The European Union expressed its concern yesterday about the decision to dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council, calling for the holding of real and democratic elections for all Palestinians. Israeli forces, accompanied by intelligence and police, stormed Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem.

In a statement issued by the EU representative and heads of EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the PLC has not held any session since 2007 and has been unable to exercise its functions as a legislative body of the Palestinian Authority, as stipulated in the Basic Law during the decade the past.

He added that dissolving the council "officially ends the authority of the only elected government body of the Palestinian Authority, a development that the European Union's missions are looking at with concern."

In accordance with the conclusions of the 2016 European Council of Foreign Ministers, and in the light of the announcement of elections, EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah encouraged the Palestinian leadership to work for strong, inclusive and accountable institutions and a democracy based on respect for the rule of law and human rights.

The statement called on the Palestinian government to work for holding real and democratic elections for all Palestinians as "vital for the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state".

EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah called on the Palestinian factions to "work together to find common ground and work together towards a positive path towards democracy for the benefit of the Palestinian people."

On the other hand, warned the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hamas, yesterday, the closure of Israel schools of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Jerusalem.

A member of the Executive Committee of the Organization, the head of the Department of Refugees Ahmed Abuhuli, in a statement, rejected the Israeli decision to close UNRWA schools in Jerusalem starting next academic year.

"Israel is seeking to empty Jerusalem of all institutions (UNRWA) to Judaize the city and empty it of its Palestinian population, and to cancel the official definition of Shuafat Camp as a refugee camp."

"The Israeli decision is a racist decision and a crime committed against the Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem, which requires the United Nations to defend its institutions and intervene to stop this crime, which is aimed at confiscating all UNRWA buildings in Jerusalem," he said.

He warned of "the policy of silence of the international community, which will open the appetite for the government of Israel for further actions targeting institutions (UNRWA) in other camps under its control." According to the statement, the Israeli decision will include six schools in Jerusalem, where some 2,000 Palestinian students are studying. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum warned Israel not to take any decisions to close UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, calling it a "dangerous decision aimed at the existence of the Palestinian right and the Palestinian refugees."

Israeli forces, accompanied by intelligence and police, stormed the Makassed hospital in the occupied city of Jerusalem.

According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), "the occupation forces suspended an order preventing the establishment of the event, which was to be organized on the scene of the Makassed charity college in front of the hospital building in Mount Olives in occupied Jerusalem, with the participation of Palestinian Health Minister Jawad Awwad, The Governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, the Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Committee, Sheikh Akrama Sabri, the President of Makassed Association, Dr. Arafat Haddmi, and a number of personalities and representatives of institutions ». According to the agency, the event comes under the auspices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the "Golden Jubilee" on the establishment of Makassed Hospital, and the launch of a number of new sections.

In another context, the Jordanian official news agency quoted the head of the Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority, Haitham Mesto, as saying that Jordan rejects the establishment of the Israeli airport in the Red Sea area near the Jordanian border and its unilateral operation, unless Israel complies with international standards. Jordanian interests.

He explained that «rejection comes to the airport violation international standards in respect of respect for the sovereignty of the airspace and land of other countries when the operation of the airport».

"Israel should abide by the 1944 Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation signed by 192 countries in the world, including Jordan and Israel, which is binding on all parties," he said.

Israel opened yesterday a new international airport in the southern desert, with the aim of promoting tourism in the Red Sea area, to be a substitute for Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in case of emergency.

PLO and Movement

Hamas warned against closing schools in Israel

UNRWA in Jerusalem.