BICOM

According to Israeli media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the demolition of 400 EU-funded structures which were reportedly built illegally in Area C of the West Bank.

The order follows a report by an Israeli NGO into unauthorised construction in Area C, which is under full Israeli control according to the Oslo Peace Accords. The report by Regavim showed EU funding had built structures for Palestinians in 17 locations in Area C without going through the processes required by the Oslo Accords and Israeli law.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, some of these homes were built in the controversial E1 area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim.

According to the Mail, the EU initially denied that any construction had happened at all, with EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic saying, “The EU’s funding will provide training and expertise, to help the relevant Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministries to plan and build new infrastructure and enable people to reclaim and rebuild their land there. To date, no construction has started yet under these programmes. ”

However, she reportedly refused to comment after the Mail showed her photos of one new Palestinian settlement, which appears to be flying multiple EU flags. Meanwhile another EU spokesman and Oxfam defended the construction project.

In related news, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the demolition of nine homes in the West Bank settlement of Ofra. The Court found that the homes had been built on privately-owned Palestinian land contrary to Israeli law and that they had been built in defiance of the IDF’s own orders to halt construction.