Israel: we'll do what we want, international order for the weak
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/6/1998

In what has become a familiar story of total disregard to signed agreements, international community opinion, or UN demands, Israel and its internal security minister Avigdor Kahalani has reiterated his government's threats to demolish Arab-owned houses in occupied Arab Jerusalem.

In statements he made yesterday to the Israeli Knesset, Kahalani said his ministry will persist in offering all aid asked for by occupied Jerusalem municipality and the Interior Ministry to pull down Arab-owned houses and build new settlements units.

Kahalani alleged that cases of building unlicensed Arab-owned houses in occupied Jerusalem have increased. The Israeli government along with occupied Jerusalem municipality and its mayor, Ehud Olmert, are pursuing a policy of oppression against Palestinian citizens in Jerusalem with the purpose of forcing them to leave their city, Israeli radio reported.

Meanwhile, Olmert made an inspection visit to Bab al-Amoud area, in which a project to build 132 new housing units was approved on Tuesday by the Israeli Interior Ministry. Jewish settlers sources said all measures were taken to embark on building new settlement units in coordination with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Further reports said that the Israeli Ministry of the Interior also ratified setting up 500 new settlements units in different areas of the West Bank, particularly in occupied Jerusalem.

Jewish settlers entered Ras al-Amoud last September with the support of the Israeli government and occupied a number of Palestinian houses in it after they displaced their legitimate owners, in spite of international and Arab protests.

The Israeli government's new decision concerning starting and increasing settlement building in the Palestinian lands, particularly in Jerusalem, came at a time the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are faltering as well as the Israeli government's rejection of commitment to the bases and principles of all the agreements it has signed with the Palestinians, including carrying out the steps of redeployment in the West Bank.

Israel's decision coincides with unconfirmed reports that said Netanyahu returned from his recent visit to Washington with a green light and unlimited American support for his government's policies.

Yesterday we reported that Palestinian Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Abdul Rahman said the move will be the spark that will cause the already tense relations to explode, while Palestine Higher Education Minister Hanan Ashrawi described the Israeli decision as more proof that Israel is seeking to destroy the peace process.

Previous Stories:
  Ras Al Amoud settlement in East Jerusalem: A time bomb is ticking again   (2/5/1998)
  Palestinians reported distancing themselves from Saddam Hussein   (2/3/1998)
  Agreements and differences between Clinton and Netanyahu   (1/21/1998)

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