On Thursday 13 September, MEPs urged the Israeli government to suspend the relocation plan that would lead to the demolition of the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar and the expulsion of its people (see EUROPE 12092).
This demolition and the forced transfer of its residents "would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law", and would compromise the viability of a two-state solution still further, as well as any prospect for peace, MEPs warned in the joint resolution of the Greens/EFA, ALDE, S&D and GUE/NGL Groups that they adopted by 320 votes in favour, 227 against and 34 abstentions.
For the European Parliament, if the demolition and expulsion of this Bedouin village of 173 people took place, the EU's response should be "equal to the gravity of this situation" and consistent with is long-standing support for the Khan al-Ahmar community.
In addition to this village, the MEPs call on the Israeli government to put an immediate end to its policy of threats to demolish and effectively expel the Bedouin communities living in the Negev and Area C of the occupied West Bank.
The MEPs therefore call for steps from the EU to be taken with the Israeli authorities so that the authorities fully respect the rights of the Palestinian people from Area C. The MEPs remind the Israeli authorities of their full responsibility to provide the necessary services to people living under Israeli occupation, in line with the fourth Geneva Convention. "The demolition of houses, schools and other essential infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal under international humanitarian law", the MEPs state.
The European Parliament also urges the High Representative to demand compensation from Israel for the destruction of infrastructure financed by the EU. None of the European demands for this have yet had a successful result. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)