PLO: US provoking Israel to demolish Khan Al-Ahmar

The PLO’s International Relations Committee yesterday condemned American remarks “inciting” Israel to demolish Palestinian village Khan Al-Ahmar, Safa news agency reported.

According to the PLO, the spokeswoman of the US State Department Heather Nauert said the Israeli Supreme Court ruling which paved the way for the demolition of the village had been “accepted” by the American government.

In a statement, the PLO committee described this as a “direct incitement” to demolish the village of Khan Al-Ahmar and expel its residents.

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The committee said that this is a slap to the international will which opposes the Israeli decision, as well as a slap to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is visiting Israel.

It went on to urge all international players to stop making “irresponsible” remarks which are biased to the Israeli occupation and “pose a threat to international peace and security”.

Khan Al-Ahmar has been slated for demolition this week, after an Israeli court gave the residents of the village until 1 October to evacuate their homes. The demolition is expected imminently, with the delay thought to be due only to Jewish holidays taking place earlier this week.

Earlier yesterday Israel’s Army Radio reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is due to arrive in Israel this evening, has threatened to cancel her visit if the demolition goes ahead. Merkel’s visit to Israel has been repeatedly postponed in the past 18 months due to disagreements over Israel’s continued policy of illegal settlement and its treatment of Palestinians.