DEMOLITION OF PALESTINIAN HOMES BY ISRAEL

That this House condemns the major escalation in demolitions by the Israeli government in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; notes that 293 structural demolitions have taken place in the first six weeks of 2016, including numerous homes; expresses concern for the devastating effects such demolitions have on innocent civilians; further notes that in 2015, 447 Palestinian structures were demolished; notes that, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, between 2010 and 2014 only 1.5 per cent of the over 2,000 Palestinian building permit requests were approved in Area C of the West Bank, leading to 10,000 present standing demolition orders; notes Israel's continued uses of demolition as a means of collectively punishing Palestinians; welcomes the EU's continued opposition to Israel's illegal settlements, home demolitions, confiscation and evictions; notes that the home demolitions have included EU-funded structures; calls on the Government to condemn these latest demolitions and the continued expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and demands reparations for the destruction.