The Israeli Supreme Court has rejected a petition to demolish the Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank. The ruling comes after years of legal battles between the Israeli government and Palestinian residents over the fate of the village.
- Israel’s top court denied a petition by Regavim, a pro-settlement group, to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank, citing “security and diplomatic reasons.”
- Khan al-Ahmar is a community of around 200 residents, located on a strategic highway east of Jerusalem, that was slated for demolition in 2018 after being deemed “illegal” by Israeli authorities.
- The Supreme Court’s ruling has drawn international support for the village’s residents, but right-wing groups like Regavim accuse the court of “caving in to international pressure” and leading Israel “to the brink of anarchy.”
Israel’s Top Court Rejects Petition to Demolish Bedouin Village in West Bank
Israel’s Supreme Court has denied a petition by a pro-settlement group to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank, citing “security and diplomatic reasons” detailed in a classified government statement. The ruling comes after years of legal battles over the fate of the community, located on a strategic highway east of Jerusalem.
In 2018, Israeli authorities ruled that Khan al-Ahmar was built without permits and slated it for demolition. The right-wing group Regavim took the government to court in an effort to force officials to raze the village, which is home to around 200 residents and has drawn international support.
However, the Supreme Court has granted an indefinite delay to the demolition order, accepting that they should not interfere to force its demolition.
In their ruling, the judges stressed that Khan al-Ahmar is “illegal,” but cited “security and diplomatic reasons” for the delay.
Under pressure from the European Union and the International Criminal Court, successive Israeli administrations have delayed their decision on Khan al-Ahmar eight times.
The Supreme Court had approved the latest three-month delay in February 2021 after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing administration requested more time before presenting a plan to demolish the village.
The community is located in Area C of the West Bank, which covers about 60 percent of the territory and is under full Israeli control. Palestinians find it almost impossible to obtain construction permits there.
Israel has occupied the West Bank, home to around 2.9 million Palestinians, since the 1967 Six-Day War. Around 475,000 Jewish settlers also live there in state-approved settlements considered illegal under international law.
Foreign states have warned Israel that demolishing the Bedouin village would be a violation of international law.
Regavim, whose stated mission includes “the protection of Israel’s national lands,” filed a petition with the Supreme Court in 2019 to force the demolition. The group accuses Israel of “caving in to international pressure” and claims the court’s ruling “is leading the country to the brink of anarchy.”
The Supreme Court’s decision to deny the petition by Regavim has drawn international support for the village’s residents, who have been fighting to keep their homes for years.
However, the demolition of the primary school in Jabbet al-Dhib, which also occurred on the same day, has sparked outrage and condemnation from the European Union, which had funded the project.
The demolition was carried out by Israeli forces following a petition filed by Regavim, who claimed the school had been built illegally and posed a safety hazard.
The move has been seen as part of a wider crackdown on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, where Israeli settlements continue to expand, despite being considered illegal under international law.
DISCLAIMER
For publication of your news content, articles, videos or any other news worthy materials, please send a mail to thefreshreporters@gmail.com
Join Other Great Readers, FOLLOW us On WHATSAPP>> https://chat.whatsapp.com/DN0y4bGIbVI4II6aNcPssb
Join Other Great Readers On TELEGRAM>> https://t.me/freshreporters
For Advert and other info, Click this link to send a Message to the Admin https://freshreporters.com/advertise/