EU says Israel annexing east J'lem
Confidential European Union report, published by British paper, claims settlement expansion, house demolitions indicate active, illegal takeover of east Jerusalem
The Guardian quotes the report as saying that "Israeli 'facts on the ground' - including new settlements, construction of the barrier, discriminatory housing policies, house demolitions, restrictive permit regime and continued closure of Palestinian institutions - increase Jewish Israeli presence in East Jerusalem, weaken the Palestinian community in the city, impede Palestinian urban development and separate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank."
The document, the EU Heads of Mission Report of East Jerusalem, also states that "Israel's actions in and around Jerusalem constitute one of the most acute challenges to Israeli-Palestinian peace-making," the Guardian noted.
Despite noting that some government actions, such as the construction of the barrier, have been undertaken to increase Israeli security, the EU document claims that "many of its current illegal actions in and around the city have limited security justifications."
For example, the EU report says that the recent demolition of two Palestinian homes and plans for the demolition of dozens more (all on the grounds that they lack building permits) are "illegal under international law, serve no obvious purpose, have severe humanitarian effects, and fuel bitterness and extremism."
The document notes that although Palestinians in the east represent 34% of the city's residents, only 5%-10% of the municipal budget is spent in their areas and only 12% of east Jerusalem is available for Palestinian residential use. As a result, the majority of homes are built without Israeli permits, in areas with poor services and infrastructure, the Guardian reported.
According to the British paper, the EU expressed particular concern about settlements inside the Old City, where there were plans to build a Jewish settlement of 35 housing units in the Muslim quarter, as well as expansion plans for Silwan, just outside the Old City walls.
The Guardian quoted Jerusalem city officials as calling the reports of the city's housing policy as "a disinformation campaign."
"Mayor Nir Barkat continues to promote investments in infrastructure, construction and education in East Jerusalem, while at the same time upholding the law throughout West and East Jerusalem equally without bias," the mayor's office was reported as saying.
