Senior Israeli officials have rejected the proposal from the EU to deploy international monitors of the occupation authority’s demolition of Palestinian-owned buildings in East Jerusalem and the eviction of their owners. The EU has expressed its concern that such demolitions reduce the likelihood of East Jerusalem becoming the capital of a future Palestinian state and, therefore, block the emergence of the “two-state solution”. Commentators point out that this is precisely what the Israeli government intends by its Judaisation policies in the Holy City.
“Settlements are illegal under international law and they undermine trust between the parties [to the peace negotiations] and constitute an obstacle to peace,” one EU official stated.
The EU Mission in Tel Aviv suggested deploying international monitors following the destruction of the historic Shepherd Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah district of East Jerusalem this week.