Palestinian sources report on Israeli construction, settlement activity

The Palestinian news agencies Wafa and Ma'an, and Al-Quds Arabic daily report on July 8 and 9 on the Israeli settlement activity in Jerusalem and the closure of the Palestinian Housing Council's office in the city by the Israeli authorities.

Ramallah Wafa (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic - Palestine News Agency; controlled by the PNA Presidency - carries a report on 9 July at 2044 gmt entitled "Presidency Warns Against Repercussions on Negotiations of Ongoing Settlement Activity in East Jerusalem."

In response to the announcement made today by the so-called municipality of Jerusalem that the Israeli Civil Planning Committee had approved a project to build 920 houses in a settlement neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem, Nabil Abu-Rudaynah, the official spokesman of the presidency, said in a press release that "this policy damages Israel's seriousness regarding the negotiations."

He said that the Israeli settlement activity in the city is "not only blackmailing the Arabs and Palestinians but is also a provocation of the international community, particularly the International Quartet."

On 8 July at 1850 gmt the same news agency publishes a report saying that Prime Minister Salam Fayyad stressed that "Jerusalem represents one of the most important foundations of the Palestinian national enterprise, considering that it is the eternal capital of the independent state of Palestine." He also stressed "the determination of the PLO to assume all its responsibilities in an attempt to protect the Arab identity of Jerusalem, to ensure that its institutions are operating, and to provide the necessary services to its residents in a way that enhances their ability to remain steadfast and that foils the occupation's plan."

The prime minister stressed that uniting the efforts of all national institutions and frameworks in the city of Jerusalem is a prerequisite for the success of these objectives, noting that the National and Public Conference of Jerusalem serves as an umbrella and basic tool for the PLO in the city."

Bethlehem Ma'an News Agency in Arabic - independent, leading news agency, funded by the Dutch and Danish Foreign Ministries - carries a report on 8 July at 1123 gmt about the threat made by Dr Ahmad Abu-Halabiyah, head of the Jerusalem Committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council [PLC] and the International Jerusalem Institution in Gaza, to reveal the names of the real estate agents and Arab companies that sell land in Jerusalem to Israelis.

Abu-Halabiyah explained in the sixth report issued by the PLC's Jerusalem Committee that "June witnessed many Israeli violations and aggressive measures, including the prevention of a celebration marking the death of Faysal al-Husayni; digging up the corpses of Palestinians during excavation works in Jerusalem; the approval of the construction of 884 new houses in the city; in addition to the law approved by the Knesset according to which Jerusalem is not subject to negotiation."

Abu-Halabiyah noted other "violations," such as the construction of biblical gardens 200 meters from Al-Aqsa Mosque and the serving of demolition orders to houses in the Al-Magharibah neighbourhood.

Jerusalem Al-Quds in Arabic - independent, largest circulation, pro-Fatah daily - carries a report on 9 June on the closure of the Palestinian Housing Council [PHC] by the Israeli Ministry of Internal Security. Head of PHC Ibrahim Sha'ban said that "the PHC has filed a legal objection against the closure order issued last Wednesday by Israeli Minister of Internal Security Avi Dichter to close its office in Jerusalem."

He warned that "unless the Israeli minister of internal security replies positively to the objection, the PHC will go to court."

He said that "representatives from the Ministry of Internal Security served an order from Dichter to close the office. They kicked the employees out, welded the doors, and closed the office." He added: "They told the employees that the office has been closed because of its links with the PNA, which is wrong and which I categorically deny. The PHC has not taken a single penny from the PNA and does not have any links to it."

Sha'ban explained that "the PHC has been registered [at the Israeli Companies Registrar in Jerusalem] since before the Oslo Agreement and we are still working according to that. We pay the annual fee and have the receipts. We also pay taxes to the Israeli authorities every year."

He said that "the PHC has spent $160 million in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip since its establishment, including $60 [million] in Jerusalem alone," adding that "this money is legitimate and came from the EU, USAID, Islamic Development Bank, Bayt Mal Al-Quds, the campaign launched by the MBC satellite television channel, and OPEC."

He described the Israeli decision to close the office "as political, illegitimate, and illegal," explaining that "the Israelis want to empty Jerusalem of its residents and to deprive the citizens of the services of the PHC because the construction [of housing] strengthens the presence of the people on the ground. If they lose this presence, they will have to move out to live in Ramallah and Al-Izariyah."