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Israelis Rally in Support of Settlement Building

   VOA News 24 December 2010
   Israeli  right-wing  activists  protest in Jerusalem in support of the
   rabbis'  letter  forbidding  Jews  from selling or renting property to
   non-Jews  as  well as to hail settlement activity in the occupied West
   Bank and East Jerusalem, 23 Dec 2010

Photo: AFP

   Israeli  right-wing  activists  protest in Jerusalem in support of the
   rabbis'  letter  forbidding  Jews  from selling or renting property to
   non-Jews  as  well as to hail settlement activity in the occupied West
   Bank and East Jerusalem, 23 Dec 2010

   Thousands  of  demonstrators have gathered in Jerusalem to protest any
   renewal  of  a  Jewish  settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank or
   East Jerusalem.
   The  protesters,  who rallied late Thursday, also voiced support for a
   letter signed by dozens of Israeli rabbis this month that would forbid
   the rental of homes to non-Jews.
   The  protest  comes in the wake of increased tensions between Israelis
   and   Palestinians  over  settlement  construction,  a  key  issue  in
   U.S.-mediated peace talks between the two sides.
   Direct  talks between the two sides broke down after an Israeli freeze
   on  West  Bank  settlement building expired in September. Palestinians
   oppose construction on land they want as part of a future state.
   Palestinians  want  a state that would include the West Bank, Gaza and
   East  Jerusalem  --  land  captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
   Israel has not agreed to those conditions.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
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