Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Palestinian Legislative Council protests Israeli plans to deport Jerusalem MPs

Ma’an – The Palestinian Legislative Council has organized a sit-in in solidarity with Jerusalem lawmakers facing expulsion.

Ahmad Bahar, the deputy speaker of the Palestinian parliament, condemned the “massive ethnic cleansing campaign which the occupation has launched against Jerusalem.” He considered the move a challenge to international principles, norms and laws.

Bahar described a meeting between Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak as "a cover to continue settlements and attacks against the Palestinian people."

Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh urged President Mahmoud Abbas to cease all security coordination and peace talks with Israel as a response to the plan to deport the lawmakers.