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Khan al-Ahmar (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frozen plans for the demolition of a strategically located Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank that is causing concern international community, announced Sunday his office.
This surprise decision, which came as Israeli forces completed preparations for the expulsion and demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, sparked the ire of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition partners, while Palestinian residents of the village remained skeptical. as to the possibility of an amicable solution.
"The intention is to give a chance to the negotiations and offers we have received from various forums, including in recent days," Netanyahu's office said about Khan al-Ahmar.
But speaking later before a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Netanyahu seemed to downplay the latest move and insisted that the village would still be shaved.
"It's our policy and it will take place," he said. "I have no intention of delaying it indefinitely, but for a short time."
Netanyahu said the length of the delay would be determined by the Israeli security cabinet, which was to meet later on Sunday.
Israeli authorities have stated that the small village, located east of Jerusalem, along a road leading to the Dead Sea, had been built illegally and that they had given the inhabitants up to ## 147 ## 39, at the beginning of October to leave and demolish their structures.
The decision to evict the villagers followed years of legal battles and after negotiated attempts to agree on an alternative site for resettlement, she had failed.
The fate of Khan al-Ahmar has aroused the concern of the international community, the European countries having asked Israel not to advance in its demolition projects.
On September 5, the Supreme Court of Israel rejected a last resort against the demolition, but following this decision, unofficial attempts were made to reach agreements, told AFP a lawyer representing the inhabitants of the village.
"Our offers are based on what we said in court, that we are willing to move a few hundred meters further north," said Tawfiq Jabareen.
The government has not yet responded to the proposals, Jabareen added, refusing to disclose the identity of the person attempting to mediate between the parties.
In Khan al-Ahmar, residents said they would stay there and doubt Netanyahu's sincerity.
"Our strategy is to stay in our territory and we will not leave it," Eid al-Jahalin told AFP.
"Yesterday it was decided to stop the demolition, but this decision may change at any time."
Ibrahim Abu Dahuk said that Netanyahu's decision could be "a trick" to induce activists who camp on the site to leave before a forced eviction.
"We do not trust the Jews," he said.
– Coalition partners angry –
Netanyahu's decision has angered his two main coalition partners. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he was opposed to the decision to delay the demolition.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett also insisted that the law should be respected, "even if the international community opposes and threatens", promising that his party, the Jewish Home, "would make sure that happens."
On Wednesday, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that Israel's "forced evacuation" project could be a war crime.
Residents refused to leave alone and Israel was prepared to evict them and demolish the village.
Khan al-Ahmar, home to about 200 people, is located in a strategic location near the Israeli settlements, whose expansion could effectively cut the West Bank in two.
Last month, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands warned that the demolition "would seriously threaten the viability of the solution the two states ", calling on the Israeli authorities to" reconsider their decision to demolish it ". .
