RAMALLAH, May 26, 2018 (WAFA) - The Palestinian Government, represented by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, completely rejected the latest Israeli plan to illegally demolish 200 Palestinian structures and houses at Khan Al Ahmar- Abu el Helu Bedouin community, located in the occupied Jerusalem periphery and in "Area C" for the purpose of constructing 2,500 new illegal settlement units.
“This unlawful Israeli plan will forcibly displace 180 Palestinian citizens; whose vast majority is refugees,” said a statement by the Prime minister’s office on Saturday.
The demolitions will also target an EU funded school made from tires and mud to serve 170 students from Khan Al Ahmar and other near Bedouin communities.
"Illegal Israeli demolition orders and colonial expansion practices weaken the core components of the Palestinian government, and create a state of disarray, which prevents the government from fulfilling its full duty," said Hamdallah.
The PM slammed the Israeli occupation as a major obstacle that hinders the Palestinian government‘s efforts to empower its society and put citizens first, and ruins its potential to bolster sustainable and balanced development to prosper and achieve the Palestinian aspirations for sovereignty and independence.
In face of the Israeli illegal policies to undermine the Palestinian society and the fruitless intentional criticism and condemnations, we will continue to defend and protect our children through all possible means from the cold, dark scary nights when they are forcefully uprooted from their own homes and deprived from their right to education, said the PM.
“We stand against all obstacles to advance the formulation of our vision for an independent state.”
The PM maintained that time has come now for the whole world to immediately intervene to abide Israel to its legal obligations and take serious actions to stop the demolitions against the Palestinians upon the international law, and Fourth Geneva Conventions articles 49 and 53 and article 147 of the Conventions‘ Additional Protocols, as well as possible war crimes under the Rome Statute.
“The international community must stop its double standard mentality in favor of Israel by translating its support to the Palestinian efforts at international forums into practical steps and to immediately provide international protection for Palestinian citizens," concluded the statement.
T.R.
