United Nations
The United Nations and European members of the Security Council on Friday called on Israel to stop demolitions of Bedouin settlements in the Jordan Valley, and for humanitarian access to the community living in Humsa Al-Baqaia.
In a joint statement at the end of a monthly session of the Security Council on the conflict in the Middle East, Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway and Britain said they were “deeply concerned at the recent repeated demolitions and confiscation of items, including of EU and donor funded structures carried out by Israeli authorities at Humsa Al-Baqaia in the Jordan Valley.”
It said the concern was also focused on the 70 people or so living in the Bedouin community, including 41 children.
“We reiterate our call on Israel to halt demolitions and confiscations,” the statement said. “We further call on Israel to allow full, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to the community in Humsa Al-Baqaia.”
Humsah al-Baqaia sits in the Jordan Valley, a fertile and strategic patch of land that runs from Lake Tiberias to the Dead Sea, which has emerged as a flashpoint in the struggle over the West Bank.
It is in the West Bank s so-called Area C, occupied Palestinian territory that remains under full Israeli military control.
Under Israeli military law, Palestinians cannot build structures in the area without permits, which are typically refused, and demolitions are common.— Agencies
