Palestinians at Khan Al-Ahmar appeal for support

Photo credit: Ibrahim Husseini

On 23 September 23, the Israeli army handed over military orders to self-demolish all buildings built inside the Khan Al-Ahmar Bedouin village in the West Bank. The notice given to some 200 residents of Khan al Ahmar on Sunday said they have until the end of the month to demolish the village themselves. The unsigned letter said: "Inhabitants of Khan Al-Ahmar, by the High Court decision you must demolish all buildings within the Khan Al-Ahmar no later than 1 October 2018. If you refuse, the authorities will enforce demolition orders as per court decision and the law. Any citizen who wishes to receive help in demolition or transporting goods must go to the liaison office and call this number..."

In response, the State of Palestine Area C National Coordination Office produced a statement, calling upon the international community and the United Nations to:

• Initiate diplomatic efforts to pressure the Israeli government to cease its forced displacement of the defenceless Palestinian citizens and the unlawful demolitions of Palestinian homes and livelihood structures in the so-called "Area C".
• Publicly condemn the verdict of the Israeli Supreme Court, which counters International Law and sets a dangerous legal precedent for other Palestinian communities threatened with demolition and forced displacement throughout the so-called "Area C" of the West Bank, and also seriously endangers the internationally recognised two-state solution.

If Israeli demolitions take place, the Palestinian Government urges the international community:

• To take a series of concrete measures to hold the Israeli government accountable for these grave violations.
• To fully and publicly, support the right of the Palestinian Government over the planning and development of Palestinian communities throughout the entire State of Palestine.

Village residents vowed not to leave despite the notice. "No one will leave; we will have to be expelled by force," said village spokesman Eid Abu Khamis. "If the Israeli army comes to demolish, it will only be by force."