The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,

–  having regard to the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) Federica Mogherini of 7 September 2018 on the latest developments regarding the planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar,

–  having regard to the EU Guidelines on International Humanitarian Law,

–  having regard to the joint statement by France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom of 10 September 2018 on the village of Khan al-Ahmar,

–  having regard to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, in particular Articles 49, 50, 51 and 53 thereof,

–  having regard to the Six-Month Report on Demolitions and Confiscations of EU-funded structures in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, January-June 2018, published by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on 24 August 2018,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas on 5 September 2018 the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected the petitions by the residents of Khan al-Ahmar; whereas the High Court determined that the relevant authorities are authorised to exercise the relocation plan of the residents to Jahalin West; whereas the High Court allowed the Israeli authorities to proceed with the plans for the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar;

B.  whereas Khan al-Ahmar is one of the 46 Bedouin communities that the UN considers to be at high risk of forcible transfer in the central West Bank; whereas this community is made up of 32 families and 173 persons in total, including 92 minors; whereas the Israeli army has issued demolition orders for all structures in the village;

C.  whereas in 2010 the Israeli High Court ruled that the entire cluster of structures of Khan al-Ahmar had been built illegally, in violation of the planning and zoning laws, and therefore had to be demolished; whereas the High Court also emphasised that the Israeli authorities needed to find a suitable alternative for the school and for the residents of the community; whereas the state of Israel has stated in writing what it will provide to those families that will proceed to Jahalin West (Abu Dis), with the prospect of developing a second relocation site east of Jericho; whereas the community of Khan al-Ahmar has refused to be displaced;

D.  whereas the forcible transfer of residents of an occupied territory, unless the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand, is prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law;

E.  whereas Israeli authorities impose an extremely restrictive building regime on the Palestinian residents of Area C in the West Bank; whereas this regime makes legal Palestinian building activities nearly impossible in the area, and is used as a means to evict Palestinians and expand settlement activities; whereas Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to peace efforts; whereas under international law, any third party, including the EU Member States, has a duty not to recognise, aid or assist settlements in an occupied territory, as well as a duty to effectively oppose them;

F.  whereas Khan al-Ahmar is located in the E1 corridor area in the occupied West Bank; whereas preserving the status quo in this area is of fundamental importance for the viability of the two-state solution and for the establishment of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state in the future; whereas Parliament has repeatedly opposed all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution and urged both sides to demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to a two-state solution in order to rebuild trust;

G.  whereas 10 EU Member States are supporting humanitarian programmes in Khan al-Ahmar, including the construction of a primary school, and an estimated EUR 315 000 worth of EU-funded humanitarian assistance is now at risk;

H.  whereas, according to the Office of the EU Representative in Palestine, destruction and seizure of Palestinian property in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has continued in the first half of 2018; whereas the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar risks setting a negative precedent for dozens of other Bedouin communities across the West Bank;

1.  Joins the VP/HR, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom in their call for the Israeli government to shelve the relocation plan that would lead to the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and the forcible transfer of its population to another location; considers it of the utmost importance that the EU continue to speak with one voice on this matter;

2.  Warns the Israeli authorities that the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and the forcible transfer of its residents would constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law;

3.  Expresses its concern at the impact of the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, which would further threaten the viability of the two-state solution and undermine prospects for peace; reiterates that protecting and preserving the viability of the two-state solution is the immediate priority for EU policies and action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Middle East peace process;

4.  Insists that – should the demolition and eviction of Khan al-Ahmar take place – the EU’s response must be commensurate with the seriousness of this development and consistent with its long-standing support to the community of Khan al-Ahmar; calls on the VP/HR to step up the EU’s engagement with the Israeli authorities with regard to full respect for the rights of the Palestinian population in Area C and to demand compensation from Israel for the destruction of EU-funded infrastructure;

5.  Calls on the Israeli Government to put an immediate end to its policy of threats of demolition and actual eviction against the Bedouin communities living in the Negev and in Area C in the occupied West Bank; stresses that the demolition of houses, schools and other vital infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal under international humanitarian law;

6.  Recalls that Israel bears full responsibility for providing the necessary services, including education, healthcare and welfare, for the people living under its occupation, in line with the Fourth Geneva Convention;

7.  Remains firmly convinced that the only lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East is that of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders, on the basis of the 1967 border and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states; condemns any unilateral decision or action that may undermine the prospects of this solution;

8.  Calls on the Israeli authorities to immediately halt and reverse their settlement policy; calls for the EU to remain steadfast on the issue;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.