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Israel Demolishes Palestinian Buildings in East Jerusalem

   VOA News 13 July 2010
   An Israeli border police officer stands guard as a Palestinian home is
   demolished  in  the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, 13 Jul
   2010

Photo: AP

   An Israeli border police officer stands guard as a Palestinian home is
   demolished  in  the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, 13 Jul
   2010

   Israeli  authorities  have evicted a Palestinian family and demolished
   their home in East Jerusalem.
   Demolition  crews  protected by Israeli security forces also tore down
   two  other  buildings  under  construction in East Jerusalem, a mostly
   Arab  area  that  was  occupied  by  Israel  after  the  1967 war. The
   demolitions were the first in eight months.
   Israel  says  the  buildings  were  destroyed  because they were built
   without  permits.  Palestinians  say  they are forced to build without
   permits  because  Israel  rarely agrees to Palestinian construction in
   East Jerusalem.
   Chief  Palestinian  negotiator  Saeb Erekat said Israel has chosen the
   path of settlements rather than peace.
   European  Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also criticized the
   demolitions,  calling  them  illegal  and an obstacle to peace. He was
   speaking  in Brussels during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister
   Salam Fayyad.
   Israel  claims  all of Jerusalem as its capital, but its annexation of
   East Jerusalem is not recognized internationally.
   Israel  suspended  home  demolitions  last year when the United States
   increased  pressure on both Israelis and Palestinians to avoid actions
   that could undermine efforts to restart the peace process.

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   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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