Reports of a meeting between a PA representative of the Orient House and Public Security Minister Uzi Landau this afternoon have been strenuously denied by the Israeli government. PA attorney Jawad Boulous told a Palestinian newspaper that he was to submit an official protest againstIsrael\'s takeover of the Orient House building last week. The building was used as the PA\'s Jerusalem headquarters.
The PA similarly objects to Israel\'s occupation of seven other Palestinian institutions in eastern Jerusalem, a move taken by Israel following the pizza shop blast in Jerusalem last week that claimed 15 lives. Boulous said that he does not plan to turn to the Supreme Court at present. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and other officials have said that Israel will never relinquish the Orient House, although Landau said yesterday that Israel does not intend to hold it indefinitely. Landau indicated that the building, which is owned by the Husseini family, could be opened even sooner than the six-month closure stipulated by the police orders if an agreement is reached ensuring that no political activities take place there.
The PA similarly objects to Israel\'s occupation of seven other Palestinian institutions in eastern Jerusalem, a move taken by Israel following the pizza shop blast in Jerusalem last week that claimed 15 lives. Boulous said that he does not plan to turn to the Supreme Court at present. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and other officials have said that Israel will never relinquish the Orient House, although Landau said yesterday that Israel does not intend to hold it indefinitely. Landau indicated that the building, which is owned by the Husseini family, could be opened even sooner than the six-month closure stipulated by the police orders if an agreement is reached ensuring that no political activities take place there.