'Israel destroying peace talks'
Saeb Erekat says Israel is trying to sabotage indirect peace talks through the demolition of Silwan neighborhood homes in East al-Quds (Jerusalem.)
On Monday, the chief Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) negotiator called on the international community to "halt these dangerous steps" and said that the move "proves that Israel has decided to destroy the proximity talks with the Palestinians."
Erekat said that on Monday the Israeli al-Quds (Jerusalem) municipal planning committee approved the demolition of 22 Silwan homes to make room for the construction of a tourist center.
The site, called al-Bustan, is a section of the larger neighborhood of Silwan, which is home to about 50,000 Palestinians and 70 Jewish families.
Silwan residents have vehemently objected to the plan, which would lead to forced evictions and demolitions, and have demanded that the committee discuss an alternative plan that does not include razing their homes, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
'Israel destroying peace talks'
'Israel destroying peace talks'
For those interested and capable of reading more than a few Palin-speak clauses... it appears the US administration and people are quickly reaching the same conclusion:
According to Israeli newspaper Ha??aretz, US special ambassador to the Middle East George Mitchell is growing increasingly frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu??s ??unserious? attitude on the indirect peace talks.
According to the reports, officials say that Netanyahu is refusing to seriously address a number of core issues, allowing the already slow-moving talks to turn into a glacial paced act of futility.
Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren has conceded that tensions with the US have ??gone beyond a crisis that eventually passes? and says that the two nations are increasingly ??drifting apart.? It seems as these tensions rise the prospect of the US-brokered peace talks going anywhere are looking increasingly remote.
See: US Frustrated with Indirect Talks
