Palestinian homes bulldozed as Israeli freeze on demolitions appears to end

Watches this Palestinian homes bulldozed as Israeli freeze on demolitions appears to end


Authorities said homes were built without planning permission, which Palestinians say is almost impossible to obtain
An unfinished Palestinian home in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Isawiyya being bulldozed by Israelis today. Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli bulldozers destroyed at least three Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem yesterday, breaking an unofficial moratorium on such demolitions since the end of 2009.

At least one of the homes was occupied by a family of seven, who removed their belongings shortly before it was razed.

Jerusalem city authorities said the homes were built without proper planning permission, which Palestinians say is almost impossible to obtain.

Basem Isawi, 48, a contractor, said he built his home illegally for about $25,000 because he was convinced the municipality would deny him a permit. He had been notified of the impending demolition.

Under pressure from Washington, Israel has largely refrained from demolitions since November, when a temporary, partial freeze on settlement construction was agreed.

Approval was given on Monday for 32 new homes in the Jewish neighbourhood of Pisgat Ze'ev, East Jerusalem, which is exempt from the freeze. A further 48 housing units should be approved next week.

Settlements on land occupied by Israel in 1967 are illegal under international law. "The rule of thumb in this part of the world is that in the run-up to US elections Israel has a free hand," said Jeff Halper, of the International Committee against House Demolitions. "Israel is taking advantage of that."

Meanwhile, the Israeli navy said it had made contact with the Amalthea, a ship carrying 2,000 tonnes of supplies and 15 activists which had threatened to break the sea blockade of Gaza. It was reported that the ship's captain told Israeli navy ships following him that he was heading for the Egyptian port of El-Arish.

Israeli naval vessels will continue to accompany the Libyan ship, because a last-minute course change could head the ship toward Gaza. El-Arish is in the Egyptian Sinai desert close to Gaza
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Israeli navy on alert as Libyan aid ship heads for Gaza

Experience Israeli navy on alert as Libyan aid ship heads for Gaza

Israel has strictly maintained its blockade of Gaza port. Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP
A Libyan ship carrying aid and activists is heading for Gaza in a mission that Israel has described as an "unnecessary provocation".

The Israeli navy is monitoring the vessel's progress and preparing to intervene if it continues on a course to Gaza.

"I say very clearly, no ship will arrive in Gaza. We will not permit our sovereignty to be harmed," the foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said in a radio broadcast.

The ship, Amalthea, sailed from Greece at the weekend. It is carrying up to 15 activists and 2,000 tonnes of food and medicine, according to the organisers, a charity chaired by a son of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

The new attempt to break the naval blockade of Gaza comes six weeks after the Israeli navy's lethal interception of a flotilla, in which nine Turkish activists were killed. The assault prompted a wave of international condemnation and resulted in Israel agreeing to ease its blockade of Gaza.

However, it is strictly maintaining its sea blockade, saying it fears that any relaxation could lead to arms being shipped to militants in Gaza.

The Amalthea's captain was quoted as saying: "I haven't received any instructions to change the ship's original course. I am sailing to Gaza." The crew were expecting to reach Gaza on Wednesday.

"We hope the Israelis will not ban the ship from entering the port of Gaza," Youssef Sawani, director of the Libyan charity organising the trip, told Reuters.

"If they decide to do so we have no means to object to that. This is a peaceful mission. Our sole goal and intention is to have the goods delivered to those who need it. It is not to make an event or a show in high seas."

Israel has made intense diplomatic efforts to ensure the Amalthea does not approach Gaza.

Greece, from where the boat sailed, Moldova, under whose flag the boat is operating, and Egypt all agreed the Amalthea should be directed to El-Arish in Egypt, where its cargo would be unloaded, inspected and transferred to Gaza, Israeli officials said.

Gabriela Shalev, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, wrote to the secretary general Ban Ki-moon, saying: "This mission is completely unwarranted ... We are deeply concerned that the true nature of its actions remains dubious."

She urged the international community to exert influence on Libya "to prevent the ship from departing to the Gaza Strip".

A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry said: "We are concerned about another political provocation. Libya is not a country that is heading efforts to protect human rights."
© Guardian News and Media Limited 2010