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On 20 September, the Israel Defense Forces gave one last warning to the villagers of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank: evacuate the land yourself by the end of the month or we will send you back by force.
Fewer than 200 people live in this village five kilometers east of Jerusalem. The handful of tents and tin shacks, however, was at the center of a 10-year legal dispute between the Israeli government and its inhabitants. At the heart of this situation, there is a struggle for land that could change the demographics of the West Bank, pushing more Palestinians further from Jerusalem.
In 2009, the Israeli Ministry of Defense ordered the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar but was interrupted when the villagers requested an injunction. Since then, neighboring settlers have filed four petitions asking the government to follow its plans. Earlier this month, the Israeli Supreme Court intervened in favor of the Israeli government, confirming the order to demolish and forcibly relocate families.
The Israeli government mentioned zoning and security issues during the demolition of the village. Khan al-Ahmar is close to Highway 1, a major highway connecting Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. But the Palestinians have a much simpler explanation: Israel wants to drive them out of the land to build more settlements.
"The judges of this court are settlers, and his policy is in favor of settlements," said Yousef Abu Dahouk, a life resident of Khan al-Ahmar, "and [they’re] insist on dislocating these people. "
On 20 September, the Israel Defense Forces gave one last warning to the villagers of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank: evacuate the land yourself by the end of the month or we will send you back by force.
Fewer than 200 people live in this village five kilometers east of Jerusalem. The handful of tents and tin shacks, however, was at the center of a 10-year legal dispute between the Israeli government and its inhabitants. At the heart of this situation, there is a struggle for land that could change the demographics of the West Bank, pushing more Palestinians further from Jerusalem.
In 2009, the Israeli Ministry of Defense ordered the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar but was interrupted when the villagers requested an injunction. Since then, neighboring settlers have filed four petitions asking the government to follow its plans. Earlier this month, the Israeli Supreme Court intervened in favor of the Israeli government, confirming the order to demolish and forcibly relocate families.
The Israeli government mentioned zoning and security issues during the demolition of the village. Khan al-Ahmar is close to Highway 1, a major highway connecting Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. But the Palestinians have a much simpler explanation: Israel wants to drive them out of the land to build more settlements.
"The judges of this court are settlers, and his policy is in favor of settlements," said Yousef Abu Dahouk, a life resident of Khan al-Ahmar, "and [they’re] insist on dislocating these people. "
Khan al-Ahmar is sandwiched between two major Israeli settlements, Kfar Adumim and Ma'ale Adumim. If the government succeeds in removing the villagers, it could create a giant block of settlements physically separating Jerusalem from Palestinians in the West Bank.
The number of settlements approved by the Israeli government has increased since the election of President Donald Trump in November 2016. In the West Bank, Palestinians represent about 88 percent of the population, but have been allocated less than 1 percent of public land.
Vice News visited the village as it faces the Israeli government for Khan al-Ahmar.
This segment was originally aired on September 19, 2018 on VICE News Tonight on HBO.
