CMEP Bulletin: Building Israeli Settlements, Demolishing Palestinian Homes

Statement by the Spokesperson on Israel’s Decision to Advance Plans for Housing Units in Gilo Settlement in East Jerusalem [EU External Action]
The EU issued a statement in response to Israel’s plans to build 770 additional Israeli housing units in a settlement in East Jerusalem. It says, “The EU calls on Israel to reverse this decision and to cease its settlement activity.”

US Statement on Recent Israeli Settlement Announcements [US Department of State]
The U.S. issued a statement on Israel’s advancing housing unit plans, saying, “this is part of an ongoing process of land seizures, settlement expansion, legalizations of outposts, and denial of Palestinian development that risk entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict.”

Palestinians Call for UNSC Action Over New Israeli Building Plans in East Jerusalem [Jerusalem Post]
The Palestinian Authority has called on the United Nations Security Council to act against Israeli settlement building, in the wake of the Jerusalem Municipality’s decision to advance 770 new Jewish homes in its Gilo neighborhood, which is located over the Green Line.

Israel Demolishes More Palestinian Homes this Year than Last [Fox News]
The B’Tselem group says Israel has demolished more Palestinian homes in the West Bank this year than it did nearly every other year in the last decade.

IDF Razes 15 Illegal Arab Homes in East Jerusalem and West Bank [Jerusalem Post]
The head of the Kalandiya Village Council, Muhammad al-Jouri, told Palestinian media that clashes erupted with soldiers, adding that stun grenades and tear gas canisters were utilized to disperse the rioting.

Click here to read the full Churches for Middle East Peace Bulletin, including links to these stories and more.

Click here to read the announcement of a new CMEP Executive Director.