Paris, (Antara/UNA-OIC) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed his country`s deep concern over the situation in the Palestinian West Bank village of Khan Al-Ahmar, set to be demolished, under the Israeli Supreme Court ruling.

"I join with the EU high representative in calling on the Israeli authorities not to go ahead with the demolition of this village," Drian said in a statement on Wednesday.

"France reaffirms that the demolition of infrastructure and homes in the West Bank, a Palestinian occupied territory, are contrary to international humanitarian law, and in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, since they will result in the evacuation and forced transfer of populations, and the Security Council resolutions," the statement read.

"France is paying particular attention to the case of Khan al-Ahmar given its location in an area of strategic importance for the contiguity of a Palestinian state and for the viability of a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital. It, therefore, warns of the potential humanitarian as well as political consequences of the demolition of this village and the displacement of its inhabitants," it added.

According to the statement, France is continuing its efforts to preserve the two-state solution in collaboration with the EU and its close international partners.

(U.C003)

(T.C003/C/C003/C003) 13-09-2018 19:31:52

Reporter: Antara/UNA-OIC
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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