Ramallah: The Palestinian Authority has strongly condemned a decision made by the Israeli Army to demolish two mosques in Nablus and Ramallah and has vowed to rebuild them.
The Israeli Army said it demolished the mosques under the pretext that they were built in the area C and without the necessary licences being obtained.
Dr Gassan Al Khateeb, the Palestinian Authority Spokesman said the Israeli decision came just a few days before the resumption of direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
He said the Israeli strategy was to demolish Palestinian property and make the lives of Palestinians more difficult.
"The Palestinian Authority will never sit handcuffed in the face of these Israeli policies. The PA will rebuild whatever the Israelis demolish in our areas including area C," he said.
Dr Al Khateeb said the Israelis had intended that the demolition of the two mosques would demonstrate that they would not allow any construction in area C, despite the fact mosques in other villages had been built which the Israeli authorities had not taken action against.
Dr Al Khateeb said the Palestinian Authority was preparing for peace which was considered to be a key Palestinian interest and strategy.
But the Israelis should avoid demolishing the houses and mosques of the people, to give peace a chance, he said.
