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Israeli police have evicted nine Palestinian families living in two houses in occupied East Jerusalem.
Jewish settlers moved into the houses almost immediately. The US has urged Israel to abandon plans for a building project in the area.
Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967, a move not recognised by the international community.
The evictions have been condemned by the United Nations, the Palestinians and also the UK government.
The US said the evictions were not in keeping with Israel's obligations under the so-called "road map" to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
'Deplorable'
The operation to evict the 53 Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah district of the city was carried out before dawn on Sunday by police clad in black riot gear.
It followed a ruling by Israel's Supreme Court that the land originally belonged to Jewish families. Israel wants to build a block of 20 apartments in the area.
The evictions were quickly condemned by the United Nations.
"I deplore today's totally unacceptable actions by Israel," the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert H Serry said. "These actions are contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions related to occupied territory.
"These actions heighten tensions and undermine international efforts to create conditions for fruitful negotiations to achieve peace," Mr Perry said.
Palestinian negotiator Saed Erakat said: "Tonight, while these new settlers from abroad will be accommodating themselves and their belongings in these Palestinian houses, 19 newly homeless children will have nowhere to sleep."
Sovereignty 'unquestionable'
Israel considers a united Jerusalem to be the capital of the state of Israel.
"Our sovereignty over it is unquestionable," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month.
"We cannot accept the idea that Jews will not have the right to live and buy [homes] anywhere in Jerusalem."
The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says the houses are in what is probably the most contested city on earth and the diplomatic ripples from the evictions will spread.
The UK joined in the condemnation of the evictions. "These actions are incompatible with the Israeli professed desire for peace," the British Consulate in East Jerusalem said. "We urge Israel not to allow the extremists to set the agenda."
There are an estimated 250,000 Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and 200,000 Jews.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8180413.stM
This is what Aaron, a Jewish resident from Jerusalem writes as comment to an article in Ha'Aretz:
"If we continue doing that, the day will come soon and we will be evacuated by force from our homes. History repeats itself and we Jews never learn lessons from the past. Most of West Jerusalem is Arab Palestinian homes before 1948 ? maybe we should be removed from these homes !! We keep playing with fire until we will end up burnt. Our arrogance will not save us by then. How stupid and inhuman we are!"
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I FEEL COMPELLED TO ADD A FEW WORDS OF MY OWN:
I received the video (previous post) this morning from a friend and couldn't help the tears welling up in my eyes while watching. It is beyond me how in the world these individuals are capable to do this to their own species!
Step back for a moment - imagine yourself sleeping peacefully in your bed ... and all of a sudden police bursting into your bedroom, yelling at you bloody murder, dragging you out of your bed and brutally kicking you out of the one home you inhabit since 56 years!!!!!!!!!! IMAGINE!! I can't even begin to fathom the horrors, the stages of hell they must be in right now.
I am an ardent believer of "What goes around, comes around" but this time I can't help myself and rephrase the centence to go one step further: I WISH AND PRAY that whatever Israel did/does to others, all those horrendous crimes and atrocities committed against Palestinians, will find the necessary 180 degree turn to boomerang right back to where they originated! It doesn't matter when, tomorrow, next month or coming year - it will happen, there is no doubt in my mind! And then, believe you me - I do NOT want to be in their shoes.
I have never said that before but can't help myself. The unspeakable cruelty of their actions pushes me to say that. It is SO WRONG, left, right and center, and nothing short of barbaric!!!
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When I was just, though reluctantly, about to get used to the idea, that "MUNICH AND A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING" bit the dust, I am thrown for yet another loop - but this time a HAPPY ONE!
