EU official calls on Israel to stop demolishing Palestinian homes in West Bank

A senior European Union (EU) official on Monday called on Israel to stop its policy of demolishing Palestinian homes in areas classified as Area C in the occupied West Bank.

John Gatt-Rutter, the EU representative made his remarks to reporters as he accompanied with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in tour in Areas C, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Rutter and Hamdallah visited the village of Sosia, which Israel intends to confiscate.

"Our presence here is to send a message that we seriously consider the dangers of demolishing homes. If the demolition orders are executed, hundreds of residents of this village will be homeless," said Rutter.

He stressed that instead of demolishing Palestinian homes, the Israeli government has to help the Palestinian investment and development in these areas "because it is a moral duty for Israel."

He added that the EU completely rejects the ongoing policy of settlement construction in the West Bank towns and villages, mainly the village of Sosia. "Settlement is illegal," he said.

For his part, Hamdallah said "the Israeli occupation can't annul or erase our presence and our right to get out lands back, no matter what its policies of uprooting, demolitions and confiscations are."

In 1993, Israel and the Palestinians signed Oslo peace accord, in which the West Bank was divided into three areas. Area A is under Palestinian control, Area B under joint Israeli-Palestinian control and Area C under full Israeli security control. Endit