US, UN, EU, opposition MKs condemn Israeli conduct in Area C, East Jerusalem

Strong international condemnation of ‘accelerated, systematic’ further settlement construction, planning discrimination, demolitions, and other breaches of occupier’s duty. ‘As the recent Quartet Report highlighted, this is part of an ongoing process of land seizures, settlement expansion, legalisations of outposts, and denial of Palestinian development that risk entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict.’ Israeli government pushes back.

UN: Israel ‘systematically’ emptying Area C of Palestinians – Dov Lieber – The Times of Israel 28.07.16
MKs Ayman Odeh (Joint List), Dov Hanin (Joint List), Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union) and Michal Rozin (Meretz) all agree that Israeli policy in Area C is a deliberate attempt to expel Palestinians ahead of a future annexation. From 2009-2013, Israel granted only 44 construction permits to Palestinians in response to over 2,000 requests, Lars Faaborg-Andersen tells Knesset meeting; ‘EU assistance is provided in situations where Israel is not fulfilling its duty as the occupying power.’

U.S. strongly condemns 'accelerated, systematic' settlement activity by Israel – Barak Ravid – Haaretz 28.07.16
State Department says recent construction announcements by Israel ‘are the latest examples of what appears to be a steady acceleration of settlement activity that is systematically undermining the prospects for a two-state solution. Condemnation also by EU, UN, UK, Germany, France, Turkey and Japan.

Israel destroys 20 Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem – Yair Ettinger – Haaretz 27.07.16
Police use riot-control measures to quell protests against most extensive destruction of buildings in recent years, some beyond the separation barrier in Palestinian locales. Hassan Salameh said the demolition order had been stuck on the door of his two-storey building during the previous night. ‘All my brothers, seven families, lived in the building. Not even 12 hours passed from the moment we saw the demolition orders and the time the bulldozers arrived. They destroyed everything, the furniture and everything that was inside. If they had given us warning, we would have had a chance to speak to them, we would have brought all the papers... They destroyed my life. What will we do?’

Israel fires back at US over criticism of settlement building – Eric Cortellessa – The Times of Israel 29.07.16
Foreign Ministry: ‘Baseless’ to claim construction over Green Line undermines two-state deal; real obstacle is Palestinian refusal to recognize Jewish state.

And see:

Israel ramping up demolitions in West Bank February 23, 2016

August demolition wave leaves hundreds homeless September 10, 2015

Distorting the facts of Occupation: Regavim’s attacks on the EU April 28, 2015

Israel admits planning discrimination against Palestinians in East Jerusalem April 12, 2016

Some settlements a lot worse than others? July 12, 2016