Clinton slams Israel for evicting Arab families from East Jerusalem

[IndianaGreen]

Last update - 04:37 04/08/2009

Clinton slams Israel for evicting Arab families from East Jerusalem

By Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday criticized Israel for the eviction two Palestinian families from an Arab neighborhood in east Jerusalem, calling the move "deeply regrettable".

"The eviction of families and demolition of homes in east Jerusalem is not in keeping with Israeli obligations and I urge the government of Israel and municipal officials to refrain from such provocative actions," Clinton said.

The evictions came after the Supreme Court ruled that the houses belonged to Jews and that the Arab families had been living there illegally

Clinton's statements came during a meeting in Washington with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who told Clinton that incremental confidence-building measures that the U.S. wants Arab states to take will not produce a resolution to the conflict.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1104949.html

[lsewpershad]

1. Is that all we can do?

Slam, write letters....talk, talk and more talk. Can't we take stronger action?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. The claim is that they broke their lease...a civil not a state matter

[Scurrilous]

2. Washington summons Israel envoy over East Jerusalem eviction

<snip>

"Washington issued another diplomatic protest over Israeli conduct in East Jerusalem on Monday, its second in as many weeks.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman summoned Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to Washington, to tell him that the United States views Sunday's eviction of two Palestinian families from homes in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood as a "provocative" and "unacceptable" act that violates Israel's obligations under the road map peace plan."

<snip>

"Two weeks ago, Oren received a similar American protest over a plan to build 20 apartments for Jews in the Shepherd Hotel compound in Sheikh Jarrah. That protest prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retort that Israel would never accept Jews being denied the right to live anywhere in Jerusalem.

Shortly before Oren was summoned by Feltman on Monday, Israeli Ambassador to Sweden Benny Dagan was summoned to that country's foreign ministry for a similar rebuke. Swedish officials told Dagan that they did not understand the timing of the evictions, nor do they accept the legal arguments behind the move. Sweden currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1105309.html