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EU says razing of al-Quds hotel illegal

The European Union has strongly condemned the demolition of a historic hotel in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) to make way for an illegal settlement complex.

“I strongly condemn this morning’s demolition of the Shepherd Hotel and the planned construction of a new illegal settlement,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Sunday.

She reminded that the settlements are “illegal” under international law, adding that “It undermines trust between parties and constitutes an obstacle to peace.”

Israeli bulldozers destroyed the hotel compound in East al-Quds to build 20 new settler units on the occupied Palestinian land, defying international calls for putting an end to Tel Aviv’s demolitions.

The latest Israeli demolition in the illegally annexed city comes as Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders say they will not return to direct talks unless Israel stops all settlement construction.

The PA has also planned to submit to the United Nations Security Council a resolution condemning what they have called gradual land grabs.

Tel Aviv is planning to build the new settlement units in the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Ashton reiterated that “the EU does not recognize” the annexation of East al-Quds by Israel and expressed concern for recent violence in the West Bank, amid escalating Israeli-Palestinian tension.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said that “the British Government reaffirms its strong, long-standing opposition to the creation of this new illegal settlement in occupied East al-Quds and condemns today’s demolition in Sheikh Jerrah.”

The establishment and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are “illegal,” said Burt.

“We see this matter as extremely dangerous,” said Hatem Abdel Qader, the Palestinian official who oversees East al-Quds affairs for acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas.

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