Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Hillary Blasts Israel's Demolition of Palestinian Homes


In her first visit to the Middle East as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton endorsed the two-state solution and condemned Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes.

Doesn't this photo look like feminist science fiction?

Ha'aretz reports:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday blasted Israel's plans to demolish Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem as a violation of its international obligations and "unhelpful" to Middle East peace efforts.
"Clearly this kind of activity is unhelpful and not in keeping with the obligations entered into under the 'road map'," Clinton said, referring to the long-stalled peace plan. "It is an issue that we intend to raise with the government of Israel and the government at the municipal level in Jerusalem," she added at a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Clinton said she planned to take up the issue with the incoming Israeli government, which is expected to take office in the coming weeks. Israel has in recent days issued orders for the demolition of 80 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem it says were built illegally.

But Palestinians say they cannot receive proper building permits from Israeli authorities, and the planned demolitions are means to assert Israel's control over the disputed city.