Representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland the United Kingdom and like-minded missions today visited the Palestinian community of Khan al-Ahmar to express their concern at the threat of demolition facing the village.
The visit, organized by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem, aims at mobilizing international pressure to protect Khan al-Ahmar community from Israeli plans to demolish the homes and displace its Palestinian residents.
B’Tselem briefed the delegation on the condition of the residents of al-Khan al-Ahmar and the displacement plans they face.
A statement issued by the diplomats following the visit, supported by Finland, said, “Legal avenues to prevent the demolition of the village have been exhausted and we understand that the Israeli Government is due to submit its plans on 1 February in response to a court petition demanding its demolition.”
It added: “Khan Al Ahmar is home to 38 Palestinian families and is also the location of a donor-funded school which serves five communities in the local area. The demolition of the village and the subsequent eviction of its residents could amount to forcible transfer in violation of Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV.
“The international community has for many years worked to discourage the Israeli authorities from taking forward the proposed demolitions. Today’s visit was an opportunity to restate our concerns. Evictions and demolitions cause unnecessary suffering. We urge Israel to cease such actions.”
The head of Khan al-Ahmar village council, Eid Khamis, told WAFA that the residents are determined to remain in their village and to confront the Israeli occupation plans aimed at displacing them in order to empty the area of any Palestinian presence as part of a plan to separate the south of the West Bank from its center and to isolate occupied Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.
About 200 Palestinians, more than half of them children, live under the threat of demolition of their homes and displacement from their land and source of livelihood in Khan al-Ahmar community, located 15 kilometers east of occupied Jerusalem.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency