Israeli Finance Minister Orders Evacuation of Palestinian Village Amid ICC Concerns
In a move that has further intensified tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued a directive for the removal of a Palestinian village. This decision comes amid reports suggesting that Smotrich may be under the scrutiny of international war crimes prosecutors.
While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has not confirmed any specific actions against Smotrich, the court’s policies on keeping warrant plans confidential leave the situation ambiguous. Previously, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for other prominent Israeli figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over war crimes charges related to conflicts in Gaza. Although Israel disputes the court’s jurisdiction, such warrants pose significant hurdles for international travel.
Bezalel Smotrich, who leads a far-right religious party known for its aggressive stance on Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, has not clarified whether he was officially notified by the court or reacting to media speculation. He described any arrest attempt as a “declaration of war” and vowed to retaliate economically and otherwise against targets he can influence in his ministerial roles.
“From today, any economic or other target that I have the power to harm within the framework of my powers as Minister of Finance and as a minister in the Ministry Defense will be attacked,” Smotrich asserted.
The first target, as per Smotrich’s directive, is Khan Al-Ahmar, a village occupied by Palestinian Bedouins who have been engaged in a prolonged legal battle to stay on their land. Smotrich, overseeing West Bank settlement policies, has signed an order for the immediate evacuation of this village. However, the legal standing of this order and its enforceability remain uncertain, pending approval from Israel’s security cabinet. Past efforts to evacuate the village faced legal challenges and public protests.
Peace Now, an anti-settlement group, criticized the move as a form of retribution against international bodies. “Minister Smotrich seeks to take revenge on The Hague and the international community at the expense of one of the most vulnerable communities,” Peace Now stated, condemning the planned demolition as part of a broader strategy to control central West Bank areas.
The village of Khan Al-Ahmar, home to approximately 200 Palestinians and an EU-funded school, lost its legal protection in 2018 when the Israeli Supreme Court denied an appeal against its demolition. Critics argue that the village’s removal is a strategic step to pave the way for Jewish settlements in the E1 area, an initiative controversial for potentially obstructing a viable Palestinian state.
Israel has already published a tender for the development of this contentious area. Furthermore, Smotrich, along with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, faced sanctions from several countries last year for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
For further updates on developments in the West Bank, visit the AP News West Bank page.
AP writer Molly Quell contributed to reporting from The Hague.
