EU Slams Israel's Decision To Raze School In West Bank

Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, the EU representative in Palestine, stated on Friday that Israel's decision to demolish Ein Samiya School in the occupied West Bank is "illegal" and violates international law.

Burgsdorff made the remarks in an exclusive statement to Anadolu Agency on the occasion of his visit to the Ein Samiya School in the northeast of Ramallah, where he was accompanied by representatives and ambassadors from European Union countries in Palestine.

The official noted that Israel's decision to demolish the school is "illegal" and "inconsistent" with international humanitarian law.

Burgsdorff pointed out that the school was built with EU support and funding in order to serve students and provide them with education.

If the school is demolished, students would be forced to walk 9 kilometers (approximately 6 miles) to another nearby school along a road surrounded by Israeli settlements, putting their lives in danger.

The EU representative urged Israel to reverse its "demolition decision."

He stated that the ambassadors and representatives will convey to their respective countries the residents' suffering in Ein Samiya as well as the Masafer Yatta area in the south of Hebron, which is also under fear of demolition.

On Wednesday, the Israeli District Court in Jerusalem issued a decision to "immediately demolish" the school.

The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights said the school serves students of the Ein Samia community, totaling about 300 people. It is located in Area C, which is used to classify parts of the West Bank that are under Israel's control.

On July 28, the Israeli Minister of Education, Shasha-Biton, decided to revoke the licenses of six schools in occupied East Jerusalem with more than 2,000 students, "on the background of incitement against Israel in textbooks," according to a ministry statement at the time.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat -