West Bank - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs - agencies

European diplomatic missions called on Israel to stop all confiscations and demolitions in the occupied West Bank, to return or compensate for humanitarian resources funded by donors for the benefit of the Palestinians, and to allow unhindered humanitarian access.
According to the Middle East News Agency, the missions called on Israel, as the occupying power, to stop all confiscations and demolitions and to provide unimpeded access to humanitarian organizations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem - according to a statement on the website of the European Union's External Action Service today, Friday.
The missions, through official channels, appealed to Israel to return or compensate for all resources funded by the donor consortium. The total value of donor-funded materials that have been demolished, dismantled or confiscated since 2015 is estimated at €1,291,000.
Furthermore, the missions strongly condemned the recent demolition of the donor-funded school in Jubbet Al Dhib and expressed grave concern over the threat of demolition of another 57 schools in the West Bank. The threats include the demolition of the Qassim Al-Karim School in Hebron and the Ein Samia School in Ramallah, located in a community whose people have been forced off their land due to settler violence and harsh restrictions.
In their contacts with the Israeli authorities, the issue of the planned forcible transfer of more than 1,100 affected Palestinians currently residing in Masafer Yatta, in Hebron, was also raised as a matter of grave concern, while the prohibition of forcible transfer was emphasized in international humanitarian law.
The missions expressed similar concern about the imminent demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and the possible forcible transfer of 48 Palestinian families living there.
The diplomatic missions condemned settler violence in the strongest terms, and addressed Israel's failure to protect Palestinians and prosecute violent settlers.
The missions stressed their alarm at the recent events in Hawara, Cyrenaica and elsewhere, and their concern about continued and dangerous statements that could incite further violence, and stressed that partners on the ground consider that settlement expansion has led to an increase in settler violence.
The missions reaffirmed that the settlements are illegal under international law and called on Israel to stop the policy of settlement expansion and depriving the Palestinians of development in the occupied West Bank.
The two missions condemn the killing of Palestinians and Israelis alike, stressing at the same time the record high death toll this year in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Members of the European Missions include the Consulates General of Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and the representative offices of Denmark, Finland, Germany and Ireland, as well as the Office of the European Union Representative in the West Bank and Gaza.
On the ground, 4 Palestinians were wounded by live bullets, during clashes that broke out today, Friday, with the Israeli occupation forces, while settlers burned 5 cars between the villages of "Turmusaya" and "Al-Mughayer" east of Ramallah.
Eyewitnesses said that the settlers of the "Adi Ad" settlement, built on citizens' lands in the besieged village of "Al-Mughayyir" two weeks ago, attacked farmers in the "Al-Sidr" area between Turmusaya and Al-Mughayyir, assaulted them, and burned 5 cars belonging to them, in addition to some tools used in grazing. and agriculture.
The witnesses indicated that the occupation forces stormed the area to provide protection for the settlers, which led to clashes between young men and soldiers. As a result, 4 civilians were wounded by live bullets, after which they were taken to the hospital.
It is noteworthy that the occupation forces have been besieging the village of "al-Mughayyir" for about two weeks by closing its main entrances and preventing Palestinian citizens from entering or leaving it, forcing them to take dirt roads to reach their places of work.