UN chief 'concerned' by Israel's demolition of Palestinian village

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, is concerned about the Israeli government’s plans to demolish Palestinian homes in Susya, a village south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.

“Demolishing the properties of the herding community in Susya,” said a spokeswoman for the UN chief, “would place dozens of civilians at further risk of displacement.” Vannina Maestracci made her comments to reporters in New York. “Ban hopes that the ongoing dialogue between the Israeli authorities and the herding community would protect the rights of the people affected,” she added.

The Israeli Supreme Court issued a judgement in June giving the Israeli Civil Administration the go ahead to demolish the homes in Susya under the pretext that the village was built illegally on land under Israeli control. However; human rights groups and the residents of the village say that the Israeli authorities have systematically refused to grant the Palestinians planning permission.