CAIRO — A confidential European report has accused Israel of using settlement expansions, systematic house demolitions and the West Bank barrier to pursue its illegal annexation of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).
"Israel's actions in and around Jerusalem constitute one of the most acute challenges to Israeli-Palestinian peace-making," says the EU Heads of Mission Report on East Jerusalem obtained by the Guardian on Saturday, March 7.
The report, dated December 15, 2008, says the Israeli measures in Al-Quds are meant to judaize the holy city.
"Israeli 'facts on the ground' - including new settlements, construction of the barrier, discriminatory housing policies, house demolitions, restrictive permit regime and continued closure of Palestinian institutions - increase Jewish Israeli presence in East Jerusalem, weaken the Palestinian community in the city, impede Palestinian urban development and separate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank."
"Many of its current illegal actions in and around the city have limited security justifications."
Israel captured Al-Quds in the 1967 six-day war and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community.
Since the occupation of Al-Quds, Israel has adopted a series of oppressive measures to force the Palestinians out, including systematic demolition of their homes.
Al-Quds is home to Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which includes Islam's third holiest shrine Al-Aqsa Mosque, and represents the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Rapid Pace
The EU report says the Israeli settlement construction in the east of Al-Quds has been on a "rapid pace".
It says nearly 5,500 new settlement housing units have been submitted for public review with 3,000 already approved since the Annapolis peace conference in late 2007.
The confidential document cites Israeli plans to build a Jewish settlement in the Muslim quarter of Al-Quds and expanding settlements in Silwan neighborhood which abuts the Old City of Al-Quds.
"(The goal) is to create territorial contiguity between East Jerusalem settlements and the Old City and to sever East Jerusalem and its settlement blocks from the West Bank," it says.
It also cites plans to build 3,500 settlement units, an industrial park, two police stations and other infrastructure in a controversial area known as E1, between Al-Quds and the West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, home to 31,000 settlers.
"(Israeli measures in E1 were) one of the most significant challenges to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."
The Israeli government announced plans last week to double Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The EU report blasted Israel's systematic demolitions of Palestinian homes in the holy city.
"(The demolitions are) illegal under international law, serve no obvious purpose, have severe humanitarian effects, and fuel bitterness and extremism."
Israeli occupation authorities demolished two Palestinian houses in the holy city on Monday and issued demolition orders for more than 88 houses in Silwan.
The plans would affect about 1,500 people in Silwan, home to 10,000 Palestinians.
Since 2000, Israel has razed about 700 homes in the holy city under the pretext of lacking official permits.
There are thousands of warrants yet to be carried out for further destruction.