| September 10, 2018
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EU warns Israel should High Court ruling to raze illegal encampment be enforced

EU foreign policy chief Federica ‎Mogherini says Israel’s High Court of Justice ruling will have “‎‎serious ‎consequences.”
• Pro-Palestinian group urges EU to show Israel “what it stands to lose.”
• WATCH video on illegal EU settlements

 

By Eldad Beck, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

 

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. ‎

Against Israeli demands, the EU continued to fund the expansion of the village of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank, on public land illegally occupied alongside national Highway 1. – Photo: TrickyH/Wikimedia

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.‎

For understanding the backstory, Please Read:
EU and Palestinian Illegal "Facts on the Ground"
by Bassam Tawil

‎”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.” ‎

 

View original Israel Hayom publication at:
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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