U.S. Tries to Defuse Standoff over Closing Palestinian

Hoping to avoid possible bloodshed over the closure of Palestinian offices in Orient House in eastern Jerusalem, Israeli Public Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani said he would delay the order for at least a day while the two sides try to work out an agreement.

The delay came in response to a meeting Thursday with the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Edward Walker, who is attempting to defuse the confrontation.

“I want to be satisfied that I did everything to avoid bloodshed–and if we find ourselves entering the building there most certainly will be,” Kahalani said. “Before sending Israeli police into Orient House,” I want to know “if a way can be found to solve the problem.”

Walker said he had initiated the meeting at the request of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who had asked whether the United States could help resolve the problem. However, Walker stressed that it was up to Israel and the Palestinians to work out an understanding.

“I’m not going to put the United States in a position of making a decision on this issue. It is for the government of Israel and the Palestinians to make their own decisions, and they are of course in contact with one another. Our job is simply trying to help them both decide,” Walker said.

Israel’s Security Cabinet has called for the closure of the offices– a geographic institute, an international desk and the office of Palestinian official Faisal Husseini–because they are allegedly conducting Palestinian Authority business in violation of peace accords and Israeli law.

Kahalani said Israel would accept a solution involving the immediate transfer of two of the offices to Abu Dis, outside Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries, while the third office, Husseini’s, continues to operate with Israeli oversight.

However, the Palestinians rejected this proposal. Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian activists spent Wednesday night in Orient House to defend the building from any Israeli moves to close the offices.