Hungary and the Czech Republic refused to adopt a report that was critical of Israel in relation to the Palestinian territories in European Union.
The report, which was prepared by 21 heads of European missions in the Palestinian territories, stated that the European Union should categorically oppose the Israeli government’s illegal plans to unilaterally change the status of Jerusalem and its borders, noting that Israel has greatly accelerated its pressure and measures against the Palestinian population in the last year.
A confidential European Union report warned of what it described as “drastic acceleration” of Israeli pressure on the Palestinian population in Jerusalem in the past year, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.
The report, which was seen by El Pais, was delivered to the EU’s External Action service (EUAA) by the diplomatic representatives in Jerusalem and Ramallah of nearly all EU member states in addition to the EU delegate.
It stated that EU member states should “unequivocally” oppose unilateral plans that the paper described as being aimed at “altering the status and borders of Jerusalem.”
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“In their latest annual report on the disputed city, the European heads of mission to the Palestinian Authority (in East Jerusalem and Ramallah) warn that the events of 2022 ‘highlighted the growing fragility of the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, the exacerbation of the socioeconomic conditions of the Palestinians, and the need for their protection,'” El Pais reported.
The confidential EU report also reveals Palestinians’ “separation from the political, social and economic life of the city” and highlights Israeli violations like the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied eastern part of Jerusalem and the illegal construction of settler units in their place, according to El Pais.
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The report also underscores the danger of completing a ring of settlements that would isolate Jerusalem from the West Bank. It additionally warns about the use by Israeli authorities and settler groups of archaeology and tourism to “strengthen the Jewish and Biblical-inspired narrative about Jerusalem.” This is the case of the City of David, in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, at the foot of the walled citadel, which is in the hands of the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority but run by an ultra-nationalist foundation. Diplomatic representatives advocate raising this issue both bilaterally and in international forums while simultaneously supporting a Palestinian tourism strategy in the east of the city, where key religious and tourist monuments are located, such as the Temple Mount and the Holy Sepulchre.
The document also recalls that six Palestinians have lost their residence in Jerusalem by virtue of a legal amendment approved in 2018. The vast majority of residents in East Jerusalem have a permanent residence permit issued by Israel. That year, parliament gave the Interior Ministry the power to revoke it for individuals who have committed attacks, endangered public safety or “betrayed the State of Israel.” The latest person to have his residency revoked was the French-Palestinian human rights lawyer Salah Hamouri, who was deported to France last December.
Among the measures that should be “considered,” according to the report’s annex of recommendations, there are two related to border policy. One is to keep out “known violent settlers and those who call for acts of violence.” The other, to apply the principle of reciprocity when faced with “Israeli discriminatory practices with visas that restrict the freedom of movement of EU citizens.”
