The European Union (EU) has expressed its concern over the decision of the Israeli occupation authority to allow Jewish settlers to return to the evacuated illegal settlement of “Homesh” in the northern West Bank.
“The European Union is gravely concerned by and condemns the decision of the Israeli authorities to allow Israeli citizens to establish permanent presence in the outpost in Homesh in the occupied West Bank. The EU urges the Israeli government to reverse this and its decisions taken on May 17 to advance plans for more than 600 housing units in existing and new settlements in the West Bank” a spokesman for the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the viability of the two-state solution. Such unilateral actions go against efforts to lower tensions on the ground.”
“The statement also said that “the EU is appalled to learn that the Palestinian community of Ein Samiya in the occupied West Bank which comprises 172 people including 78 children was forced to leave their homes permanently as a result of repeated settler attacks and demolition orders. The EU firmly condemns settler violence and calls on Israel to ensure accountability.”
In a related context the European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said in Twitter remarks on Wednesday that “the forcible eviction of Palestinians in the West Bank the demolition of donor-funded structures the violence and coercion must stop.”
“I urge Israel to prevent forced transfers end violations of international law and ensure the safety of the affected people” Lenarcic added.
“After relentless violence by settlers and the imminent demolition of their school 37 families in the West Bank have given up. They were forced to abandon their homes in Ein Samiya Ramallah” the European official said in other tweets.
“International Humanitarian Law states that an occupying power must protect the people” he pointed out.
