The demolition of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar and the resulting relocation of its some 170 inhabitants – including over 90 children – appears imminent. Should this occur, it would be a severe blow to the prospects for Palestinian development in Area C of the West Bank.

Khan al-Ahmar is situated close to the strategically important E1 area between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim settlement, where Israeli construction would significantly impair the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Further demolitions in areas of importance to the construction of Israeli settlements are to be feared. In this context, we noted with the greatest concern that several houses were already demolished yesterday in Abu Nuwar village, which directly borders on Ma’ale Adumim.

The demolition of Khan al-Ahmar would permanently undermine the basis for a two-state solution. Against this backdrop, the German Government reiterates in the strongest possible terms its appeal to the Israeli Government to refrain from relocating the inhabitants of Khan al-Ahmar and to halt further demolitions.