国际英语新闻：Hamas denounces Israel's arrest of Jerusalem lawmaker as " piracy"

GAZA, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The Gaza Strip ruler Hamas movement Wednesday slammed the Israeli police forces for detention of its lawmaker Mohamed Abu Teir after he ignored a one-month ultimatum for leaving the country.

Ahmed Bahar, Deputy Speaker of the Hamas-dominate Legislative Council, said in an email statement that "kidnapping Abu Teir is a clear piracy against the legislative representatives of our people and another Nakba (catastrophe) to force the residents of Jerusalem to leave the city."

Witnesses who saw Israeli policeman arrest Abu Teir on Wednesday said the man representing Jerusalem in the PLC was taken to an unknown location.

Last Thursday, the Israeli authorities ordered Abu Teir to leave Jerusalem within 24 hours, or he would be sent to prison. He ignored the order and stayed at home.

In June, Israel ordered four Hamas lawmakers, including Abu Teir, to leave the city by the end of the month. The Jewish state warned the legislators to quit Hamas memberships, threatening an eviction.

"The arrest of Abu Teir, and the expulsion of Hamas legislators is a clear violation of all international agreements and conventions, mainly the 4th Geneva Convention," Bahar said, adding "it is also a clear annul of the previous treaties reached between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)."

Hatem Abdul Qader, a resident of east Jerusalem and a PNA official in charge of Jerusalem affairs told Xinhua that arresting Abu Teir and expelling him from east Jerusalem would yield "grave consequences."

Bahar called on every Palestinian to confront the Israeli plans, which he said were aimed to evacuate the city and deprive it of Arab and Islamic characteristics.

Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua on Wednesday that Egypt and Jordan are exerting efforts to stop Israel's moves to expel the four Hamas- aligned lawmakers from east Jerusalem."

Egypt and Jordan are contacting Israel and the United States on the issue, the official said, adding the United States is pressuring Israel to withdraw its expulsion order, warning Israel of negative consequences if the country should let it happen.

On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the issue "will be solved soon," while the Fatah official said the current efforts by all related parties have yet to yield any results.

European Union (EU) officials Wednesday described the Israeli policy in east Jerusalem, particular the expulsion of the Palestinians and house demolitions as an "obstacle to peace."

EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday in a statement that "settlements and the demolition of homes are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible."

The PNA spokesman Nabil Abu Rdineh said in a statement published by the state-run news agency "Wafa" that such statements "are encouraging," and "the EU's stance is a clear message to Israel that peacemaking is in danger due to its practices."

However, Israel insists on carrying out the expulsion order.

The Islamic Hamas movement, which seized the Gaza Strip violently in 2007, is considered by Israel as a terrorist group for killing dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings and shooting attacks. The Middle East Quartet imposed an embargo on the movement after it refused to recognize Israel.