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Last update - 16:48 21/02/2008 Israel extends closure of Palestinian offices in E. Jerusalem By The Associated Press Tags: East Jerusalem, Israel  Israel is keeping Palestinian institutions in east Jerusalem shut tight, despite its pledge to reopen them under a recently revived peace blueprint, Palestinian officials said Thursday. This month, the officials said, Israel renewed its order to close a leading Palestinian think tank known as Orient House, the city 's Arab Chamber of Commerce and other symbolic buildings that are a rallying point for the Palestinians' claims to Jerusalem's eastern sector as capital of a future state. Advertisement Israel police shut down the institutions in 2001, shortly after the relaunch of the Palestinian uprising against Israel, and has since issued orders every six months renewing the closure. Azzam Abu Saoud, director of the 72-year-old Chamber of Commerce, said the closure order was extended on Feb. 7 despite the renewal of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and Israel's commitment to implement the internationally endorsed road map peace plan. At an international peace gathering in Annapolis, Maryland, in November, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to immediately implement their respective obligations under the performance-based road map. Initial obligations require Israel to reopen the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and other Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem. "Despite all the expectations the closure order was renewed for another six months," Abu Saoud told The Associated Press. U.S. consular officials asked for copies of the order, which he provided, he said. The United States Consulate-General in Jerusalem had no immediate comment. An adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said the 2001 closure order on another prominent Palestinian institution, the PLO think-tank known as Orient House, was also renewed a few days ago. "I think this is against the promise of [Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert to reopen the Palestinian institutions, said the adviser," Hatem Abdel Khader, a Jerusalem delegate to the Palestinian parliament. This is a promise he made to us and to [U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice. This is not a good sign for the peace process." Abdel Khader said Orient House officials were working on economic and social projects from facilities outside Jerusalem. He said they had been in touch with the U.S. consulate over the extension, but were told the issue was unlikely to be resolved quickly. "They told us they need time to negotiate with the Israelis," he said. An Israel Police spokesman could not confirm the recent extension of the building's closure, but said officers visited the East Jerusalem mansion periodically to ensure that it was not being used, citing a law prohibiting Palestinian political activity in the city. "I am not aware of any change in our policy," Olmert spokesman Mark Regev told the AP. When the Orient House originally was shut down, Israel said it did not intend to retain permanent control of the building but would only withdraw after its owners provide guarantees that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority would not operate there. Abdel Khader said the Palestinians had given the necessary assurances to the Israelis, adding that the office was to be used for cultural, economic and social projects. Orient House is owned by the Husseinis, a prominent Palestinian clan in Jerusalem. The scion of the family, the late Faisal Husseini, was the top Jerusalem official of the Palestine Liberation Organization and used the Orient House as his base. Related articles: Losing Jerusalem Abu Tir or Abu Tur Bookmark to del.icio.us   The black sheep The U.S. freezes Assad's cousin's assets for trying to weaken Iraq and Lebanon. Pristina, Ramallah Yasser Abed Rabbo called on the West Bank to declare independence like Kosovo.   1.   The methods of our ?Peace Partners?. 16:59  |  Jean Van Daem 21/02/08   2.   Promises, promises....time to go it alone. 18:11  |  Palestinian Brit 21/02/08   3.   Why "immediately" open them, PA didn`t "immediately" stop kassams 18:53  |  Dr. L. Brnd 21/02/08   4.   They keep no words ... 19:04  |  Habib 21/02/08   5.   Jerusalem - Orient House 19:15  |  Hermann Kuntz 21/02/08   6.   U$rael "Peace process" = manure... 22:47  |  Maureen Ann 21/02/08   7.   #3 Dr. Leonard Bernard 23:34  |  Mr. Knowitall 21/02/08   8.   Palestinian Brit - Americans are not furious at all. The 23:44  |  Bush 21/02/08   9.   Good, no more HDs for `disguised terror` 00:08  |  Petra 22/02/08

Today Online Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 197 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 273 Iranian official: Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun Responses: 189 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 89 Israel Harel: Israeli Arabs creating state within Israel's borders Responses: 76 Rosner's Domain What America wants from an operation in Gaza Obama has a mainstream Democratic team (WTR) Guests: girls receiving a Jewish education is a given U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 03:15 Worried Rice to discuss Gaza with Olmert in Japan 03:19 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams 00:59 EU resolution lambastes Israel over Gaza Strip isolation policy 21:58 Rights group slams Egypt for shooting African migrants on Israel border 00:05 Monopoly Website drops country names after Jerusalem row 03:24 Al-Aqsa militants wanted by Israel escape from PA jail 02:16 EU advisers to PA police seek $221 million for training, prisons 03:11 Hamas officials: Israeli missile kills at least 2 Gaza militants 01:06 Russia offers to host, finance Israel 60 anniversary events in Moscow 01:15 Serb rioters set fire to U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, clash with police Previous Editions Select Day 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb

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