U.S.: East Jerusalem demolitions undermine trust vital for Israel-PA talks
Jerusalem municipal planning committee approves plan to demolish 22 Palestinian homes in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem to make room for a tourist center.
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: Israel news Jerusalem East Jerusalem Middle East peaceU.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Israel's decision on Monday to raze 22 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem is the kind of step that undermines trust fundamental to progress in the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
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Local women stand above El Bustan (King's Garden) in the Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem on June 21, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Senior
The Jerusalem municipal planning committee approved Monday a contentious plan to raze 22 Palestinian homes to make room for a tourist center that Palestinians fear would tighten Israel's grip on the city's contested eastern sector.
The plan, which affects the neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, risks more U.S.-Israeli friction just two weeks ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Crowley said the United States was concerned about the project, though he said it was a preliminary step being taken by the Jerusalem municipality and not the Israeli government.
"We've had a number of conversations with the government of Israel about it," Crowley said. "This is expressly the kind of step that we think undermines trust that is fundamental to making progress in the proximity talks," referring to the indirect, U.S.-mediated peace negotiations.
The Palestinian government issued a statement on Monday in regards to the plan, in which it emphasized that "these dangerous steps require American and international intervention."
According to Israel Radio, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat commented on the plan as well and said the move shows Israel wants to destroy the indirect peace talks with the Palestinians.
Erekat called on the international community to "halt these dangerous steps" and said that the move "proves that Israel has decided to destroy the indirect talks with the Palestinians."
Tensions have already been raised in Jerusalem, when conflict erupted during the meeting between committee members and the residents of Silwan. Silwan residents starkly objected to the plan and demanded the committee discuss their alternative plan, which does not include razing homes.
Several lawyers representing the residents spoke out against the committee's decision.
"I also want to have a park in the neighborhood where I can sit on the weekends and dip my feet in the water, but if the committee has the courage to approve a plan against the will of the residents, and to raze their homes for it, then it should have the same courage to discuss their alternative plan as well," said one of the lawyers.
Barkat first floated the plan months ago, but agreed to a last-minute request from Israel's prime minister to consult Palestinian residents before breaking ground. Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes has in the past provoked harsh reaction from the United States.
Palestinians hope to build the capital of a future state in East Jerusalem and see any Israeli construction there as undercutting their claims to the land.
Although Israel claims it is simply enforcing the law by knocking down illegally built structures, many of the unapproved homes have gone up without authorization because Palestinians have a hard time obtaining construction permits in East Jerusalem.
Barkat says the plan gives a much-needed facelift to Jerusalem's decaying al-Bustan neighborhood, which Israel calls Gan Hamelech, or the King's Garden.
The plan calls for the construction of shops, restaurants, art galleries and a large community center on the site where some say the biblical King David wrote his psalms. The 22 displaced families would be allowed to build homes elsewhere in the neighborhood, though it's not clear who would pay for them.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem immediately after capturing it from Jordan during the Six-Day War in 1967.
Israeli sovereignty there has not been recognized by the Palestinians or the international community, and the fate of the city is one of the core issues dividing the two sides. Nearly 200,000 Jews have moved to East Jerusalem since Israel captured it, living in an uneasy coexistence with 250,000 Palestinians.
Activists in Al-Bustan, who had sought to block all demolitions, said in a statement that the plan comes in the general context of (the) fast-track Judaization of East Jerusalem.
It pre-empts "the possibility of Jerusalem ever being a shared city, or indeed capital of a Palestinian state," the statement said. "This in itself precludes peace."
The contested site is a section of a larger neighborhood called Silwan, which is home to some 50,000 Palestinians and 70 Jewish families. Demolitions elsewhere in Silwan have made the neighborhood a hub of tension between Palestinians fearful of eviction and Jews determined to keep the city Israel's undivided capital.
Apparently fearing stiff criticism from the U.S., Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressured Barkat in March to hold up the plan to consult with Palestinians who stood to lose their homes.
"Now, after fine-tuning the plan and seeking more cooperation with the residents as far as their needs and improving the quality of their lives, the municipality is ready to submit the plans for the first stage of approval," Barkat spokesman Stephan Miller said Monday.
The prime minister's office said Netanyahu "hopes that since this project is only in a preliminary stage, that the dialogue can continue with those who have built homes on public land and it will be possible to find an agreed solution in accordance with the law."
The U.S. Embassy had no comment.
Since Netanyahu initially delayed the plan, he has found himself in deep conflict with the Obama administration over Jewish construction in East Jerusalem.
