The European Union has severely criticised Israeli policies in east Jerusalem, saying they demonstrate a clear intention to consolidate Israel’s annexation of the Arab half of the city. The criticisms are in a report presented to EU foreign ministers this week but not yet publicly released.

Israel expressed serious concerns about the report, which came as EU monitors prepare for the opening of a passenger terminal at Rafah on the Gaza-Egyptian border this weekend under a deal recently brokered by the US. It will give Gazans greater freedom of movement since the Israeli withdrawal earlier this year.