The European Union (EU) has condemned the Israeli demolition of a school in Bethlehem the day before the new school year was due to begin.
The EU Representative and the EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah yesterday called on Israel to desist from all further demolitions and confiscations of Palestinian property.
Around 80 children from the village of Jub-Ad-Dhib aged five to 10 were left with no classrooms in which to learn on Wednesday after Israeli occupying forces declared the area a military zone, using stun grenades to keep residents away.
Soldiers then informed local Palestinians that the structures were illegally built and took the six mobile classrooms away on trucks. Teachers were forced to hold classes in tents under the hot sun.
Israel is threatening some 55 schools in the occupied West Bank with demolitions, many of which are funded by European nations. In the first three months of this year, there were also 24 cases of Israel launching direct attacks against educational centers including firing tear gas or shooting at students with rubber bullets.