Jerusalem hits back at France for criticizing West Bank demolitions

Jerusalem hit back at France Thursday for having harshly criticized Israel’s intensifying campaign to demolish unauthorized European-funded humanitarian facilities in the West Bank, accusing Paris and other donors in the international community of aiding Palestinian “provocations” meant to create facts on the ground.

Last week, Israel demolished facilities in the Palestinian village of Aqaba, which lies in the Israeli-controlled Area C of the West Bank, triggering international condemnation. The buildings were built by France and other European Union member states for humanitarian purposes but without prior approval by the Israeli government.

Israel’s demolitions of unauthorized foreign-funded structures in the West Bank has long been a bone of contention, with Jerusalem and the European Union arguing over the legality of such structures. The EU argues that Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for the Palestinian civilian population and that the international community is allowed to build facilities to help when there is need. Israel rejects this argument.

Last week’s demolition in Aqaba marked the fourth time that Israel destroyed humanitarian structures funded by French humanitarian assistance since the start of 2016, the French Foreign Ministry lamented in a statement released Wednesday.

“France expresses its deep concern at the continuation — at an unprecedented rate — of the demolition and confiscation of structures intended for the Palestinian population,” the statement continued. Paris called on Jerusalem end such demolitions, which it argued violated international law and endanger a two-state solution.

Israel on Thursday rejected the French statement as “incorrect.”

“France, like the other European countries, is committed to coordinating with Israel on any construction in Area C,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon said. “Having failed to do so, France cannot complain about Israel demolishing illegal buildings whose construction was not coordinated with Israel.”

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According to the Oslo Accords, Israel alone is responsible for civilian issues in Area C, including planning and building, Nahshon added. “As is customary in every country of laws, Israel does not allow construction without proper permits. In this case the construction is done without government approval in a non-residential area and therefore Israel executed its authority and demolished the buildings.”

Jerusalem expects from the international community only to fund legal constructions and to refrain from assisting “illegal provocations, whose only objective is to create facts on the ground” and violate signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, Nahshon said.