Scuffles as Israel readies to demolish Bedouin Village
KHAN AL-AHMAR, Palestinian Territories: Scuffles broke out between Israeli authorities and protesters who fear preparations are underway to raze a Bedouin village in a strategic part of the occupied West Bank, despite international calls for a reprieve.
Protesters, including some waving Palestinian flags, tried to block a bulldozer and tussled with police at Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem.
Some climbed onto the bulldozer in protest.
Israeli police said 11 people were arrested.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem said they included the organisation’s own head of field research.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported 35 people injured, with four taken to hospital.
Police said the injured included three officers, including one taken to hospital.
Police said stones were thrown at officers.
The confrontation came after activists said the Israeli military had issued a warrant to the 173 residents of Khan al-Ahmar on Tuesday, authorising soldiers to seize access roads to the village.
Heavy equipment was seen around the village on Wednesday, prompting speculation a road was being prepared to facilitate its evacuation and demolition.
“Today they are proceeding with infrastructure work to facilitate the demolition and forcible transfer of residents,” Amit Gilutz, spokesman for B’Tselem, told AFP.
Israeli authorities say the village and its school were built illegally, and in May the supreme court rejected a final appeal against its demolition.
But activists say the villagers had little alternative but to build without Israeli construction permits, as the documents are almost never issued to Palestinians for building in parts of the West Bank where Israel has full control over civilian affairs.
Israel authorities say they have offered villagers an alternative site.
The village is made up mainly of makeshift structures of tin and wood, as is traditionally the case with Bedouin villages.
It is unclear when the demolition will take place.
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat condemned the demolition plans and appealed to the international community.
Nickolay Mladenov, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, condemned Israel’s demolition preparations. — AFP