon Murphy 22/07/09
      136.   We shall not be moved... Just like the tree by the water... 03:39  |  Amihai 22/07/09
      137.   #16 Dan Boston 03:40  |  John 22/07/09
      138.   #24 Mr. Build (thick neck?) 04:00  |  John 22/07/09
      139.   Good for you marvls for telling it as it is@30 04:10  |  Zionist Jew 22/07/09
      140.   #32 How wonderfully zionist of you Whiskey 04:10  |  Johnboy 22/07/09
      141.   Poor Yaakov Sullivan 04:17  |  leoblue 22/07/09
      142.   How dare they 04:34  |  Mordechai Behar 22/07/09
      143.   Recognition of Jerusalem 05:05  |  Neil 22/07/09
      144.   jr - What has size got to do with legality? 05:31  |  CJ 22/07/09
      145.   I`m still having trouble ... 06:38  |  Morris Valentine 22/07/09
      146.   RACISM, Anti-Jewish Racism is expecting a Jew not to reside in a 06:50  |  Nahum 22/07/09
      147.   Jerusalem has never been the capital city of... 07:01  |  Ruti 22/07/09
      148.   East Jeruslem in Israel l`olam vaed 07:28  |  Jonathan Lim 22/07/09
      149.   Neil - when did the UN agree to a `67 border between Israel & 07:34  |  CJ 22/07/09
      150.   # 11My god gave me the ownership of you house 08:10  |  C2 22/07/09
      151.   A right to build? Maybe. But why not compromise for peace? 2nd tr 08:27  |  S 22/07/09
      152.   No Jewish leader has the right to abandon any part of the Land... 09:07  |  B. Gold 22/07/09
      153.   Building in East Jerusalem is BAD for Israeli interests! 12:01  |  Umm Einav 22/07/09
      154.   Israel DisHonors RoadMap, Olso, etc. Yet wants US to 16:52  |  Ed 22/07/09
      155.   Israel is a bully 17:03  |  John 22/07/09
      156.   #91 Right - US unconditional backing allowed Israel to be Bully 18:28  |  Ed 22/07/09
      157.   Apa (#112) What about them 20:58  |  Gil 23/07/09
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