The EU peddles diplomatic immunity…writes Ari Briggs
The Jerusalem Municipality has demolished an illegally built structure just moments away from the Hebrew University campus.
Ari Briggs
Not only was this structure built without any planning permission or permits, it was built by the European Union and was even adorned with a EU flag. Earlier this month, Regavim unveiled a report showing that the European Union is actively building illegal Palestinian outposts in and around Jerusalem to the detriment of Israel. The news came as a shock to millions of Israelis who learnt that hundreds of buildings bearing EU flags were popping up across Jerusalem and Area C of Judea and Samaria, which according to the Oslo II Accords is under total Israeli control. Moments after the news went public, an order was given by the Prime Minister of Israel to deal with these structures irrespective of who built them. It would seem that after years of research into this new phenomena, the Israeli government is finally taking baby steps to restore the rule of law.
The illegal buildings were predominantly constructed to settle nomadic tribes, who previously wandered freely according to the season. Instead, these nomads have been turned into political pawns, of the EU, whose motivations are aimed at strengthening the Palestinian Authorities position in Area C and Jerusalem at the expense of Israel.
Different governments deal with the issue of nomadic groups in different ways. In recent years, the Roma were expelled from their illegal communities in France and Italy, to less developed EU countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Kosovo. In October 2013, the European Court for Human Rights ruled that since 2003, by deporting the Roma, “France has been in continuous violation of Article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.”
Although, certain nations viewed this conduct as injurious and inappropriate, action was limited to the ruling of the European Court for Human Rights and no alternative solution for the Roma was forthcoming. More importantly no other government took matters into their own hands and funded the building of dwellings in the suburbs of Paris, as a “permanent solution” for the Roma.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what the EU has been doing as revealed by the recent report by Regavim. The comprehensive report exposes the extent of the EU’s complicit behavior and proves that the EU has illegally built more than 400 structures, displaying the EU flag, on public land, in conjunction with the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The involvement of the EU and European states in the Israeli-Arab conflict, and their almost automatic siding with the Palestinian-Arab position, is nothing new. However, in recent years, instead of just expressing political views and partaking in legitimate activity within the diplomatic sphere, the EU has initiated illegal activities as part of the PA’s strategy to create a Palestinian state de facto, while avoiding the need for negotiating with Israel.
The latest 2014 EU “Funding Decision” document, states their goal clearly – that the EU is taking an active part in the de facto annexation by the PA of Area C. “The European Union and Palestinian Authority are actively promoting planning and construction in Area C, which, if successful, will pave the way for development and expansion of the Palestinian Authority’s control over Area C.”
The flagship joint venture of the PA and EU is, without a doubt, the establishment of a network of outposts in the Adumim region connecting their illegal building program in Jerusalem to Jericho. This includes the strategic area, E1, where due to international pressure Israel’s plans for the development of Mevasseret Adumim have been repeatedly delayed.
The Adumim region is semi arid, with little rainfall; the traditional population comprised wandering nomads who grazed sheep in accordance with the season, living in temporary tents and then moving on. However, over the last decade, the PA has manipulated their existence by supplying water to the area all year round. The temporary tents have been replaced by pre-fabricated structures funded, and even built by, the EU in conjunction with established NGO’s like Oxfam.
The EU is not only breaking Israeli law, they are blatantly breaking their own founding treaty by not respecting the rule of law of a sovereign country. They have disregarded the Oslo II agreement (which gave Israel full control of Area C) by building without proper planning process and are creating environmental damage to a unique ecosystem.
Regavim reported the existence of these illegal buildings to the authorities, but due to the presence of the EU symbol and the threat of action against Israel by the EU, the government has yet to take action. In other words, the EU has found an effective strategy to ensure that the PA succeeds in its land grab, by effectively, applying diplomatic immunity to its illegal building.
The Regavim report demonstrates the EU’s direct involvement in brazen and defiant illegal activities, whose entire purpose is to create facts on the ground, unilaterally, in favor of the PA. In a show of unprecedented hypocrisy, European Union foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini continuously condemned Israel for taking unilateral steps in and around Israel’s Capital, Jerusalem, yet it cares little for its own founding treaty when it comes to ensuring the PA establishes control over Area C and neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
If nothing is done to stop this blatant abuse of the rule of law and the total disrespect for Israel’s sovereignty, we should not be surprised to see EU flags flying in the Negev and the Galilee as we have seen in Jerusalem and its environs.
We commend the Jerusalem Municipality on their swift implementation of the law and expect similar action across Area C of Judea and Samaria by the Civil Administration. For its part, Regavim intends to take its research directly to the European Parliament, the European public and if necessary the EU ombudsmen to ensure Israel is treated with the respect it deserves.
The author is International Relations director of Regavim, a research-based legal advocacy organization, dedicated to ensuring responsible, legal and accountable use of Israel’s national land. For more information, visit www.regavim.org.il/en
He will be speaking in Sydney’s Central Synagogue on March 16 at 8pm
These illegal constructions by the EU in Area C and in the Negev could never have happened if Israeli governments, past and present exercised their sovereignty, tore the lot down the moment building activity commenced and deported every single last man or woman involved in this activity on the first plane out of the country.
One has to ask, what kind of a nation allows the EU to come in with their prefabricated building materials and drilling equipment then waves them on to go build wherever they like, whatever they like and to hell with the requirement of any Israeli authority to do so?
Unfortunately Israel does not act like a sovereign nation, so is it any wonder that it is treated with contempt by the EU and others.
Let’s face it, if there was just one strong government in all these years the landscape of the Negev and now Area C would not be dotted by these abominable and illegal constructions.
Additionally, there would be no need for a company like Regavim (which is doing a marvellous job against all odds) if Israeli Governments and High Court did their job.
It is appalling that Regavim has to take legal action to try to get the government to enforce its own laws.
Even with illegal constructions these people manage to connect up to the water and electricity grid!
What a disgraceful and pathetic situation.
No self respecting nation on the face of the earth would put up with this nonsense for even a second.
Bottom line: the EU demonstrates yet again that power- economic, diplomatic, military-terrorist- trumps justice, law, morality, decency.
But the EU adds HYPOCRISY to power for the “feelgood” added value.
Russia has recently proved this again.
Turkey, China prove it every day in Cyprus and Tibet respectively.
It’s what’s known as “THE REAL WORLD.”