The heads of the European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah said today, Monday, that the policy of settlement, forced transfers, evictions, demolition and confiscation of homes practiced by Israel is illegal under international law.

The representative of the European Union and the heads of missions of the European Union countries in Jerusalem and Ramallah said - in a joint written statement - on June 29, "The Israeli authorities demolished a Palestinian store in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan / East Jerusalem, and many buildings in the neighborhood recently received demolition orders." There are currently 20 homes that are at imminent risk of demolition."

He added, "More than a thousand Palestinians in the Al-Bustan neighborhood are facing the threat of demolishing their homes, and in the meantime, 86 families are in various stages of eviction procedures led by an Israeli settlement organization in the neighboring Batn Al-Hawa neighborhood."

In addition to the above, the Israeli Supreme Court is expected to announce next August 2, whether it will allow the appeal request by 4 of the 28 families at risk of eviction from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, after judicial procedures by a settlement organization. in the neighborhood".

The statement noted that "Israeli domestic laws that create the basis for allegations of family evictions do not excuse Israel, as the occupying power, from fulfilling its obligations to administer the occupied territories."

divestment

European diplomats said that "Israel's settlement policy is illegal under international law, and so are unilateral measures taken in this context, such as forced transfers, evictions, demolition and confiscation of homes, which will only escalate an already tense environment and lead to more violence and human suffering." .

They added that "the Israeli authorities should stop these activities immediately, and provide appropriate permits for legal construction and development of Palestinian communities."

They pointed out that "the European Union remains committed to achieving the two-state solution, based on the criteria stipulated in the Council's conclusions in July 2014, a solution that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs, Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, and ends the occupation that began in 1967." and resolves all permanent status issues in order to end the conflict.

In a parallel context, a large Norwegian pension fund announced its decision to withdraw its investments in 16 companies, because they operate in Israeli settlements built on Palestinian lands.

The Israel Broadcasting Corporation said, "Norway's largest pension fund, KLP, announced today, Monday, that it is cutting its investments in 16 companies operating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank."

KLP confirmed that "the sale (assets) in Motorola Solutions was a direct decision against the background of its monitoring role in the occupied territories," noting that the company provides software used in border control.

"Among these companies: Motorola, Alstom, and others in the areas of communication, banking, energy and construction," she added.

Many Western companies and pension funds have withdrawn their investments from Israeli settlements and the companies in which they operate.