Israel set to raze village in West Bank
UN WARNS ISRAEL AGAINST DEMOLITION, SAYS IT VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW
Scuffles broke out yesterday between Israeli authorities and protesters who feared preparations were 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 scuffled with police at Khan Al Ahmar on the eastern outskirts of Occupied Jerusalem. Some climbed onto the bulldozer in protest.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem said nine people were arrested - five from the village and four others, including the organisation’s own head of field research.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported 35 people injured, with four taken to hospital.
Police reported two arrests and said stones were thrown at officers.
The incident came after activists said the Israeli military had issued a warrant to the 173 residents of Khan Al Ahmar on Tuesday, authorising itself to seize access roads to the village.
Heavy equipment was seen around the village yesterday, leading to speculation a road was being prepared to facilitate its demolition.
“Today they are proceeding to facilitate the demolition and forcible transfer of residents,” Amit Gilutz, spokesman for B’Tselem, said.
The UN’s main human rights body expressed concern on Tuesday over the expected demolition as critics say is being carried out to make room for more Jewish colonies.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Israeli regime to abandon the demolition plans and said the destruction of private property by an occupying power violated international law.
“We call on the Israeli authorities not to proceed with the demolition of (Khan Al Ahmar), to respect the rights of residents to remain on their land and have their status regularised,” the spokeswoman, Liz Throssell, said.
Israeli authorities claim 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 near impossible for Palestinians to obtain for that part of the occupied West Bank.
Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes are carried out regularly and under the pretext that owners did not obtain legal permits to build.
Israel also demolishes homes of Palestinian resistance fighters or activists as a part of its collective punishment policy.