The European Union is well-known for ignoring Israeli law and funding major construction projects. Eight EU countries led by Belgium, have sent an official protest to Israel, demanding $35,400 in compensation from the Government of Israel after the latter razed the illegals structures, Haaretz reported on Wednesday, 28 Tishrei.

Israel has razed illegal structures built by the EU in the past and according to the Haaretz report, this marks the first time a protest was filed with the Israel Foreign Ministry demanding compensatory payment. The report is based on a senior EU official speaking with Haaretz.

It does not come as a surprise that the eight nations (in alphabetical order); Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden are members of the “West Bank Protection Consortium”, which provides humanitarian aid to area ‘C’, under complete Israeli security and civil control, in this case often referring to assistance to Bedouin communities.

The EU is demanding Israel return infrastructure for a school and more, which were part of the projects taken down, citing failure to do so would place Israel in violation of international law. There is no mention of the EU violating international law by building in Israel illegally, at will, opting to do as it pleases without obtaining the necessary permits from the various government ministries.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)