The European countries have joined hands to call on Israeli authorities to reverse the decision of intended eviction of six Palestinian families in Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah and the Old City of Jerusalem.
These countries which includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
In a joint statement released on Monday, reiterated their strong opposition to Israel’s settlement policy, which is illegal under international law, and actions taken in this context, including evictions, call on Israeli authorities to reverse the decisions on the intended evictions.
Stated that this six Palestinian families are facing imminent forced eviction and/or decisive hearings on eviction cases initiated by Israeli settler groups, placing more than 80 individuals under imminent threat of forced displacement.
“Domestic laws do not exempt Israel, as the occupying power, from meeting its obligations to administer the occupied territory in a manner that provides for and protects the local population”, the countries said.
They noted that the continuation of Israel’s illegal settlement policy fuels tensions. “In the context of escalating violence in the West Bank, it is particularly worrying that Israeli authorities plan to continue demolitions in East Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan.
“Israel’s illegal settlement policy undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace in the region and seriously jeopardises the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states”, these countries added.
It was reported that some weeks ago, Palestinians disrupted the plans of the Israeli authorities to start demolishing their homes in Jabel Al-Mukkaber in East Jerusalem by pouring oil on the streets.
The Israelis had to get their vehicles towed away from the area, planned to demolish 800 Palestinian homes in the neighbourhood to make way for a commercial centre and 500 Israeli housing units.
As Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have been high for the past year, with the IDF conducting near-nightly raids in the West Bank amid a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks.
Those tensions have ramped up even further in recent weeks amid a cycle of deadly Israeli raids, and the Palestinian revenge attacks, as well as an uptick in settler violence.