East Jerusalem: Team Europe Visits Projects and Meet Local Interlocutors – EU Press Release

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Jerusalem, 27/04/2021 – 22:57, UNIQUE ID: 210427_13

Following the recent unrest and violent clashes in the city, European Union Heads of Cooperation in Jerusalem and Ramallah visited several neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem where they were briefed by EU partners and Palestinian counterparts. The delegation met with Palestinian families facing evictions and demolitions in East Jerusalem, students and teachers at schools in the old city, and owners of small businesses benefiting from EU support. This visit confirms the solid commitment of Team Europe members towards the Palestinians in East Jerusalem and sends a message of hope and support amidst an increasingly tense reality for Palestinians in their city.

Today’s visit of the European Union Heads of Cooperation in Jerusalem and Ramallah provided the opportunity to take stock of existing projects, meet with beneficiaries, and learn about the current challenges, particularly against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the most recent political developments.

In Issawieh the delegation met a Palestinian family facing imminent threat of home demolition and another family split due to the rejection of a residency request. The European Union, in cooperation with the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC), is supporting both marginalized communities and individual cases. Putting both cases back in the bigger picture, JLAC presented its study on Issawieh “Accounts of Persistent Isolation, Separation and Violations”, and explained the threats targeting Palestinian Jerusalemites as a result of the Issawieh “masterplan” prepared by the Israeli authorities.

The Heads of Cooperation visited two schools in the Old City, where they discussed the current situation of the education sector in East Jerusalem.  The group was briefed about on-going work in renovating old school buildings, aiming to enhance the resilience of East Jerusalem schools such as the Al-Wifaq School. In addition, they discussed with experts the distance learning challenges and its impact on inclusive education. The delegation also met the Head of the Palestinian Directorate of Education in East Jerusalem who briefed them on the challenges facing the education system and educational staff in East Jerusalem, particularly after the closure of the Directorate by the Israeli authorities.

The last stop was meeting the Palestine for Development Foundation (PSDF) team.  The delegation was briefed on the COVID-19 pandemic impact on micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the private sector in East Jerusalem. PSDF, then, presented the grant facility for private sector development in Jerusalem and its impact on strengthening MSMEs. This facility improved MSMEs skills and professionalism, their business model and thus their commercial activity. Since 2018, 49 businesses have received investment grants. More than 410 jobs were created or sustained through this project.  Despite the fragility of the private sector in East Jerusalem, the facility aims to provide investment grants for at least 50 businesses by the end of August 2021.

Background:

Through the East Jerusalem Programme (EJP), the EU is providing around 12 million Euro annually to support the Palestinian in East Jerusalem.  This programme aims at maintaining the two States solution with Jerusalem being the capital of the two States and supporting the Palestinian resilience and cultural identity of the City. Aid is primarily channelled through direct awards (grants) to NGOs, or through contribution agreements with UN bodies and/or EU member States.

Coordination with Member States’ actions in East Jerusalem is ensured through the regular Informal Working Group on East Jerusalem (chaired by EUREP). Under the EU Joint Strategy in Support of Palestine 2017-2020, the EU will move forward with joint implementation in support of some priority sectors in East Jerusalem where other EU Member States are either in the lead or interested in coordinating their support.

For more information:

The Office of the European Union Representative

Shadi Othman (02 5415 867, 0599 673 958); Inas Abu Shirbi (02 541 5 859, 0599 673 957)

http://eeas.europa.eu/palestine