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JERUSALEM: The Israeli Supreme Court postponed for at least a month the planned demolition by the government of a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank that had fueled Palestinian outrage and international concerns.
The court issued the 11th against the demolition at the request of the villagers of Khan Al-Ahmar, who said their attempts to obtain retroactive building permits had been ignored by the Israeli zoning authorities.
Respondent this week, the state rejected this argument as false and as an attempt In Thursday's ruling, the Supreme Court summoned the two parties for a session before August 15, effectively putting the demolitions on hold.
About 180 Bedouins, raising sheep and goats, live in tin and wooden huts in Khan Al-Ahmar. It is located outside Jerusalem between two Israeli settlements.
Israel said it was planning to relocate the residents in an area about 12 km away, near the Palestinian village of Abu Dis. Rights advocates claim that a forced transfer of residents would violate international law applying to the occupied territories.
Most countries regard Israeli-built settlements on land that it captured during the 1967 Middle East War as illegal, and an obstacle to peace.
They say they are reducing and fragmenting the territory Palestinians are seeking a viable state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Israel disputes this and cites biblical, historical and political links with the land, as well as security needs. Agency spokesman Chris Gunness said Thursday that Israel's new restrictions on Gaza would worsen living conditions in the region.
19659002] Gaza is home to nearly 2 million people, 80% of whom depend on humanitarian aid.
Israel closed Gaza's only shipment this week in response to incendiary kites and balloons sent to Israel. It still allows food, medicine and humanitarian aid across the crossing.
The kites are part of a Hamas-led campaign against a crippling blockade that Israel and Egypt imposed when the militant group took control of the territory in 2007. [19659012]
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