News Desk
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel’s Supreme Court has once again delayed the controversial demolition of a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank as it expressed regret over the government’s repeated putting off the leveling.
The Khan al-Ahmar community, located on a strategic highway east of Jerusalem, was slated for demolition in 2018 following a ruling that it was built without Israeli permits.
Right-wing Israeli group Regavim had taken to the court in order to force the government to raze the village, whose 200 residents have drawn international support.
The new government of right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who took office in December, had asked for more time to decide on the matter, telling the court it required an extension before coming up with a plan to demolish the village.
In Tuesday’s ruling, the Supreme Court approved a delay until May 1, but also expressed regret that the officials were “satisfied with the current situation… postponing its response every few months” and imposing a fine of 20,000 shekels (around $5,750) over the government’s “general attitude” toward the case.
Village demolition has been delayed eight times so far
The decision on Khan al-Ahmar has been delayed eight times by prior administrations. Israeli media said the government fears that demolishing Khan al-Ahmar’s would worsen the prevalent violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Those opposing the demolition believe levelling Khan al-Ahmar would clear the way for the expansion of Israeli settlements in the area, effectively setting up a barrier between annexed east Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank.
Israel has been facing international pressure to block the demolition, with European diplomats most recently visiting the community on January 30.
