KHAN AL-AHMAR: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frozen a plan to demolish a strategically located Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank that has drawn international condemnation, his office said on Sunday.

The surprise move, which came as Israeli forces were completing preparations for the eviction and demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, raised the ire of Netanyahu’s rightwing coalition partners, while the village’s Pales­tinian residents remained sceptical that an amicable solution was possible.

“The intention is to give a chance to the negotiations and the offers we received from different bodies, including in recent days,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said about Khan al-Ahmar.

While speaking ahead of a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Netanyahu, however, appeared to play down the latest move and insisted the village would still be razed.

“It’s our policy and it will take place,” he said. “I have no intention on delaying it indefinitely, but for a short, limited period.” Netanyahu said the length of the delay would be determined by Israel’s security cabinet.

Israeli authorities say the small village — located east of occupied Jerusalem and along a road leading to the Dead Sea — was built illegally and they had given a warning to residents before demolishing their structures to leave until the beginning of October.

The decision to evict the villagers followed years of legal battles and after negotiated attempts to agree on an alternative site for relocation failed.

The fate of Khan al-Ahmar has drawn international concern, with European countries calling on Israel not to move ahead with plans to demolish it.

Israel’s supreme court on September 5 rejected a final appeal against the demolition, but following that ruling, there have been unofficial attempts to reach understandings, a lawyer representing the village’s residents said.

“Our offers were based on what we told the court, that we’re willing to move a few hundred metres to the north,” Tawfiq Jabareen said.

The government has yet to respond to the proposals, Jabareen said, refusing to divulge the identity of the person attempting to mediate between the sides.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018