NEWS JUNKIE POST
Aug 3, 2009 at 9:08 amPalestinian Families Evicted From East-Jerusalem Despite Netanyahu’s Promises
On Sunday, two Palestinian families were evicted (see photo) from their home in East-Jerusalem, after a group of Jewish settlers claimed to hold the title deeds of the properties.
The eviction took place in the mainly Arab district of Sheikh Jarrah, it was based on a decision made by the Israeli Supreme Court after an appeal filled by the Nahalat Shimon International settlers group. During the eviction, Israeli’s riot police clashed with protesters and arrested around 10 people.
One of the Palestinian evicted said: “I was born in this house, and so were my children. Now we are on the streets, we have become refugees.”
Another Palestinian, resident of Sheikh Jarrah for more than 50 years, added: “We are all afraid of being kicked out, now.”
This new incident is in clear defiance of recent international protests, including from the Obama administration, over the expansion of Jewish settlements in East-Jerusalem.
For his part, Palestinian peace negotiator, Saeb Erakat, made the following statement: “Israel is once again showing its utter failure to respect international law. New settlers from abroad are accommodating themselves and their belonging in the Palestinian houses, and 19 newly homeless Palestinian children will have nowhere to sleep.”
The United Nations also strongly condemned the actions of Israel: “I deplore the totally unacceptable action by Israel in which Israeli security forces evicted Palestinian families to allow settlers to take possession of their properties”, said Richard Miron, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle-East Peace Process.
The eviction of families and demolition of houses in East-Jerusalem is not honoring Israel’s commitments & obligations. This new provocative decision, and course of action, completely contradict the promises to freeze settlements expansion made, on July 28TH, by Israel’s PM Netanyahu to George Mitchell, the US envoy in the Middle-East.
