US rebukes Israel's demolition of Palestinian family home

By Abdelraouf Arna'out

JERUSALEM (AA) - The US on Thursday denounced the Israeli army demolition of the family home of a Palestinian-American man accused of carrying out a shooting attack on Israeli settlers.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Israel said: "As we stated numerous times, the home of an entire family should not be demolished for the actions of one individual."

It added that it is following reports of the demolition, and that all sides should “refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, this certainly includes the punitive demolition of Palestinian homes.”

Such US criticism of Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes is unprecedented.

Early on Thursday, the Israeli army demolished the home of Montaser Shalabi in the town of Turmus Ayya in Ramallah, the central occupied West Bank.

Shalabi, 44, who holds US citizenship, is accused of carrying out a May 2 shooting attack in which one illegal settler was killed and two were wounded.

Israeli forces arrested Shalabi on May 6 after a raid and search campaign that affected several Palestinian towns.

Shalabi’s wife – who had lived in the house with their children – has said she is estranged from Montaser, who spends most of his time in the US state of New Mexico, according to press reports.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara