Clinton criticises Israel over Jerusalem demolition

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http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/news/international/Clinton_criticises_Israel_over_Jerusalem_demolition.html?siteSect=143&sid=10400387&cKey=1236236923000&ty=ti

By Sue Pleming and Mohammed Assadi

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticised Israel on Wednesday over plans to demolish Palestinian homes in Arab East Jerusalem and said Washington would engage Israeli leaders on Jewish settlements.

Calling the planned destruction of more than 80 dwellings "unhelpful," Clinton said after talks with Palestinian leaders: "It is an issue that we intend to raise with the government of Israel and the government at the municipal level in Jerusalem."

Israel says the homes slated for demolition were built without permits.

Palestinians say authorisation from Israel's Jerusalem municipality is nearly impossible to obtain. They accuse Israel of trying to drive them out of East Jerusalem, captured in the 1967 war, to make room for Jewish families.

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1. A step in the right direction