The European Union has decided to pursue a series of steps which may
undermine Israel's control of Area C in the West Bank. In an official
document, it harshly criticizes Israel's policies in the West Bank,
claiming they have caused the Palestinian population in Area C to
shrink significantly and recede into enclaves. The document states
that Europe will support road, water, infrastructure, municipal,
educational and medical projects in the area. Area C makes up 62% of
the West Bank, but the Palestinians make up only 5.8% of its
population. The Oslo Accords divided the West Bank into three areas of
control: Area A which is under the Palestinian Authority's full
control; Area B, which is under Palestinian civil controls and shared
Israeli-Palestinian security control; and Area C, which is controlled
by Israel.



