RAMALLAH, July 31 (Saba) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) urged on Saturday the international community to immediately intervene to stop Israeli measures in East Jerusalem, according to Xinhua.

"We sent letters to many international leaders and warned against the Israeli actions in East Jerusalem," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a press release.

Erekat said the letters were sent to the United States Secretary of States, the Russian Prime Minister, the United Nations' Secretary General, the European Union foreign policy chief and the Belgian Foreign Minister, whose country presides the European Union.

The letters included Palestinian complaints against the continued Israeli settlement activities in the city and the decisions to tear down 22 Arab-owned houses and expel nine families from their homes.

The letters also made mention of the Israeli order to exile three Hamas-allied lawmakers and a former pro-Hamas minister from the city for their affiliation with the Islamic group, one of Israel's bitter enemies.

The Palestinians want the eastern part of Jerusalem as a capital for their future state. However, Israeli leaders insist that the city cannot be divided.

The Palestinians and the Israelis have been engaged indirect U. S-led proximity talks that are meant to pave the way for the resumption of direct discussions that halted in 2008.

The Arab League (AL) peace committee endorsed on Thursday an American request to start the Israeli-Palestinian direct negotiations, but left it to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas when to start negotiating with Israel.

Saba