EU denounces Israel's demolition of Sheikh Jarrah hotel
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton denounced Israel's demolition of the Shepherd Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of east Jerusalem, saying it was a "Palestinian symbol." She said east Jerusalem was part of the occupied Palestinian territories and the EU does not recognize Israel's annexation of this area.
The UK's Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt also condemned the demolition, saying, "This latest settlement activity does not help – on the contrary, it raises tensions unnecessarily." (Ronen Medzini and AFP)
