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CHRISTIAN ORGANISATIONS AMONG 31 CALLING FOR “URGENT ACTION” TO STOP DEMOLITIONS IN PALESTINIAN COMMUNITIES

24th August, 2015

A number of Christian organisations have joined with human rights groups and international development organisations in calling on world leaders to take urgent action to stop ongoing demolitions in Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

The 31 organisations – including Christian Aid, the Church of Sweden, and Pax Christi International – have also called for the Israeli Government to be held accountable for what they say is the "wanton destruction" of Palestinian property and of projects which have been funded by international aid.

In a statement, the organisations, which also include Amnesty International and Oxfam, said the Israeli Army demolished at least 63 homes and basic structures across 10 Palestinian communities last week in Area C, part of the West Bank where Israel has full military and civil control. Among the demolished structures were a solar panel, portable latrine, animal pens and tents financed by the EU.

They said international donors should look to recover costs of the destroyed structures and commit to resupplying the aid, noting that since the EU declared in May, 2012, that it expected the Israeli Government to protect its aid in Area C, hundreds of aid items given by donors based in Europe and elsewhere have been demolished or seized.

The organisations said the demolitions in the last week alone rendered 132 people homeless, including 82 children – the highest number of people rendered homeless from demolitions in nearly three years.

Catherine Essoyan, Oxfam’s regional chairperson, said in a statement that the demolitions were "pushing Palestinians to the brink and destroyed prospects for peace". "Instead of developing their communities and their livelihood, thousands of Palestinians in Area C are living in misery with the constant fear that tomorrow, their home could be gone and they could be forced to leave their land.

The organisations said the demolitions were being carried out as part of an Israeli Government plan to relocate 7,000 Palestinians living in 46 communities in Area C.

Christian Aid’s policy and advocacy officer for Israel and the Paletinians, said the international community "must use all of its influence to prevent the ongoing destruction of Palestinian property and continued displacement from their land."

"To allow this to continue is to further erode the notion of peace with justice and security for all."

– DAVID ADAMS

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