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Israeli police prevented European diplomats from seven countries, including Switzerland, from visiting a demolished Bedouin village in the West Bank. Security forces arrested them on Thursday at the entrance to Khan al-Ahmar village.
The Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar between Jericho and Jerusalem in the West Bank. (Photo: KEYSTONE / EPA / ABIR SULTAN)
(nda / afp)
Police have stated that the area has been declared a Restricted Military Zone. The Arab village of the Bedouins receives the help of Europe. The Israeli authorities want to demolish it because it was erected without permission.
Diplomats who were rejected came from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Switzerland and the EU. They wanted to visit a village school, financed by European funds.
"We want to express our solidarity with this village threatened with destruction," French Consul General in Jerusalem Pierre Cochard told reporters on the spot. The planned demolition would be a violation of the Geneva Convention on martial law, said the French diplomat.
The Irish Liaison Office in the West Bank stated that diplomats could have had discussions with local authorities. Housing
Israeli authorities claim that the village was built illegally and must be demolished. In May, the Supreme Court rejected residents' objection to the demolition. Bedouin authorities said the Israeli authorities in the affected area did not grant permission to build such villages.
The Israeli army said on Thursday that preparations were underway for the demolition. Khan al-Ahmar has about 170 inhabitants. Most of them live in poor housing in corrugated iron and wood.
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