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PNA slams Israeli raids in E Jerusalem

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-08 23:46

RAMALLAH: Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Monday condemned what it called "unprecedented" Israeli raids in a Palestinian refugee camp in East Jerusalem.

The raids, which targeted Shu'fat refugee camp in northern East Jerusalem, "are part of an Israeli policy to expatriate Palestinians from Jerusalem under security threats," said Ziad Abu Ein, deputy minister of prisoners affairs.

Tens have been arrested in the ongoing raids which, according to Israel Radio, were aimed at arresting residents for tax evasion and those who stay illegally in the city which the PNA deems as its future capital.

Hundreds of soldiers, backed by a helicopter and bulldozers, stormed East Jerusalem early Monday morning. "This is the biggest operation in years," said Jameel Sandouka, a Palestinian civil- society activist in the city.

"The soldiers break into houses, search them violently and damage furniture," he told Xinhua, adding that teenagers under 17 were also arrested.

Meanwhile, Abu Ein said the PNA sent urgent appeals to the international community "to expose the criminal and racist Israeli acts."

Clashes took place on Monday morning during which Palestinian youths threw stones and hurled rocks at the Israeli border police.

About 25,000 Palestinians live in Shu'fat, most of them refugees who left their hometowns in 1948.