Israel Demolishes EU-funded Palestinian School, Igniting Outrage

Israeli authorities sparked outrage on Sunday after demolishing a European Union-funded Palestinian elementary school, the Jib Al-Deeb School. The demolition occurred after a District Court ruling in March deemed the school at risk of collapse due to being constructed without proper permits. This followed a five-year legal battle initiated by Regavim, a pro-settler organization.

The school was located in Area C, east of Bethlehem. Palestinians face considerable difficulty in obtaining permits from Israeli authorities to build legally in Area C, which makes up about 60% of the West Bank and is fully controlled by Israel. As a result, Israeli forces frequently demolish unauthorized Palestinian structures in the area.

The Palestinian Education Ministry condemned the demolition as part of the “occupying regime’s ongoing crimes against the Palestinian educational sector.” An EU spokesperson echoed this sentiment on Facebook, stating that the demolition was illegal under international law and called for Israel to halt such actions.

Despite the destruction, Palestinian activists announced plans to rebuild the school mere hours after the demolition.