Outrage at East Jerusalem evictions

03/08/2009| IslamWeb

The United States and the UN have "condemned" Israel's forcible eviction of two Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem.

Washington sent a letter to the Israeli foreign ministry in Jerusalem, stressing the move went "against the country's obligations" under the so-called "road map" to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

US diplomats said a high-level protest will be communicated to Israel later on Monday.

Speaking after the al-Ghawi and al-Hanoun families were evicted on Sunday, Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said: "I deplore today's totally unacceptable actions by Israel.

"These actions are contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions related to occupied territory."

The homes from where the Palestinians were evicted would reportedly give way to a hotel project believed to have been sanctioned by Israel.

'Extremist agenda'

The British consulate which, along with other foreign missions, is located in Sheikh Jarrah where the Palestinian families had been living for more than half a century, said it was "appalled".

The consulate said in a statement: "The Israelis' claim that the imposition of extremist Jewish settlers into this ancient Arab neighborhood is a matter for the courts ... is unacceptable.

"These actions are incompatible with the Israeli professed desire for peace.

"We urge Israel not to allow the extremists to set the agenda."

Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian negotiator, said: "Tonight, while these new settlers from abroad will be accommodating themselves and their belongings in these Palestinian houses, 19 newly homeless children will have nowhere to sleep.

"If the Israeli prime minister continues with settlement activities, he will undermine the efforts to revive the peace process."

The eviction on Sunday comes amid international calls for Israel to halt settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli policemen stand guard as Jewish settlers enter a Palestinian house following the eviction of the family that used to live there in occupied east Jerusalem's Arab district of Sheikh Jarrah.

Al-Jazeera