Jerusalem Moves to Demolish Palestinian Homes

JERUSALEM (June 21) -- As Israel basked in rare international approval for easing the blockade of Gaza, Jerusalem may have sparked new tensions with the Obama administration by granting preliminary approval for the demolition of 22 Palestinian homes to make room for a tourist center in east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March had put on hold plans for the so-called King's Garden project in the Silwan neighborhood, citing international, and especially U.S., opposition. This new decision by Jerusalem authorities comes two weeks before Netanyahu is due to meet President Barack Obama in Washington and could sour that trip.

Today, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the U.S. is concerned about the project.

A picture shows the Al-Bustan area in the Arab east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan on March 2, 2010.

Ahmad Gharabli, AFP/Getty Images

Jerusalem has granted preliminary approval for the destruction of 22 homes in the Silwan neighborhood of east Jerusalem. Here, the area, where Israel plans to build a tourist center, is pictured.

"We've had a number of conversations with the government of Israel about it," Crowley said. "This is expressly the kind of step that we think undermines trust that is fundamental to making progress in the proximity talks," referring to the indirect, U.S.-mediated peace negotiations.

A Jerusalem municipal spokesman said the planning committee gave zoning approval to build 1,000 homes in Silwan and demolish 22 homes built illegally. About 60 other homes that Israel says were built illegally will be given permits. Palestinians say it is almost impossible to get permits, and the Obama administration has called on Israel not to demolish Palestinian homes.

The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah called for U.S. and international intervention to stop Jerusalem from moving ahead.

"This proves that Israel wants to destroy the indirect peace talks with the Palestinians," a Palestinian negotiator told Israel Radio.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has said the King's Garden project, which calls for hotels and parks as well as the new homes, will benefit Arab residents of the city as well as Jews. But Palestinians see it as another attempt to expand Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967 and unilaterally annexed.

The municipal spokesman said that even with the initial approval of the zoning board, the final approval of the project could take several months.

Watch more free documentaries