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Israel has to be out of it's mind to attempt this trick at this delicate stage. Has it no shame?
when the Jewish homes are sealed or torn down, you people say nothing about Jewish rights, when an arab home is threatened your in an uproar. leftist/arab racism shows again
Prime Minister Netanyahu "It will be possible to find an agreed solution in accordance with the law." 223 Outstanding UN resolutions waiting to be closed by Israel
As if this is really important. Tell me what is hurtful to the peace process. Shooting ROCKETS at civilians from Gaza? Or razing vacant homes that endangers nobodies life? Well folks the vote is in. The houses seem more important to the anti-Israel writers here, amazing? It shows the upside down world we live in. The people buy in to these distractions by the Pallywood crowd. Never mind that the Palestinians really don't want peace. Don't pay any attention to the term "indirect talks" meaning the Palestinians won't even sit down and talk to Israel directly, what do you need to wake up!!! The Palestinians don't want peace, they want to destroy Israel altogether and then rid the Middle East of all the Jews, wake up!! Let's at least be honest about it or isn't that polite?
Good move by the Mayor. Of course PA will get world "interference" and Netanyahu will back down again probably before the next " flotilla"
i try very hard not to get into the discussion of east jerusalem, but its becoming harder and harder each day, how on earth can anyone say, "oh, we need a park" lets turf 22 families out .How can you put your head on the pillow at night and sleep???
there is plenty of empty land around there...use Google earth Israel
so behave like guests and stop killing and attack people with ancestral bounds to the land.It will make you murderers and terrorists not the owner.
For the life of me I do not understand, how Israel does not ealize that they continue to dominate the news with such insensitive and ill-timed decision making, yet in the same breath blame Pres. Obama for not turning the historical blind-eye to these dumb decisions. You open up the Block-aide...one step ahead...Now this...two steps back....I am simply at a loss for words..
Some duplicity, empty promises and deceit that has marked this hapless government since its inception. Due to pressure from the international community they have to make (at least verbally) certain concession on goods entering Gaza under seige. Then they still need to show the Palestinians who is the real boss and they knock down homes in Silwan for their zionist theme park. Also want to send a signal to Obama that they still have not changed and are as masterful in their ability to insult as they have always been.What a vile government of liars and deceivers.
it was Israel with its Capital, Jerusalem. If country cannot make a decision of where to build, when, and how it is not a country. It is not for world to decide what to demolish and what to construct... Seems like lately, all these snot-nosed, fanats with shady pasts trying to dictate Israel what to do and how to do it... Tourist center sounds pretty nice to me... I for once will visit it as soon as it is build... Sholom my Jewish friends...
Rockets fired at civilian targets from Gaza or demolishing homes? Which is the more serious? The world apparently thinks demolishing a vacant house a more serious event. Why? It's bizarre that this gets more PR than rocket attacks against civilians. This telling fact is the heart of the issue. The fact is Israel's enemies want to ethnically cleanse the Middle East of all Jews and nobody wants to talk about it. Instead they fall for the talking points of the Palestinians i.e. home demolitions, settlements, blockades, checkpoints etc., when truth of the matter is this, the long range goal of the Pals is to destroy Israel and get rid of the Jews in the Middle East, all of them. When you zoom out from the forest and stop looking at the trees that is the reality on the ground. Anybody who thinks this isn't the case is just fooling themselves.
In any case, Jerusalem is eternal Jewish capital and nobody will tell Israel how to enforce the law there.
Israel should build in Jerusalem, as it sees fit. destroying arab homes is unethical, and the world is not blind. welcome to the 21st century where information is readily available. Time for the Pals to have a state. with old Jerusalem part of Israel, except for the muslim sector and el aksa. I am sure the armenians and christians would rather live in Israel (but they can be asked). these peti moves are just hurting israel
However, I would rather them build Jewish homes instead of a tourist attraction. Jerusalem is for Jews!
Israel has the right to build as they please as they are a soverign country. no one would tel the usa where to build.
The annexation of East Jerusalem was declared ILLEGAL by UNSC Resolution 252 (1968)of 21 May 1968 UNSC Resolution 267 (1969) of 3 July 1969 UNSC Resolution 271 (1969) of 15 September 1969, UNSC Resolution 298 (1971) of 25 September 1971, UNSC Resolution 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, UNSC Resolution 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980 And yet, Israel defies the International Community.
Demolish their houses, embargment, kill the civilians, kill their leaders all around the world with assaignations, arrest their ministers and tell to the world that Paletians are the animals that can not even talk between each other. And ask to the world, Peace but with whom. Everybody stupid but the Israilians.
THey are illegally built structures seems alot of people here miss this part. Jerusalem in Jewish whats the issue?
...both our friends and our enemies...? ...clearly his ambitions are quite beyond his mayorial office...
