EU calls on Israel to stop demolishing Palestinian homes

Source: Times of Israel

Diplomatic wrangling ratchets up over European-funded prefab homes given to Palestinians in West Bank, which Israel says are illegal

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Union on Saturday called on Israel to halt the demolition of Palestinian housing, some of which was EU-funded, and reiterated its opposition to expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

“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,” the EU diplomatic service said in a statement.

It referred to Israel’s decision on January 25 to declare 154 hectares (380 acres) of land near Jericho in the West Bank as state land, with reported plans to build around 150 new residences for settlers.

This was followed by the demolition of several Palestinian residences in the south Hebron hills on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-calls-on-israel-to-halt-demolition-of-palestinian-housing/