Reports of a meeting between a PA representative from Orient House and Public Security Minister Uzi Landau this afternoon have been strenuously denied by the Israeli government. PA attorney Jawad Boulous told a PA newspaper that he planned to submit an official protest against Israel\'s takeover of the Orient House building last week. The building had been used in past years as the PA\'s Jerusalem headquarters; Israel\'s past-takeover search revealed weapons, detailed terrorist plans, and other incriminating information.



Boulous said that he does not plan to turn to the Supreme Court at present against the takeover. The PA similarly objects to Israel\'s occupation of seven other Palestinian institutions in eastern Jerusalem, a move taken by Israel following the Sbarro restaurant slaughter in Jerusalem last week that claimed 15 lives. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and other officials have said that Israel will never relinquish Orient House, but Landau contradicted this by saying 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.



Several dozen Arabs protested outside Orient House this afternoon; police arrested one protestor who attempted to incite the crowd.