2018-Aug-16 European Union

                In August, the European Union (EU) released its “Six-Month Report on Demolitions and Confiscations of EU funded structures in the West Bank including East Jerusalem” which found that over 197 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished between January and June 2018, 26 were funded by the EU or EU member states and were valued at $69,381. The report also voiced concern for Khan al-Ahmar which is under demolition risk (see Palestinian-Israeli Conflict). Later in September the EU passed a resolution urging Israel not the demolish Khan al-Ahmar after the Israeli High Court of Justice had rejected a partition from the residents of the Bedouin village not to demolish and relocate its residents. The EU warned that demolishing Khan al-Ahmar would be a grave breach of international humanitarian law, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention. It also stated that Israel would be responsible for compensating the EU-funded infrastructure in Khan al-Ahmar were they to demolish the village, a compensation that would be around $358,400. Lastly, it called for Israel to reverse its settlement policy. After the EU resolution passed, 8 EU countries demanded compensation of $35,000 for EU-funded structures that Israel had demolished in the West Bank. The demand was conveyed to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an official letter from Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Italy, Ireland, and Denmark.