France was “outraged” by the latest demolitions, the French consulate in Jerusalem said in a statement on Wednesday, noting that Paris had supported the razed cultural centre with “more than half a million euros (about US$528,000)” since 2019.
Diplomats representing numerous governments, mostly European, have visited Al-Bustan in recent months, to amplify residents’ concerns over the uptick in demolitions.
One diplomat, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said “the location is so strategically important for settlement” activity in east Jerusalem.
The demolitions went ahead even though “we did everything we could” to convince Israeli authorities otherwise, the diplomat added.
The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital, while Israel regards the entire city as its “unified and indivisible” capital.
More than 360,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem as well as some 230,000 Israelis.
