Israeli defense minister says east Jerusalem demolition plan lacks ‘common sense’

more images

more images

more images

more images

Defense chief criticizes Jerusalem demolition plan

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister on Tuesday criticized a Jerusalem planning body’s approval for razing 22 Palestinian homes in the disputed eastern part of the city to make room for an Israeli tourist center, saying it lacked “common sense” and “a sense of timing.”

Ehud Barak, who is in Washington for talks with the Obama administration, made the statement after the State Department criticized the Israeli plan to build shops, restaurants, art galleries and a large community center on the site where some say the biblical King David wrote his psalms.

Barak heads Israel’s Labor Party, the centrist element in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s center-right coalition and favors far-reaching concessions to the Palestinians.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s office rejected Barak’s comments, saying the plan would rehabilitate a neglected section of the city and that he wants to build thousands of apartments for Arab residents.

In neighboring Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said after talks with King Abdullah that he “categorically rejects” Israel’s plan because it “is a stumbling bloc in the path of the political process.” Abbas urged the U.S. to ask Israel to “stop such measures.”

U.N. spokesman Richard Miron called the Jerusalem’s municipality’s decision worrying.

“We will be reminding the Israeli government of its responsibilities, and ensure that provocative steps are not taken in the city, particularly at this fragile time when the goal must be to build trust and support political negotiations,” he said.

In March, Netanyahu pressured Jerusalem’s mayor to hold up the plan so authorities could consult with Palestinians who would lose their homes. The delay appeared designed to fend off U.S. criticism at a time when relations are tense.

____

The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over east Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem construction plan was also mentioned Tuesday by Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who was responding to Netanyahu’s calls for direct and non-conditional peace talks. Erekat said that if Netanyahu really wanted such talks, “he wouldn’t make decisions like demolishing Palestinian houses.”

Erekat repeated that Palestinian conditions for talks remain the same — the halt of “all settlement building, including in Jerusalem.”

President Barack Obama’s Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, has been mediating indirect peace talks for weeks but no progress has been reported.

____

Associated Press Writer Jamal Halaby in Amman, Jordan, contributed to this report.