Palestinian PM denounces demolitions in West Bank

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad slammed Thursday the demolishing of a house and two warehouses in eastern West Bank. The demolitions and the bulldozing in the western side of Jordan Valley "prove the Israeli government's determination to prevent our people from practicing the right of living on their land," Fayyad said in a written statement. The incidents happened in Al-Aqaba village, located in an area classified by Israel as Area C, which makes nearly 60 percent of the West Bank. Israel retains security and administrative control there. Fayyad said that the house would be rebuilt and the streets would be paved again, adding that "the Palestinian people will not yield to the Israeli aggressions." The Jordan Valley, nearly all of which falls into Area C, is a vital area for the Palestinians, Israel and Jordan. Israel has often said that it will keep its troops in the area even if a Palestinian state is created in the future. However, the Palestinians reject the presence of Israeli forces on the eastern borders of their future state. On Sept. 23, the Palestinian leadership will bid for a full membership at the United Nations Security Council, though the United States rejected this move and threatened to veto it. Increasing clashes erupted between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of the UN vote. Israeli forces arrested 11 Palestinians in the West Bank, including a Hamas parliament member, Palestinian security sources said. In Ramallah city, Israeli soldiers detained Fadel Hamdan, a Hamas lawmaker, in his house after a brief questioning. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, criticized the detention of the lawmaker. Israel Radio said the 11 Palestinians were wanted for participating in earlier attacks against Israeli targets.