by Eldad Beck, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Rights group urges EU to show Israel "what it stands to lose."
The Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar
Photo: AP
The European Union
warned Israel over the weekend that the planned demolition of an
illegal Bedouin village in the West Bank will have "serious
consequences" and will pose a significant threat to the two-state
solution.
Israel's High Court of Justice on Wednesday cleared the way for the planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar,
an illegal Bedouin encampment located 10 kilometers (6 miles) east
of Jerusalem between the Israeli communities of Maaleh Adumim and
Kfar Adumim, which is home to some 180 Bedouin.
European Union foreign policy chief
Federica Mogherini issued a statement saying, "The European Union and
its member states have repeatedly stated their long-standing position
on Israel's settlement policy, illegal under international law, and
actions taken in that context, including the demolitions of
Palestinian communities and possible forced transfers of population,"
Mogherini said.
"The community of Khan al-Ahmar is located
in a sensitive location in Area C, of strategic importance for
preserving the continuity of a future Palestinian state.
"The consequences of a demolition of this
community and the displacement of its residents, including children,
against their will, would be very serious and would severely threaten
the viability of the two-state solution and undermine prospects for
peace.
"The EU expects Israeli authorities to reconsider their decision to demolish Khan al-Ahmar," the statement read.
On Saturday, Israeli human rights group
B'Tselem said it has asked the EU to intervene and prevent the Bedouin
village's demolition.
B'Tselem Director Hagai El-Ad wrote to
Mogherini, saying, "We have reached the point where it appears that
these serious consequences must be spelled out if the EU is to credibly
back its own positions."
Brussels, he noted, "obviously has ample
leverage to have a concrete impact by showing Israel that unacceptable
human rights violations will have serious consequences and spelling
out exactly what it [Israel] stands to lose."
Eldad Beck, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/09/09/eu-warns-of-serious-consequences-to-razing-illegal-%e2%80%8ebedouin-village-%e2%80%8e/
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