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Khan al-Ahmar (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Residents and activists voiced Wednesday their concern that Israel is preparing to shave a Bedouin village in a strategic part of the West Bank busy ignoring international calls for a stay.
Activists said the Israeli army had given a warrant to the 173 residents of Khan al-Ahmar on Tuesday, allowing it to seize the roads to the village.
Heavy equipment, including at least one bulldozer, was seen Wednesday around the village. "Today, they are doing infrastructure work to facilitate the demolition and forcible transfer of residents," said Amit Gilutz, spokesman for the Israeli group of human rights B & # 39; Tzelem. AFP
Israeli authorities say that 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 vi Israeli authorities have little choice but to build without Israeli building permits, as Palestinians have virtually no documents to obtain for this part of the occupied West Bank.
Israeli authorities claim to have offered villagers a relocation site. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Britain's state minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, visited the village in May and called on the Israeli government to show restraint.
Forced resettlement "could constitute a forcible transfer of persons with respect to the United Nations."
Forced transfer is considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions
Khan al-Ahmar is located at East of Jerusalem near several Israeli settlements. a road leading to the Dead Sea.
Activists are concerned that building Israeli settlements in the region could effectively divide the West Bank in two.
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