Global General
Israel: No building restrictions in east Jerusalem
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-22 13:25
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Most Israelis consider them part of the Jewish state, but Palestinians equate them to West Bank settlements, considered illegal under international law.
Previous rounds of unsuccessful peace talks have included a formula for Israel retaining the Jewish neighborhoods while Palestinians got sovereignty over the Arab sections, but Netanyahu pointedly took that off the table when he took office a year ago.
In Gaza Sunday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel to end its blockade on Gaza, imposed after Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier in 2006 and tightened when the Islamic militant Hamas overran the territory the following year. Israel allows only basic humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
The blockade causes "unacceptable suffering" and "undercuts moderates and encourages extremists," Ban said after visiting a housing project in the Khan Younis refugee camp. "My message to the people of Gaza is this: The United Nations will stand with you, through this ordeal."
Most of the 15,000 homes destroyed or damaged during Israel's war in Gaza last winter have not been repaired because of the ban on importation of most building supplies. Israel launched the war after years of militant rocket fire from Gaza.
In West Bank violence Sunday, the Israeli military said troops in the West Bank shot dead two Palestinians carrying pitchforks and an ax who tried to attack a soldier.
Another Palestinian died of a head wound from a clash with Israeli soldier the day before. His brother was killed in the same protest.
Also Sunday, the Israeli military said it would build a checkpoint on lands of the Palestinian West Bank village of Betunia to search vehicles before they cross onto a major highway that links Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Israel's Supreme Court ordered the military to allow Palestinians to travel on parts of the road that were closed to them in 2002, after Palestinian militants shot at Israeli vehicles and killed several motorists.
