[NYTr] Palestinians Demand Israel Stop Colonialist Settlements; Israel Shells Gaza

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com


Israel Shells Gaza Before Peace Talks

Gaza, Dec 24 (Prensa Latina) Israeli warplanes launched an air strike
on Buraij Refugee Camp in central Gaza Strip early Monday morning, a
few hours before holding new peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, confirmed the attack and
reported the death of two of its militants and that two others were
wounded.

Negotiators of both states, headed by Palestinian ex Prime Minister
Ahmed Qurea and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, will meet for
second time in Jerusalem to accomplish what was agreed upon in the
peace conference held in the US city of Annapolis.

Meanwhile, Israel reiterated on Sunday that it will not negotiate a
cease-fire with Hamas, and called the current situation in Gaza, where
the Tel Aviv army often carries out offensives, "true war." In his
speech at the weekly session of the Ministers Council, Ehud Olmert
ruled out talks with Hamas and said that operations against that
Palestinian region will continue as they have been for many months,
until Hamas accepts the conditions of the Quartet for the Middle East.

That group, formed by the United States, the European Union, United
Nations and Russia, demands that the Islamic Movement recognize Israel,
lay down its weapons and accept the agreements signed between the
Palestinian Liberation Organization and Tel Aviv.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman of the Palestinian president, said on
Sunday that Israeli authorities continue creating problems to hinder
talks, which means they do not want a fair and permanent peace in the
region.

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Palestinians Call on Israel to Stop Colonist Settlements

Tel Aviv, Dec 24 (Prensa Latina) Palestinian President Spokesman Nabil
Abu Rudeina called Israel to stop the expansion of settlements as soon
as possible on the territories occupied since the six-day war in 1967.

The call came at a time when the Israeli Ministry of Construction
announced the construction of 740 houses in the zones of Har Homa and
Maale Adumin, in eastern Jerusalem, next year.

Rudeina pointed out that Israeli authorities continue to create
obstacles to hinder negotiations, because they do not want just and
permanent peace in the region.

Israeli sources confirmed that the 2008 budget would allocate 25
million dollars to build those houses, whose construction will be
approved by Parliament this week.

Israeli Education Minister Yuli Tamir told local media that there is
consensus on Har Homa and Maale Adumin, in the occupied West Bank,
becoming a part of Israel's sovereign territory. One thousand houses
were built in those zones in 2006.

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat said Israel's announcement "is
not the way to build confidence," adding that it jeopardizes the
resumption of peace talks.

At the international conference held in the US city of Annapolis,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert committed themselves to resuming the talks and reaching
agreements in 2008.

The first meeting was held under strong tensions on December 28, 2006,
when Palestine demanded an end to the construction of 307 houses in Har
Homa.

Another round of talks is scheduled to begin on Monday, amid attacks on
the Gaza Strip, the expansion of settlements and Olmert's announcement
to continue to build houses in the occupied territories.

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