E. J'lem demolitions on hold
By YAAKOV LAPPIN The Jerusalem Post 14/05/2010 02:32
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=175559

Public Security Ministry backtracks after US intervention.

Demolition orders for illegally constructed Arab homes in east Jerusalem are
highly unlikely to go ahead in the near future, it emerged on Thursday,
despite a recent announcement to the contrary by Public Security Minister
Yitzhak Aharonovitch.

The U-turn came after the US State Department sought clarifications over
comments by Aharonovitch, who said on Wednesday that “police have no
instructions to refrain from carrying out the demolitions. They will be
carried out in the coming days.”

The comments threatened to reignite a US-Israeli row over Israeli policy in
east Jerusalem.

“It’s not our decision,” a Public Security Ministry source told The
Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

“The decision is made by the Interior Ministry, and we are tasked with
carrying it out,” the source said. “We are now waiting for the orders to be
activated.”

On Wednesday, Aharonovitch said that delays in carrying out the demolitions
had occurred due to “diplomatic sensitivities,” but then added, “If there
were such delays, they are no longer in effect.”

The Public Security Ministry received a request on Thursday from the US
State Department for clarification of the comments. The ministry now
believes that the Prime Minister’s Office will ensure that the delays remain
in effect.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said: “Police do not destroy
homes, but rather secure the demolitions, in line with court decisions.
Police will carry out every mission given to it by the courts. The rule of
law is not a vehicle for a Middle Eastern political and geostrategic
discussion.”

The statement added, “We are subordinate to decisions by the
attorney-general and the government, and we will act according to their
decisions.”