European Union heads of missions visiting the threatened school in Khan al-Ahmar community. (Photo courtesy of the EU Missions) 

RAMALLAH, February 28, 2017 (WAFA) – European Union (EU) heads of missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah Tuesday visited a Palestinian community facing threat of demolition and urged Israel not to carry out the threat, according to a statement by the missions.

The community is in Khan al Ahmar, adjacent to East Jerusalem, and composed of five Bedouin communities. The area is considered Area C, which is under full Israeli military occupation.

The EU officials met with community leaders and humanitarian organizations that deliver aid to the community.

Two weeks ago, Israeli military officials served residents of Abu al-Helu, one of the communities in Khan al Ahmar, with military "stop work" orders for all of the community’s structures.

“This underscores the threat of demolition and displacement of the community,” said the EU statement.

Abu al Helu is home to 140 Palestinian refugees who have been living in the community since the 1950s.

One of the structures affected is a school funded by the EU and EU Member States that provides around 170 children from the area with education.”A demolition of the school would severely impact negatively on Palestinian children‘s right to education,” said the statement.

“The EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah call upon Israel not to carry out demolitions in the said community. Displacing the community would be in contravention with Israel‘s obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law,” the mission’s statement said.

M.K.