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11 Feb, 2015

Jewish state to Demolish EU-Funded Projects in Area C of West Bank

RAMALLAH, February 8, 2015 (WAFA) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Sunday the decision of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to demolish around 400 European Union-funded Palestinian structures in Area C of the West Bank, under complete Israeli jurisdiction.

Earlier Friday, Netanyahu instructed his Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon to move forward with a plan to demolish some 400 Palestinian structures built in the West Bank through European funding, according to Israeli media sources.

According to the Daily Mail Online, official EU documentation revealed that the building project – locally known as the ‘EU Settlements’ – was intended to ‘pave the way for development and more authority of the Palestinian Authority over Area C of the West Bank.

The Foreign Ministry said Netanyahu’s decision undermines the potential of a viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian state, thus destroying the possibility of a two-state solution of Palestine and Israel.

It called upon the international community, European union (EU), UN, and the US to stand in the face of Israel’s occupation policy and to insure respect of international law and resolutions and compel Israel to respect the peace process and relevant international negotiations.

The Rabbis for Human Right, a Jewish human rights group, sent a letter of condemnation to Netanyahu, saying that “thousands have been forced to build without permits, and great human suffering is caused when hundreds of homes are demolished each year.”

“The State of Israel has an obligation to ensure that every human being under her control, each created in God’s Image, has a fair chance to build a home for him/herself and his/her family, irrespective of the current state of the peace process or differing opinions about what areas will be under Israel’s control in a future final status agreement.”

Issuance of construction permits for Palestinians living in Area C, under full Israeli administrative and military control, is strictly limited, forcing Palestinians residing in such areas to embark on construction without obtaining a permit.