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Palestinian Vice President Sheikh calls on Europe to act against settlements
Palestinian Vice President Hussein Sheikh welcomed the Council of Europe’s condemnation on Saturday of Israel’s settlement activities, particularly in Jerusalem. Sheikh called for Europe’s position to translate into concrete steps to halt settlement expansion in East Jerusalem, withdraw the construction tender for the E1 area and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Palestinian Vice President Hussein Sheikh welcomed the Council of Europe’s position condemning Israel’s settlement activities and called on Europe to support that position with effective steps on the ground.
Sheikh said a statement issued at the Council of Europe’s latest summit called for settlement activities to be halted, the planned construction tender in the E1 area of East Jerusalem to be cancelled, Palestinian tax revenues to be released and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza to be guaranteed.
Sheikh calls for Europe’s support to take concrete form
Sheikh said he appreciated the Council of Europe’s support for international law and the rights of the Palestinian people, and welcomed Europe’s support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority. He said support for reform efforts and the strengthening of national institutions would contribute to consolidating stability.
Sheikh said Europe’s statements should be turned into effective steps to end the occupation, establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the borders of June 4, 1967, implement the two-state solution and enforce resolutions based on international legitimacy.
Council of Europe condemns steps in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
The Council of Europe condemned Israel’s unilateral steps aimed at expanding its presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The council noted that the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion dated July 19, 2024, found these steps to be unlawful.
The council also strongly condemned the growing settler violence against Palestinian civilians, Christian communities and other minorities, and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
Calling on Israel to immediately abandon steps to expand settlements, the Council of Europe demanded the withdrawal of the construction tender for the E1 area. The council said companies should not bid for construction contracts in E1 or other settlement expansion projects.
The E1 project and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The E1 project is planned in the area between Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement east of the city. Palestinian and international groups believe that implementing the project would separate parts of the West Bank and weaken the possibility of establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state.
The Council of Europe said it was concerned about worsening conditions in Gaza and the West Bank, the continuing severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the possibility that the situation could deteriorate further as winter approaches.
The council called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach all of Gaza immediately, safely and without hindrance. It called for the sustained and intensive distribution of aid, and also expressed concern over the lack of progress in implementing a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to official Palestinian figures, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, more than 175,000 people have been injured and approximately 90 percent of the infrastructure has been damaged. During the same period, at least 1,220 Palestinians were killed, more than 13,350 were injured and 24,600 were detained in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı
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