Palestinian plan to form local councils faces daunting odds
Palestinian authorities approved creating a local council to provide basic services for the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, which lies in Area C under Israeli security and administrative control.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Even as Israel threatens to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar in eastern Jerusalem, the Palestinian Cabinet has recommended formation of a local council there to represent the needs of its 200 residents.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) wants to create the council to protect Khan al-Ahmar, which on July 4 had to thwart the Israeli army’s attempts to demolish the residents' tents and huts, drawing Arab and international attention to their village. The United Nations and the European Union have called on Israel to halt demolition, noting that Israel's settlement protocol is considered illegal under international law.
On July 11, Palestinian officials named Minister of Local Government Hussein al-Araj to appoint a committee to manage a local council. The Palestinian move came ahead of the Israeli Supreme Court's July 12 decision to freeze demolition. The court will consider the issue at its next session, Aug. 15.
In an unusual move, the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education started the academic year July 16, instead of in September, to ensure that students would be enrolled despite Israel's threat to destroy the community's only school. One of the ministry's goals was to draw local, Arab and international attention to the students' suffering and underline the threat posed to them if the school is demolished.