Obama engages in hand wringing and moaning about settlement expansion and then allows himself to be shut up by Netanyahu, who then does as he likes. If Obama is serious about getting settlement expansion curbed, then he needs to begin by suspending all American aid to Israel. He will then get his way. If he does not do this, then I agree with Netanyahu. He should shut up.
Sounds like some more steps towards the ethnocide in EJ are taken. If no cemetery is found under the rubbles, maybe the city council could move the so called 'Museum of Tolerance' project to that place, instead of building accomodation for xenophobic tourists. In many countries, any significant alteration to a building or to an area is by law the subject of a public preliminary enquiry, during everyone may have his or her say.
What do you expect - if you build a home in central park they will tear it down - don't build illegally and won't have to face the consequences - the city should not have to give up it's land and a tourist center with shops, art gallery, and more that create badly needed JOBS in the city. Tens of thousands of Jerusalem residents, Palestinian and Jewish will benefit from this and should not be stopped because of 22 illegally uilt homes.
If they were only half annoyed about this continuation of clear policies of ethnic cleansing, then they would have said "This is excellent, and we fully support it". Saying nothing means the US must be livid, given how enthusiastically they usually are...
These homes are illegal. What's the beef???
Israel's claims to East Jerusalem is illegal. That's the beef, Jenny. (In fact, it's broader than that. That's why no country on the planet has its embassy in Jerusalem.)
"Now, after fine-tuning the plan and seeking more cooperation with the residents as far as their needs and improving the quality of their lives, the municipality is ready to submit the plans for the first stage of approval," Barkat spokesman Stephan Miller said Monday. ___________________ ...Utter cynical nonsense. This isn't seeking cooperation from residents, but rather war against residents. It is becoming almost impossible as a Jew in the diaspora to continue supporting Israel. Heartbreaking for Palestinian families, and so discouraging for those of us who have supported a Jewish democratic homeland upholding basic human rights.
More arab properties being grabbed. When will this end???
the pal arabs have no claim to East Jerusalem, their capital is in Amman, but beside that fact. there should be no problem with them living in Jerusalem, but the law needs to be enforced against those that have built illegally. its rediculous to even discuss the issue whether Israel should pay for their relocation. Don't build illegaly and your home won't be torn down. The Jews can't built illegally and either can the arabs its as simple as that. even Hamas has been tearing down arab homes in gaza that were built illegally.
7. Slowman's supervisor goes away for the weekend. Why work hard? 6. Slowman figures that since there is no Saturday edition, the same Talkback forums will be there tomorrow too. Why do the work instead of leaving it for the next censor? 5. Jerusalem Post pays Slowman an extra bonus to ruin Haaretz`s most read Friday edition. 4. Slowman does not have a Friday on his calendar. He is so slow that even resting takes him much longer, what we call Friday and Saturday. 3. Slowman collects a "double portion" of posts to eat over Friday and Saturday (as in the two chalah-bread used) and this leaves very few posts for publication. 2. His absent supervisor had to turn off the hot plate under Slowman's feet that makes him move faster. (Fire Department regulations.) 1. How is Friday different from any other day?
Another measure which is not capable of bringing the Peace to israeli citizens in the next months... It's really a suicide !
It's impossible to divert world attention on flotilla incident by this announcement
Let us keep doing it, we will not get too far. I am sure that there are many like me that desagree, but the government is held hostage by far right fanatics.
untimely
May Bibi renounce again to his trip to the white house?
Completely insane. Immoral. Outrageous.
This is not how you promote peace!
... it would signify the end of his candidacy... ... he's planning his future political options...
Since there is no such thing as a palestinian, there should be no problem demolishing whatever structures in this area that are in the way of the project, The region got the name palestine from the Romans about 2000 years ago--now that was an occupation! If nothing else can be said for the Romans, they knew how to occupy and control a territory. It was from the perversion of the region's real name, Phillistia" that the Romans got their terminology of palestine. The phillistines were, of course, the ancient arch-enemies of the Hebrew children. There is no genetic evidence that the so-called West-Bank arabs are desended from the phillistine sojourners of Canaan. So, go ahead! You won the east Jerusalem territory back from Jordan fais and square. Do what you want with it. Sha' alu Shalom Yerushalayim.
Interesting analysis on history here. There is a history of loss by the Jewish people of the land - the Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Romans. It was Darius (Persian) who freed them from Babylon and ordered the temple to be rebuilt - the one the Romans destroyed. Jerusalem was a Canaanite city with a history at least 1000 years prior to the Jews arriving. The Canaanites are the ancestors of the modern Palestinians. Sinful Israel(i government) should be more concerned with its own actions than those of other men? The fear is that history will repeat itself
pratt by name, pratt by nature!!!
