On Thursday 15 October, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called on Israel to reverse its latest settlement plans, which provide for the construction of almost 5,000 housing units in areas in and around Jerusalem. On 14 October alone, the government approved 2,166 housing units.
“The Israeli Government should reverse these decisions and halt all continued settlement expansion, including in East Jerusalem and sensitive areas such as Har Homa, Givat Hamatos and E1”, he said in a statement. “Settlement activity threatens current efforts to rebuild trust, to resume civil and security cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis and to prepare the ground for an eventual resumption of meaningful and direct negotiations”, he said.
Highlighting the surge in demolitions or confiscations of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank between March and August 2020, despite Covid-19, the High Representative again called on Israel to halt all such demolitions, including those of EU-funded structures.
He called on Israelis and Palestinians to take urgent steps to build confidence and restore cooperation in accordance with previous agreements and in full compliance with international law. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)