Israel’s Supreme Court has suspended the planned demolition of a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank pending an appeal amid international opposition to the move.
The court on Thursday extended a previous suspension of the corrugated shack encampment’s demolition until a hearing no later than August 15.
Civil Administration employees are suspending the Khan al-Ahmar expulsion as part of a labor dispute, with support from the national workers’ union. For the right sum of money, the employees would be willing to commit a war crime sanctioned by the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/VElDEbJjCC
— B'Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) July 12, 2018
Israel claims Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem, was illegally built and has offered to resettle residents 12 kilometers away.
But critics say it is impossible for Palestinians to get building permits, and the removal of its roughly 180 residents is to make room for an Israeli settlement.
By Razing Khan al-Ahmar, #Israel will Bulldoze Illusions of Peace Process https://t.co/296XEy7tD9 via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/5RKeRcwwGK
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) July 12, 2018
The pending demolition has drawn heavy international criticism and become a rallying cry for the Palestinians.
Leaders of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party gathered at the village on Thursday in solidarity with residents.
Fatah Revolutionary Council decides to hold a meeting tomorrow (18.00) at the Beduin Khan al-Ahmar hamlet to support its residents against plans to evict them.
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) July 11, 2018
The UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, Jamie McGoldrick, has condemned the planned demolition.
He said:
“These demolitions are particularly outrageous because they target communities who already live in extremely difficult conditions, with high levels of humanitarian needs.”
Palestinians being dragged, beaten and arrested for defending the Bedouin village of Khan al Ahmar in the occupied West Bank. At least 35 Palestinians were wounded. The UN and EU have condemned Israel's actions. pic.twitter.com/wthEIVv3xZ
— #EidMubarak (@arwidodo) July 8, 2018
The village is located in the 60 percent of the West Bank known as Area C, which remains under exclusive Israeli control and is home to dozens of Israeli settlements.
Israel places severe restrictions on Palestinian development in Area C, and home demolitions there are not unusual.
(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, PC, Social Media)
