Brussels, 22/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU has called on Israel to "refrain from provocative actions" in East Jerusalem, including home demolitions and evictions of Palestinians. "Such actions are illegal under international law", states the Swedish Presidency in a declaration made on the behalf of the Twenty-Seven and published on 21 July. Regarding the plans to expel Palestinian families from East Jerusalem and the construction of new Jewish housing, the EU states that these plans "further threaten the chances of peace" between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Israeli authorities have rejected the appeal of the Europeans, stressing that Israel has the right to build anywhere it likes in the holy city. "Israel will continue to act on the basis of its essential national interests. Our rights over the governance and development of Jerusalem are incontestable" said the Israeli deputy foreign affairs minister, Danny Ayalon. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stressed that Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem was "incontestable" and that Israel could not agree to any requests for a freeze on building in East Jerusalem. (H.B./trans.fl)