Sunday July 26, 2009

A group of Israeli settlers attacked and took over on Sunday afternoon a Palestinian owned house in East Jerusalem, while police provided them with protection and kidnapped 12 activists who tried to stop the attack.

The group of settlers arrived at the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah eescorted by Israeli troops, the residents told media.

When home owners and their international supporters tried to stop them, soldiers attacked the residents, witnesses added.

As residents managed to move settlers off a piece of the land, other settlers occupied a nearby house and police then kidnapped 11 internationals and a Palestinian official, Hateem Abed Al Qader.
Earlier this year the Israeli Jerusalem municipality gave the 28 homes of Sheik Jarrah demolition orders to make way for a new settlement there.

Since Israeli occupied the city of Jerusalem in 1967 it continue to demolish Palestinian home and bulled settlements in and around the city, an act which is illegal according to international law.