Israeli police have rejected a request by Jewish settlers to demonstrate in front of Palestinian headquarters in eastern Jerusalem, prompting the settlers to file a petition of protest with the Supreme Court.
Spokesmen at Orient House, the base for Palestinian negotiators to the peace talks, reportedly called the demonstration, planned for Tuesday night, a provocation. But they said that if it did take place, they could not and would not interfere so long as demonstrators stayed away from the building.
Leaders of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza said they had no intention of making trouble. They said they wanted to protest the decision to make the building the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization with the PLO flag flying in front.
“We are demonstrating because we think it is impossible that the government of a (would-be) Palestinian state will be in Jerusalem,” said council spokesman Shai Bazak.
“The Israeli government told us that the status of Jerusalem is not (up) for negotiation and the Palestinians keep saying Jerusalem is their city.
“Let them have their capital” in Amman, he said.
Bazak was noncommittal when asked if the demonstration would go forward if the Supreme Court rejects the council’s petition.
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