Ankara slams Israel over hotel demolition

Turkey yesterday strongly condemned Israel 's demolition of a historic hotel in east Jerusalem to make way for new settler homes, slamming it as a "serious blow" to peace efforts. The move shows Israel 's "disregard" of international calls to stop expanding Jewish settlements and "deals a serious blow to efforts to establish an atmosphere of confidence" with the Palestinians, said the Foreign Ministry. Israel 's action "further deepens existing suspicions over its commitment to peace," it added, calling on the international community "to fulfill its responsibilities in the face of such provocative acts by Israel ."