Strike paralyses West Bank

A general strike to protest against Israel's plans to evict 1,500 Palestinians from their homes in the Silwan district of Jerusalem has paralysed much of the occupied West Bank.

Shops and schools were closed and the streets were deserted as the strike was observed on Saturday.

The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) had called the strike after Israeli officials and soldiers visited several homes in Silwan, raising fears that the houses would be demolished soon.

Israel has ordered 88 Palestinian homes to be demolished in Silwan, a mostly Palestinian neighbourhood next to Jerusalem's old walled city and its holy sites.

Israel says the houses were built illegally and without permits.

Palestinians say its difficult to obtain building permits in Arab neighbourhoods, prompting them to build illegally.

Palestinians held Friday prayers in the neighbourhood to denounce the planned Israeli demolition.

Designated park

Authorities in Jerusalem said on Tuesday they had no immediate plans to evict the Palestinians from Silwan or demolish any homes, but Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, confirmed that the area had been designated for a park.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital and has annexed the Arab east of the city. Some 500,000 Israelis live there in settlements.