Israeli court freezes West Bank village’s planned demolition
Injunction issued freezing the raising of Khan al-Ahmar this week, amid protests from the international community
Israel’s Supreme Court issued an injunction freezing the planned demolition of an Arab village in the West Bank.
The injunction against the plan to demolish Khan al-Ahmar came Thursday night, the Israel Broadcasting Corp. reported. The justice presiding over the appeal for injunction by lawyers representing the residents of the Bedouin village cited the state’s refusal to review a compromise offer drawn up by the locals.
The village was built without permits. The villagers are hoping to obtain the necessary permits after the fact, in a process known as regulation. Several Jewish and Arab settlements that were constructed without permits in the West Bank in recent years have been allowed to remain following regulation. But others were demolished.
The court ordered the state to review the compromise offer and formulate and state its position on the offer by Wednesday, when the court will reconvene to discuss the issue.
Earlier this week, diplomats from about a dozen European Union countries visited the village, which they said must not be demolished.
They were prevented by Israeli forces, however, from visiting a school there built out of tires that was partially funded by the European Union. The school is in area that the Israeli army’s Civil Administration turned into a closed military zone.
In May, Israel’s Supreme Court authorised the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, since the homes were built without permits. About 180 residents live in the village.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces demolished illegally built structures in the nearby Bedouin village of Abu Nuwar. On the same day, 11 people were arrested during protests at Khan al-Ahmar. In addition, three police officers and 35 protesters were reported injured.
In the UK, Labour Friends of Israel wrote a letter to Mark Regev, Israel’s Ambassador to Britain, outlining its concern over the demolition.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