This has nothing to do with labels or names. The current indigenous people in the area happen to call themselves Palestinian. It's no concern to you if they choose to call themselves the easter bunnies or even the original Israelites of yester-year. The fact remains that they are there and standing tall. And you have the gaul to bring up genetics. Well zisraeli scientist concluded that 80% of the Pals hold the y-chromosome that the original Israelites carried, yet only 15% of the Jewish population in Israel does today. You're an idiot to the extreme. You have no right to raze their homes from lands which they've lived for millenia.
You are pretty alone about that opinion which are good for both the Israel and Palestinian people. Besides that, it's only semantics that doesnt change the fact that there are living a people who call them selves palestinians and are recognized as Palestinians internationally and by UN. The sad part is that the hard core extremists at both sides refuse to accept either palestinians as palestinians or the people of Israel as the people of Isarel. They refuse to accept the existience of millions of humans who lives at both sides and doesnt want to be a part of the conflict. They want peace. But warmongers at both sides does everything to destroy every oportunity to peace. Either Israel build more settlements/buildings/wall at ockupied palestinian territory or hamas or some other terrorists fires rockets at Israel. It's and infinite spiral of violence that need to end right now. The children of Israel _and_ Palestine deserves better than an endless war and never ending terrorism. They deserve peace, once and for all! You wont achieve any peace with your way of thinking. Maybe peace isnt anything for you worth to struggle for?
I didn't think this was a forum for comedy.
I guess even prats need something to do......
Ethnic cleansing goes on until revolt which will be called terrorism as usual.
would dare to object in fear of it being callind "ethnic cleansing" . btw ,if you want revolts,look no furher than to your suburbs ,there might be a hot summer again..Hide your car.
is anti Justice and no Democratic. Civilized People do not act this way! Enough is enough!
And yet you ask why do they hate us?
who authorize you to do such action, so long as this does not belong to you.
indicating his regret, but he understands Israel's right to defend itself. Obama, you I am glad I did not vote for you!
I did and i regret my vote until i died!! he is a puppet for israel !
Don't you think that if McCain had won Israel could have razed 2200 Pal homes in East-Jerusalem with the full support of the White House?
And if you look on your right you will see the crater where achmed's house used to be. whilst on your left is the newest Jewish colony, sorry settlement in Israel.
We should raze the Jewish Ghetto in Prague - to make room for a Christian center - no use keeping a neighborhood alive of a people who never belonged in Europe in the first place. We should all reciprocate - action by action, to what Israel does - laws, etc. For example: The idea that the court in Israel does not recognize a marriage between a jew and a non-jew is the height of racism, how is that even justified? can you imagine Europeans making a law that no marriage with a jew will be recognized by the state?
here's another exaple of some laws: the existing arab laws that they would be killed it they would sell land to Jew, or an arab would be fined and jailed if cought working for a Jew or are you not affended by that? Strange though, you state the jews didn't belong in Prague, which I'm sure your family members agreed with when they destroyed the jewish population there 70 years ago, the arabs feel the jews don't belong in israel, and they have been trying to kill the jews there for years as well. well for all you anti-semites the Jews are back in Israel our historical homeland and we're here to stay so get over it and if you don't like it, we don't care.
By your statement that jews don't belong in Europe you simply strengthen jewish claim to lsrael (Judea). Historically speaking the jews were brought to Europe by the Romans as slaves against their will and the germans, among others including your purebred forefathers, were the ones who tried to exterminate them. Your concern for the fate of arabs seems to be more an expression of your hate of the jews rather than that of a bleeding heart. As far as the marriage issue is concerned you have no idea what you are talking about.
As if there is not enough tension in Jerusalem and not enough distance from peace-making with Palestinians, this selfish mayor wants to raze more homes in E. Jerusalem for a tourist centre! For goodness' sake, if there is increase tension that leads to provoked terrorism, there will be no tourists and no need for such a centre in E. Jerusalem!!
There will only be foreign jewish and US evangelist tourists!
"Jerusalem's mayor pressed ahead Monday with a contentious plan to raze 22 Palestinian homes to make room for a tourist center" Disgusting mayor. Disgusting country should this go through. Even more disgusting if possible is "The U.S. Embassy had no comment."
Look at it this way. Governments take their time for reactions if they are likely to create conflict with the other party. And since when does the US Embassy issue statements at all on sensitive political differences and certainly before the White House or State Department have done in cases like this? Haaretz fooled you there with non-information. The longer it takes, the more harsh and condemning Obama's response will be is my guess. Behind closed doors pressure is most propably already mounting on Bibi to find a way to stop this without loosing his cabinet and thus without the risk of Lieberman as PM after new elections. I just truly hope Obama realizes this is a prize he must not pay to Bibi in order not to loose his indirect peace talks.