Israel seizes telecommunication office

JERUSALEM, AUG. 12. Israeli forces today took control of a Palestinian communication building and shut down broadcasts in the district of Abu Dis, on the outskirts of occupied east Jerusalem.

Despite severe international condemnation of Israeli move to capture Palestinian political centres in the city following Friday's bomb blast, Israeli forces entered Palestinian broadcasting corporation office in Abu Dis, which is under direct control of the Palestinian Authority. They closed the area, took control of the broadcasting building, evicted about 15 workers, shut down broadcasts and carried out searches in the building, Palestinian sources said. Israel said the building was part of the Governor's compound, which has already been occupied by Israel and that the latest move was a consolidation of their earlier presence there. On Friday, Israeli security forces seized control of Orient House - the PLO's unofficial headquarters in east Jerusalem - as well as the Governor's home in Abu Dis, the day after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 15 Israelis in central Jerusalem.

The Intifada leadership has vowed to bring the Palestinian uprising to Jerusalem in response to Israel's takeover of Orient House, in Arab east Jerusalem, and other Palestinian institutions in and around the capital. Palestinians have also called for a ``day of rage'' tomorrow throughout the territories and across the Arab world in response to Israel's moves.

The Palestinian Leader, Mr. Yasser Arafat left for a whirlwind tour of Arab countries to drum up support for calling an Arab summit in the wake of Israeli move. He begins his tour with meeting Jordanian King Abdullah. In his diplomatic efforts, Mr. Arafat is sending a number of emissaries to world leaders to oppose closure of Orient House in east Jerusalem. Most Arab States have already condemned Israeli move to capture Palestinian offices. Israel's Public Security Minister, Mr. Uzi Landau, told army radio that capture of the Orient House was aimed at preventing Palestinian political activity in Jerusalem. In the wake of latest Israeli move, more tension is expected in east Jerusalem in the coming days, with large Palestinian demonstrations near Orient House and in Abu Dis.

``The Palestinian people are left without choice but to escalate resistance and Intifada to liberate holy Jerusalem and regain the Orient House and other Palestinian institutions occupied by Israel,'' a Palestinian official said. ``Mr. Sharon threw a bomb whose fragments hit every Arab and Muslim,'' head of the Tanzim militia in the West Bank, Mr. Marwan Barghouti, said.

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Section  : International
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