UN: EU states 'strongly condemn' Israel for illegal demolition of Palestinian homes

SOT, Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN: "We as member states of the European Union, strongly condemned the demolition by Israel of Palestinian buildings in the district of Wadi al-Hummus in the south east of Jerusalem. We remain seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional circumstances, demolition in occupied territories is contrary to international humanitarian law and to UN Security Council resolutions. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and it is harmful to the peace process. In this specific case, the demolitions were particularly egregious as a number of the buildings were located in Areas A and B, under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian authority according to the Oslo agreements, and thus constitute a violation of those agreements. They set a dangerous precedent that directly jeopardises the two-state solution. Thank you."
W/S UN headquarters, New York City
SCRIPT
European Union members of the UN Security Council "strongly condemned the demolition by Israel of Palestinian buildings" with a statement released at the UN headquarters in New York City on Tuesday.
The statement was made by the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Karen Pierce, on behalf of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland and future Security Council member Estonia.
Pierce said that they remain "seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities" and added that the demolishing of Palestinian homes "causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and it is harmful to the peace process."
The British representative specified that the destroyed buildings were located in areas that are under Palestinian jurisdiction according to the Oslo agreements.
The demolitions that took place on Monday are the culmination of a seven-year dispute between Israel and the residents of the area. The lawsuit claims the buildings in East Jerusalem's Sur Baher neighborhood were constructed without proper legal permission and are located too close to the border wall posing a security risk.
Hundreds of armed Israeli police officers arrived in place early on Monday and several Palestinian families were evicted, bulldozers and diggers were then moved in to reportedly destroy 16 buildings with 100 apartments. Many Palestinians are reportedly homeless after the demolition.
Mandatory Credit: UNTV