RAMALLAH, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday called on Germany to exert pressure on Israel pushing for peace in the region, official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Abbas made the remarks in a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is expected to pay a two-day visit to Israel and hold talks with senior Israeli officials.
In the letter, Abbas expressed his appreciation for Germany's support of Palestinian people's efforts to build their economy and institutions, urging the German leader to make an effort to achieve peace in the region.
"We rely heavily on your important and active role and support of our sincere efforts to achieve a just peace in our region, which will be based on international resolutions, signed agreements and the two-state principle," he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met with head of German representative office in Ramallah, urging him to act immediately to prevent Israel's plan to demolish Khan al-Ahmar village east of Jerusalem.
Israeli reports said Israel will not demolish the village during Merkel's visit.
Khan Al-Ahmar is a Bedouin community located east of Jerusalem. It was put under a tight blockade by Israeli forces who controlled the access of supporters to the community after the end of the one-week notice allowed by the Israeli high court ahead of demolition order on Oct. 1.
Since the court ruling came out, the Palestinians declared that there will be no new appeal to Israeli courts, but they will sue Israel at international courts if the village is demolished and start open solidarity movements in the community.
Dozens of tin-ceiling homes and basic structures are slated for demolition in the area, which suffers a lack of basic services and infrastructure.
The community is one of the 46 Bedouin communities in the central West Bank that the United Nations considers at risk of forcible transfer, which is defined as a war crime under international law.
