Europe, UNSC condemn Israeli 'flagrant violation' of int'l law
European powers, in addition to the United Nations, contend that the Israeli government's approval to build thousands of houses in Al-Quds will worsen tensions on the ground.
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Illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Al-Quds. (Palestinian Information Center)
On Wednesday evening, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain called on the Israeli authorities to stop building new houses in Al-Quds.
This month, Israeli authorities approved to expand their settlements by 3,500 housing units in Al-Quds. Half of those units - around 1465 units - are allocated to two controversial areas, "Givat Hamatos" and "Har Homa".
The 4 countries issued a joint statement regarding the decisions and actions of the Israeli occupation, voicing their concerns: "We are deeply concerned about the decision to advance plans to build hundreds of housing units in East Jerusalem (occupied Al-Quds), including between 'Givat Hamatos' and 'Har Homa'."
The statement called on the Israeli occupation to reverse this decision, stressing that the continuation of settlement building on Palestinian land is a flagrant violation of international law and will exacerbate tensions on the ground.
The decision will contribute to the isolation of Al-Quds from Beit Lahm and south West Bank, as another 2092 housing units will be built in other areas of Al-Quds.
UN calls on Israeli authorities to stop displacing Palestinians
The United Nations demanded that the Israeli occupation stop the displacement of Palestinians, and to rather evacuate them from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods in Al-Quds, as opposed to demolishing their homes as the occupation did to the Salhiyya family's house. The family was kicked out and beaten up by Israeli authorities as their home was demolished before their eyes, under the pretext of building a new school.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, gave a testimony at a regular session for the UN Security Council. He said, "We must ensure that the solutions put in place advance our ultimate goal: an end to occupation and the achievement of a two-State solution on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements.”
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The Salhiyya family home after Israeli demolishment.
Wennesland expressed concern about the possibility of evicting a number of Palestinian families from homes they've lived in for decades in both Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan in Al-Quds. He said the risk of this happening will amount to an escalation of violence.
Furthermore, he said that countries in the region have a vital role in this conflict, and should make efforts to encourage Palestinian factions to move towards a political consensus that brings Gaza and the West Bank together as one entity
US ambassador: We must refrain from unilateral steps
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, addressed eviction and demolition matters in the UNSC.
"To make progress, both "Israel" and the Palestinian Authority must refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution,” Thomas-Greenfield says. “That includes annexations of territory, settlement activity, demolitions, and evictions – like what we saw in Sheikh Jarrah – incitement to violence, and providing compensation for individuals imprisoned for acts of terrorism.”
Local sources said that the occupation soldiers stormed the house of the Salhiyya family, and carried out a massive arrest campaign, as well as assaulted citizens, and blocked ambulances from reaching the area, despite injuries.
