AFP reports that the European Union is very concerned about the destruction of Palestinian housing in the occupied West Bank and has appealed to Israel to stop the demolitions.
On January 25, Israel drew criticism from the EU claiming that 150 hectares (380acres) in the West Bank near Jericho was state land on which they plan to build 150 new settler residences.
Soon after, Israel began razing several homes belong to Palestinians in south Hebron.
“In the past weeks there have been a number of developments in Area C of the West Bank, which risk undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and driving the parties yet further apart,” AFP reported an EU diplomat saying.
The diplomat continued, “This is particularly concerning both because of the extent of the demolitions and also the number of vulnerable individuals affected, including children who need support,” adding that “demolitions included EU-funded structures.”
“We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse the decisions taken and to halt further demolitions,” it said.
According to AFP, the EU has taken a staunch position in opposing Israel’s settlement policy, criticizing Israel for the demolition, confiscation, and forced transfer of Palestinian homes and property in the West Bank.
These actions also drew criticism from UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon who stated that he was “ashamed” that, since the collapse of talks in April 2014, there has been very little progress in finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
