Israel army on Palestinian village for demolition
AFP
KHAN AL-AHMAR: Israeli border police removed caravans yesterday from near a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank, which they have orders to demolish despite international criticism, reports AFP quoting officials. The pre-dawn operation on the outskirts of Khan al-Ahmar raised fears among the villages 200 residents that its demolition would occur soon. The border police took away five caravans which had been pitched by activists campaigning against the villages demolition.
They blocked off access to the village during the operation and there were no clashes, an AFP photographer said. The Israeli defence ministry body which oversees civilian activities in the Palestinian territories said the five caravans had been pitched illegally over the past few days.
The erection of these structures was advanced by representatives of the Palestinian Authority in protest and defiance of the decision of the (Israeli) High Court of Justice, and in opposition to the enforcement of Israeli law in Area C, COGAT said.
It was referring to the 61 percent of the West Bank where Israel exercises full civil as well as military authority.
On September 5, Israels supreme court upheld an order to raze the village on grounds that it was built without the proper permits.
It is however extremely rare for Palestinians to obtain Israeli permits to build in Area C of the West Bank, where Khan al-Ahmar is situated.
A temporary stay against the villages demolition expired on Wednesday, meaning the army can implement the court order when it sees fit. A village spokesman, Abu Khamis, speculated that Israel may hold off on demolition for now to avoid sparking international criticism ahead of the UN General Assembly later this month.
