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Israeli Minister Slams Colleagues Over Jerusalem Comments

   VOA News 13 May 2010
   Israeli  Defense  Minister  Ehud  Barak  gestures  as he speaks at the
   Conference  of  Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem,
   17 Feb 2010

Photo: AP

   Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak (file photo)

   Israel's  defense  minister is criticizing fellow government officials
   for inflaming tensions over Jerusalem.
   Ehud  Barak  said  Thursday  that  recent  comments  by senior Israeli
   officials  were  harming the country's reputation, making it look like
   Israel refuses to make peace.
   He  also  said  the  verbal  attacks  were damaging the Jewish state's
   relationship  with  the United States, as well as with the rest of the
   world.
   Barak   called   on   Israeli   and  Palestinian  officials  to  avoid
   "provocative"  comments,  saying  the peace process is at a "delicate"
   stage.
   The  U.S.  has  been  mediating  indirect talks between Israel and the
   Palestinians in an effort to kick-start the peace process. But earlier
   Thursday, Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai said Israel would never
   agree to U.S. demands to freeze construction in East Jerusalem.
   The  Palestinians  claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future
   state.
   Barak's  warning  comes  one  day  after  Israel  celebrated  the 43rd