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Demolished east Jerusalem home (Archives)
Photo: AFP

Saudi FM says Israel's plan to raze Palestinian homes 'dangerous'

Prince Saud al-Faisal calls reported plan to raze east Jerusalem homes 'counter-indication' of Israel's commitment to peace, reflection of Netanyahu's 'extreme position'

A reported Israeli plan to raze Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem and surround the city with Jewish-controlled sites is dangerous, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said Tuesday.

 

Prince Saud called the moves a "counter-indication" of Israel's commitment to peace, and said they reflect new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "extreme position" on the Arab-backed two-states peace plan for the region.

 

The peace plan calls for the Palestinians and Israelis to share Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

 

"It is hoped that it (Israel) will take steps to prove its sincerity in applying itself to peace instead of continuing operations in Jerusalem," Prince Saud told a news conference.

 

"It is not only dangerous in itself. It is dangerous as an indication of the intent of Israel toward peace," he said. "That should worry everybody."

 

Sunday, an Israeli rights group said the government has secret plans to surround Jerusalem's Old City with sites under its control to strengthen its hold on the divided city.

 

"The aim is to put in place in coordination with ultra-nationalist settler groups nine biblical parks, focusing almost exclusively on the ancient Jewish past of the city," said Daniel Seidemann of the Ir Amim advocacy group.

 

The plan would involve razing Palestinian homes built without permits in east Jerusalem, which Seidemann warned could pour fuel on the simmering Palestinian- Israeli conflict.

 

The Saudis have recently put much effort into drumming up support for their revived 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

 

The plan has been received coolly by the new Israeli government but was endorsed in its general principles by the US.

 

Netanyahu will visit Washington next week, where he is expected to be pressed by US President Barack Obama to enter peace talks on a two-state solution that would include a shared Jerusalem.

 

But Prince Saud said such talks would be difficult "without a moderate Israeli position on peace, not an extreme position as Netanyahu is accustomed to speak." 

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.12.09, 19:56
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