Israeli court postpones demolition of Bedouin Arab village

JERUSALEM – An Israeli government body says the Supreme Court has postponed the planned demolition of a sprawling Bedouin Arab village in the southern desert.

The Israel Lands Administration says that some 14 structures were to be demolished on Tuesday but the execution was put on hold after the court order. It says the structures in question were built illegally.

The case involves a long-running dispute between Israel and the formerly nomadic Bedouin of the Umm Al-Hiran village. Israel moved part of a Bedouin clan to the state-owned land 60 years ago, but now wishes to relocate residents to a government-designated Bedouin township.

An adjacent part of the village slated for future demolition is zoned for a new development catering to religious Jewish families with ties to the West Bank settlement movement.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.