Israel Matzav

Boo Hoo! Euroweenies complain because their illegal structures in Judea and Samaria are being torn down

The European Union is complaining because illegally built structures that it financed in Judea and Samaria are being torn down by the Israeli authorities just like everyone else's illegally built structures. It's really simple folks: If you want to build, get a permit.

The report from the Displacement Working Group (DWG) said Israel razed 62 European-funded structures last year, and another 110 such projects were at risk.

The DWG said that affected structures were financed by France, the Netherlands, Britain, Poland, Ireland and the European Commission.

France last month protested to Israel's ambassador in Paris over the demolition of two water cisterns in the Hebron area in the southern West Bank, which were financed under a French agricultural cooperation project.

OCHA said that a total of 620 structures in the West Bank were torn down in 2011, of which 62 were European-funded.

Of those affected, 600 were in the Area C, where Israel has full civilian and security control. Twenty of the demolitions were in Area B, where Israel and the Palestinian Authority have joint responsibility.

The Israeli military body in charge of civilian aspects of life in the West Bank said it is obliged to issue demolition orders against structures erected without the required construction permits.

Willow Heske, spokeswoman for the UK charity Oxfam, said that the "'permit regime' is discriminatory and is in contradiction of international law… In our experience trying to work within the permit regime, it can sometimes take up to two years... just to get a denial," she said.

"We see that settlers are getting zoning and building permission in these areas with no trouble, this is obviously discriminatory and is in contradiction of international law."

What a load of rubbish. The 'settlers' are lucky if their permits don't get revoked after they have built. If you want to build, get a permit.

Labels: European Union, Judea and Samaria construction

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:50 PM