Netanyahu denies reports of postponing eviction of Khan Al-Ahmar

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that the village of Khan al-Ahmar, near occupied Jerusalem, will be evacuated, adding that he will hold an emergency meeting of the cabinet for political and security affairs, Cabins) before noon, amid reports that the Palestinian Bedouin village has agreed to a voluntary evacuation.

Following reports by Haaretz, saying Netanyahu had postponed the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar, Netanyahu said at the start of his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Stephen Minocin this morning that “Khan al-Ahmar will be evacuated. This is a court decision, I hope with the consent of the population, “and that” I have no intention to postpone it until further notice. ”

While Palestinian protests, including demonstrations and confrontations in the village are still ongoing, Israeli army radio reported today that the residents of Khan al-Ahmar agreed to evacuate the village “voluntarily” and that this was the reason why Netanyahu announced the postponement of their evacuation by force. The radio added that a report arrived at Netanyahu’s office a few days ago that the residents of Khan al-Ahmar were ready to evacuate their land and move to Anata. Netanyahu said that “we will examine the proposal.”

The publication of the indefinite postponement of the evacuation last week raised the anger of the Israeli far right. “The evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar will take place and the Jewish home will take care of that,” said Naftali Bennett, head of the Jewish Home party and Education Minister.

Israeli Minister of Army Avigdor Lieberman expressed his opposition to postponing the evacuation. “The decision was made in complete contrast to the position of the defense minister,” he said.

On September 5, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected a petition against the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar village, east of Jerusalem and inside the West Bank. Over the past nine years, Israeli courts have considered many cases and petitions filed by residents of the village and settlement outposts.