Israel demolishes EU-funded Palestinian buildings in southern West Bank village

Israeli forces demolished 24 Palestinian buildings in a disputed military zone in the West Bank on Tuesday, including 10 funded by the European Union, leaving families homeless, authorities and residents said.

Soldiers destroyed the structures in and around the village of Khirbet Jen-bah south of Hebron, the association of civil rights in Israel said. Israeli officials said the buildings were illegal. An EU spokesman denounced the demolitions and said that 10 of the buildings had been constructed with funds from Echo, the European Commission’s humanitarian arm. The soldiers arrived at around 7:00 am and carried out the demolitions, leaving 12 families temporarily homeless, said Nidal Younes, head of the local council of a neighbouring village. “In total it is around 80 people,” he said.

Israel has carried out a long campaign to relocate the residents of the area, which was declared a military zone by the Israeli government in the 1970s.

Human rights groups have repeatedly challen-ged Israel’s claim to the land, arguing it is illegal to establish a military zone in occupied territory, Sarit Michaeli from the B’Tselem NGO said.

The families argue that their ancestors, who were cave dwellers, have lived on the land since long before Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.

Israeli defence ministry confirmed “enforcement measures were taken against illegal structures and solar panels built within a military zone.”

The EU called on Israel to change its policies in the occupied West Bank.

“The EU expects its investments in support of the Palestinian people to be protected from damage and destruction,” said a spokesman, who condemned the demolitions.

A High Court injunction later on Tuesday ordered a halt to all demolitions until at least February 9.