EU Envoys: “Israel” plans to separate E. Jerusalem from West Bank
Local Editor, 3-12-2009
A classified report issued by European consuls in occupied East Jerusalem and Ramallah condemns "Israeli" policy in occupied East Jerusalem and insisted that the European Union take steps to reinforce the Palestinian Authority's status in the city. It also recommended taking various measures to object "Israeli" policy in the city, as well as sanctions against people and groups engaged in "settlement activity" in and around it.
The report is updated annually by EU representatives to the PA. This year's report was finalized on November 23 and delivered to EU institutions in Brussels a few days ago.
Due to the sensitivity of the document, the EU has never before published it, and in previous years "Israel" forced the EU hard not to do so, for fear the publication would further mount the European public's already negative view of "Israel".
Senior "Israeli" Foreign Ministry officials said this year's report "left a harsh impression" in Brussels and helped Sweden endorse its plan to have the EU formally recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
The report charged both the "Israeli" government and the Jerusalem municipality of working intentionally to alter the city's demographic balance and sever occupied East Jerusalem from the Dafa [West Bank]. It said that both bodies aid right-wing organizations, such as Ateret Cohanim and Elad, in their efforts to implement this "strategic vision," especially around the Holy Basin area. These organizations buy houses in Arab neighbourhoods, and make "attempts to implant further Jewish settlements into the heart of the Muslim Quarter."
The municipality, the report continued, discriminates against the city's Palestinian residents with regard to building permits, health services, education, sanitation and more. "During the past years, Palestinians have received fewer than 200 building permits per year," it said. "Based on the population growth, permits for another 1,500 housing units annually would be essential to cover the housing needs." For instance, the EU report noted, the village of Silwan has received only 20 building permits since 1967."
Though 35 percent of Jerusalem residents are Palestinian, only 5 to 10 percent of the city's budget goes to Palestinian neighbourhoods, it stressed.
"Israel's" shutting of Palestine Liberation Organization and PA institutions in the city was also slammed in the report.
The European consuls offered several measures to reinforce the PA presence in the eastern part of the city and force "Israel" to stop harming the Palestinian population. They include the following:
- "Ensure EU presence at Israeli court cases on house demolitions or evictions of Palestinian families" and "when there is a risk of demolition or eviction of Palestinian families."
- EU "celebrations, commemorations and national or Europe day events to be held in East Jerusalem."
- "EU missions with offices or residences in East Jerusalem to regularly host Palestinian officials for dinners with senior EU visitors."
- "Avoid having Israeli security accompany high-ranking officials from member states when visiting the Old City or East Jerusalem."
- "Refraining from meeting Israeli officials in their East Jerusalem offices."
- "Information sharing on violent settlers in East Jerusalem to assess whether to grant entry to the EU."
A classified report issued by European consuls in occupied East Jerusalem and Ramallah condemns "Israeli" policy in occupied East Jerusalem and insisted that the European Union take steps to reinforce the Palestinian Authority's status in the city. It also recommended taking various measures to object "Israeli" policy in the city, as well as sanctions against people and groups engaged in "settlement activity" in and around it.
The report is updated annually by EU representatives to the PA. This year's report was finalized on November 23 and delivered to EU institutions in Brussels a few days ago.
Due to the sensitivity of the document, the EU has never before published it, and in previous years "Israel" forced the EU hard not to do so, for fear the publication would further mount the European public's already negative view of "Israel".
Senior "Israeli" Foreign Ministry officials said this year's report "left a harsh impression" in Brussels and helped Sweden endorse its plan to have the EU formally recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
The report charged both the "Israeli" government and the Jerusalem municipality of working intentionally to alter the city's demographic balance and sever occupied East Jerusalem from the Dafa [West Bank]. It said that both bodies aid right-wing organizations, such as Ateret Cohanim and Elad, in their efforts to implement this "strategic vision," especially around the Holy Basin area. These organizations buy houses in Arab neighbourhoods, and make "attempts to implant further Jewish settlements into the heart of the Muslim Quarter."
The municipality, the report continued, discriminates against the city's Palestinian residents with regard to building permits, health services, education, sanitation and more. "During the past years, Palestinians have received fewer than 200 building permits per year," it said. "Based on the population growth, permits for another 1,500 housing units annually would be essential to cover the housing needs." For instance, the EU report noted, the village of Silwan has received only 20 building permits since 1967."
Though 35 percent of Jerusalem residents are Palestinian, only 5 to 10 percent of the city's budget goes to Palestinian neighbourhoods, it stressed.
"Israel's" shutting of Palestine Liberation Organization and PA institutions in the city was also slammed in the report.
The European consuls offered several measures to reinforce the PA presence in the eastern part of the city and force "Israel" to stop harming the Palestinian population. They include the following:
- "Ensure EU presence at Israeli court cases on house demolitions or evictions of Palestinian families" and "when there is a risk of demolition or eviction of Palestinian families."
- EU "celebrations, commemorations and national or Europe day events to be held in East Jerusalem."
- "EU missions with offices or residences in East Jerusalem to regularly host Palestinian officials for dinners with senior EU visitors."
- "Avoid having Israeli security accompany high-ranking officials from member states when visiting the Old City or East Jerusalem."
- "Refraining from meeting Israeli officials in their East Jerusalem offices."
- "Information sharing on violent settlers in East Jerusalem to assess whether to grant entry to the EU."
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