US: Silwan demolitions mar peace talks
The Israeli al-Quds (Jerusalem) municipal planning committee on Monday approved plans to raze 22 Palestinian homes in the city's Silwan neighborhood to make room for the construction of a tourist center.
The demolitions are to take place in a site called al-Bustan, which is home to about 50,000 Palestinians and 70 Jewish families and also in central Silwana, where Israeli authorities claim almost half of the buildings are considered illegal and subject to demolition for breaching a height restriction of two stories.
"This is expressly the kind of step that we think undermines trust that is fundamental in making progress to the proximity talks and ultimately in direct negotiations," said US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley referring to US-sponsored indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
"We're concerned about it," he said, adding that Washington had passed on its concern to Tel Aviv in a number of conversations.
The demolition plans drew strong criticism from Palestinians, with top PA negotiator Saeb Erekat accusing Israel of efforts to sabotage the indirect peace talks.
Silwan residents also vehemently protested the decision, demanding the Israeli committee to discuss an alternative plan that does not include razing their homes. Meanwhile they are expected to call on international organization to intervene and overturn the demolition plans.
MRS/MMA