Khan al-Ahmar is in Area C, meaning it is under full Israeli control under the Oslo Accords. The Bedouin residents say they have lived there since the 1950s, when the area was under Jordanian occupation, after they were forced to leave the Negev Desert.
But neighbouring Israeli settlers councils, who plan to build a new neighbourhood of Khartoum Adumim there, counter that the Jahalin arrived there in the late 1980s, and that they are supported by the Palestinian Authority in its attempt to hinder Israeli settlement in the area. The Civil Authority supports the settlers, treating the buildings as illegal and built without planning permission.
Both sides petitioned the High Court of Justice, which finally ruled four weeks ago that the residents had failed to establish any proof of ownership and that the demolitions could go ahead on October 1.
A number of European governments, including Britain, have called upon Israel to halt the demolitions, while the European Parliament voted 320-277 in favour of a resolution describing it as a “war crime” in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Germany’s government had to deny reports in the Israeli media that Chancellor Angela Merkel had threatened to cancel her visit to Israel if it was to coincide with the demolition.
The demolition was slated to begin this week but was postponed for at least a few days — at least until Ms Merkel left Israel on Thursday night.
