Mr. Omar Barghouti:

The issue the Senator raises is extremely important, especially because she mentions EU-funded projects. Over the last years, Israel has intensified its demolition of Palestinian homes, schools, clinics and just about all infrastructure Palestinians have built, especially in Area C, the 60% of the West Bank that is under Israel's military and security control, where Palestinians cannot do anything without Israeli permission. Despite these projects being funded by the EU and although the heads of missions of EU states in Jerusalem have always raised the facts very clearly to their capitals, there has been no accountability. There has just been rhetoric of condemnation, even very light condemnation, without any action on the ground. There has not been one measure to hold Israel to account or request that it pays back European tax money that has been invested in supporting Palestinian infrastructure. This really raises the question of why Israel is put on a pedestal above international law. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa once asked, why does it get away with all these violations of international law with no accountability?