Top Israeli court freezes demolition of Bedouin hamlet

Israel's Supreme Court on Friday decided to freeze the demolition of the Palestinian Bedouin hamlet of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank, local media reported.

Walid Assaf, head of the National Committee to Resist the Wall and Settlements, announced to reporters and those who were carrying out a sit-in strike for days that they had managed to get a temporary injunction until July 11.

Israel from time to time destroys Palestinian homes and schools in the West Bank, claiming they were built illegally.

Assaf said solidarity with the local people will continue.

Under the 1995 Oslo agreement between Israel and Palestine, the West Bank was divided into A, B and C zones. The administrative and security authority of area A was given to Palestine while the administration of area B was given to Palestine but its security to Israel, while in area C, both administration and security authority went to Israel.

Khan al-Ahmar is located in area C.

Meanwhile, the 700-person strong Bedouin community in Abu Nuwar village, also located in area C, has refused to leave despite continuous threats and pressure from the Israeli authorities.

Late Thursday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry "strongly" condemned the Israeli army’s demolition of Palestinian Bedouin homes in Abu Nuwar.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry also condemned "the start of preparations for demolitions in the Bedouin region of Khan Al-Ahmar in the occupied Palestinian territories".

"These acts carried out by the Israeli authorities with impunity jeopardize the contiguous and independent Palestinian State perspective," it said.

The ministry urged Israel to end "its illegal activities which exacerbate tensions in the region and undermine the two-state solution vision".