EU ‘appalled’ by Israel’s demolition of Palestinian school in W. Bank

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The European Union delegation to the Palestinians on Wednesday decried Israel’s demolition of an EU-funded school in the occupied West Bank.

"Appalled by news that ISF demolished the donor funded Sfai school in Masafer Yatta in occupied Palestinian territory, one day after a diplomatic visit by several EU member states,” the delegation said in a statement on Twitter.

“Palestinian children’s right to education must be respected,” it added.

The EU delegation expressed deep concerns over “Israeli measures targeting humanitarian structures.”
“Continued coercive measures threaten the existence of the Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta,” it warned.

The Israeli army cited lack of a building permit for the demolition of the school in the town of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron city.

The Palestinian Education Ministry decried the demolition as a “brazen violation of the Palestinian students’ right to safe and free education.”

Israel widely uses the pretext of lack of construction permits to demolish Palestinian homes and buildings, especially in Area C in the occupied West Bank, which constitutes around 60% of its space.

Under the 1995 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was divided into three portions – Area A, B, and C.

Area C is under Israel’s administrative and security control until a final status agreement is reached with the Palestinians.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report