Al-Husseini: Israeli efforts to close Beit al-Sharq conflict with peace
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 5/11/1999

The Israeli government has reiterated its claims that the occupied city of Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel and is under its sovereignty. Replying to a question asked by journalists on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinians defy the Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, "This matter is unacceptable for Israel which considers Jerusalem is its united capital and under its own control."

Netanyahu added that the mini Israeli Cabinet has taken a decision that if the Palestinian side will not close the offices by themselves, Israel will do so, Israel Radio reported.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat discussed with Netanyahu's lawyer Yitzhak Mulkhou the decision to close down to offices at Beit al-Sharq (the Orient House) in occupied Jerusalem. The Palestinian official in charge of the Jerusalem file in the PLO, Faisal al-Husseini, announced that negotiations would have started on Monday with the Israeli side following the declaration made by the Israeli side that it was to issue later in the day its decision to shut down the two offices.

Al-Husseini added that negotiations with Israel have been continued for more than a week and, "We are ready to close down units rather than offices."

Al-Husseini added, "We showed flexibility in discussing any Israeli proposal."

However, the Israeli government asked officials at Beit al-Sharq to transfer offices to the neighboring Abu Deis town, but the Palestinians refused the proposal. Palestinian sources said that negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides indicate a nearby middle solution.

For his part chief Palestinian negotiater Saeb Erekat warned against Israel's closing down of offices in Beit al-Sharq. In a statement to the Israel Radio on Monday, Erekat added that the Israeli government will fully bear the results of these steps, which are of "electoral political nature," especially its Monday decision to encourage settlement operations in the heart of the occupied territories. He described these Israeli decisions as "crazy."

The Israeli High Court of Justice issued a restraining order against the Israeli government decision to close the three Palestinian offices of the "Orient House" in Jerusalem. The delay is till after the Israeli election.

Previous Stories:
  Israel orders Orient House closures   (5/10/1999)
  Arafat heads to Denmark   (5/3/1999)
  Weizman criticizes decision to close Arafat's headquarters in Jerusalem   (4/24/1999)
  El-Husseini meets the international ambassadors in Jerusalem   (4/23/1999)

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