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US expresses 'serious concerns' about evictions of Palestinians
"Mr. Sullivan also reiterated the United States’ serious concerns about the potential evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood," the White House said in a readout of the call between Sullivan and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat.
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US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing on February 4, 2021, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (Agence France Presse/Saul Loeb)
U
S National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday expressed "serious concerns" about violent clashes in Jerusalem in recent days in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, the White House said in a statement.
"Mr. Sullivan also reiterated the United States’ serious concerns about the potential evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood," the White House said in a readout of the call between Sullivan and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat.
"They agreed that the launching of rocket attacks and incendiary balloons from Gaza towards Israel is unacceptable and must be condemned," the White House said as quoted by Reuters.
Meanwhile, Israel vowed Sunday to restore order in Jerusalem after hundreds of Palestinian protesters were wounded in weekend clashes with Israeli security forces, as a key court hearing on a flashpoint property dispute was postponed.
The area around the revered Al-Aqsa mosque has seen several nights of violence, the worst since 2017, fuelled by a years-long bid by Jewish settlers to take over nearby Palestinian homes in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
Israeli police again faced off against mostly young Palestinians at several locations in east Jerusalem late Sunday.
Police fired stun grenades and "skunk" water cannons spraying foul-smelling water at Palestinians outside the Old City's Damascus Gate and scuffled with youths in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, amid other isolated flare ups across the area.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported a total of seven injuries from Damascus Gate and Sheikh Jarrah, including four hospitalisations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended Israel's response to the protests and rioting in east Jerusalem.
"We will uphold law and order –- vigorously and responsibly," Netanyahu said as quoted by AFP ahead of a weekly cabinet meeting, while vowing to "guard freedom of worship for all faiths".
But the Israeli role in the hostilities -- especially Friday's clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site -- has met widespread criticism.
