RAMALLAH, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian sources said Thursday that Israeli military vehicles approached Al-Khan Al-Ahmar bedouin community at dawn and began dismantling protest caravans set up by activists.
Sources said that the Israeli authorities declared the area a closed military zone until at least 5:00 p.m. local time, and that they were notified the village will not be entirely demolished on the day.
The area of Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, located east of Jerusalem, was put under a tight blockade by Israeli forces who controlled the access of supporters to the community.
A one-week notice was allowed by Israeli high court ahead of demolition order, after it had rejected an appeal by the residents of Al-Khan Al-Ahmar Bedouin community and ruled in favor of the community's demolition after evicting its residents on Sept. 5.
Since the court ruling came out, the Palestinians have declared not to make new appeal to Israeli courts, but will sue Israel at the International Criminal Court if the village is demolished and start open solidarity movements in the community.
Over 200 homes and community structures are slated for demolition in the area, where nearly 1,400 Palestinians reside. It suffers a lack of basic services and infrastructure, such as electricity network, sewage system or proper roads.
The community includes the only school for the Bedouin community in the area, a mosque and a healthcare center as well as several homes that are all at risk of demolition by Israel without being offered a settlement place.
The community in Al-Khan Al-Ahmar is one of the 46 Bedouin communities in the central West Bank that the United Nations considers at risk of forcible transfer.
