Israel's illegal displacement of Palestinians will further escalate violence: EU

Ramallah: The European Union (EU) on Monday noted that Israel's measures of displacing the Palestinians in East Jerusalem and demolishing their homes are illegal and said that it will lead to more violence.

In a statement, the EU mission in Palestine said that the Israeli authorities demolished last week a Palestinian store in the al-Bustan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, as per a report by the Xinhua news agency.

The statement added that the Israeli authorities gave demolition orders to owners of several other buildings and another 20 homes and said that more than 1,000 Palestinians who live in the neighbourhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem are facing a similar threat.

The EU mission said that Israeli laws do not absolve Israel, as the occupying power, from fulfilling its obligations to administer the occupied territories in a manner that protects the local population.

Referring to unilateral measures taken such as forced transfers, evictions, demolition and confiscation of homes, the EU said that Israel's settlement policy is illegal under international law.

It also added that all of Israel's measures will lead to more violence and human suffering.

The EU called on the Israeli authorities to stop these activities immediately and provide appropriate permits for the legal construction and development of Palestinian communities.

"The EU is committed to achieving a two-state solution that meets Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty and ends the occupation that began in 1967," the statement said.

The Palestinians regard East Jerusalem, which includes Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the capital of their future state, while Israel insists on considering unified Jerusalem as its eternal capital.