Israeli Supreme Court dismisses petition to dismantle illegal Bedouin village
Court ruling noted it was government's responsibility to decide whether to proceed
The Israeli Supreme Court on Sunday dismissed a petition demanding the immediate dismantling of the illegal Bedouin outpost Khan al-Ahmar.
Some 200 members of the Jahalin Bedouin tribe currently reside in the unauthorized outpost, which is located in the West Bank along the highway from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Regavim, a conservative Israeli NGO that opposes illegal Arab construction, submitted the petition against the outpost in 2019.
“The petition before us has exhausted itself,” stated Israeli Justice Alex Stein on Sunday.
The initial order for the demolition of the illegal village was given in 2009 and the Supreme Court approved but accepted the Israeli government’s position that West Bank outposts could currently be dismantled and evacuated "for reasons having to do with the state's internal security and foreign relations."
Several past Israeli governments have vowed to dismantle the illegal outpost. However, due to intense international pressure from European institutions and human rights groups, Israeli authorities have so far postponed any final decision on the fate of Khan al-Ahmar, including the current right-wing government.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
