The European Union (EU) on Thursday demanded that Israel reconsider its decision to build new settlements and demolish a Palestinian Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank, which Brussels said was a new blow to any prospect of resolving the conflict.
"The approval of plans to build nearly 2.000 settlements in the West Bank and the intention to demolish the Palestinian community of Hal Al Ahmar (…) undermine the two countries' negotiated solution and the prospect of lasting peace," she said. representative of the head of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini.
"Building new settlements for Israelis and simultaneously demolishing Palestinian homes in the same area will do nothing but perpetuate the reality of a single state of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict," Mogherini said. Maya Kocijancic, in a press release she issued.
"The EU expects the Israeli authorities to reconsider and annul these decisions," he said, adding that "the issue was raised directly with the Israeli authorities" from the European side.
Israeli justice last week ordered the Israeli Ministry of Defense to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank, saying it had been erected arbitrarily.
The village, with a nominal population of 180 inhabitants, is located near several Israeli settlements east of Jerusalem.
Israel on Wednesday approved the construction of 1.958 new housing units for settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli NGO Peace Now, which opposes the occupation.
Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - annexed by Israel - are illegal under international law. Much of the international community sees these settlements as a key obstacle to reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians, which the Israeli government rejects.