By
Stephen Castle in Brussels

23 January 2002

The Independant

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=115883



Israel was blamed yesterday for destroying more than Euros 17m (£11m)
of European Union-funded property in Palestine, including a school
building programme, the airport, a seaport, broadcasting studios and an
irrigation scheme.



Chris Patten, the EU foreign affairs commissioner, said he was
"shocked and astounded at what is happening", adding: "We
ask whether it really contributes to security if everything we try to
support with EU assistance is destroyed."



EU officials have not ruled out asking Israel for compensation and say
they will raise the issue with Aerial Sharon's government, although
privately they accept there is little prospect of getting money back.



One Israeli source said no formal communication had yet been sent by the
EU and therefore the figures for destruction were impossible to check.
However, he added that this is a "price that has to be paid because
of the war in the territories; Israel is paying a much greater
price."



According to the list, compiled by EU member states and the European
Commission, the most costly destruction was at Gaza international airport,
which suffered an estimated Euros 9.3m of damage.The Palestinian
Broadcasting Corporation in Ramallah was wrecked over the weekend, with
Euros 3.3m of damage.Other damage included a schools construction scheme
funded by the commission (Euros 23,000), and a Belgian-sponsored
irrigation project (Euros 11,000). The European Commission and the EU
member states are the authority's main donors; the European Community
alone spent Euros 467m in supporting the Palestinians between 1999 and
2001.



http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=115883