ISRAELI peace activists defending the Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar from destruction called on their government to pursue the path of peace and renounce racism and hatred today.

They also reaffirmed their support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent state.

Combatants activists in khan al Ahmar - the sit in continues. We released balloons today from the village that will land throughout Israel - simple message attached: destroying Khan al Ahmar is a war crime. #anotherway #cfpeace #nonviolence #resist pic.twitter.com/rthTfje1ro

— Combatants for Peace (@cfpeace) October 3, 2018

Combatants for Peace members have camped in a solidarity tent in protest at Israeli government plans to demolish the Bedouin village, which lies to the east of occupied Jerusalem.

Plans are set to go ahead despite appeals from the villagers, who have lived in Khan al-Ahmar for more than 60 years since being driven from their homes in the Negev desert.

Campaigners warned that the actions of the Israeli government, which will affect about 150 residents, amount to war crimes and appealed for it to halt the ongoing programme of illegal Jewish settlements in occupied territory.

Israeli activist Toly Flink said: “I am here because I believe in the importance of strengthening human rights everywhere and I, as a Jew, if my government wants to demolish a school and houses in Khan al-Ahmar, I have to stand against it because it is a war crime. My presence here is more than contributing to stop this crime. It is my duty.

“I fear that this violence against the Palestinians will one day be practised against the Jewish citizens themselves in Israel,” he said.

The village is surrounded by illegal settlements and is subjected to frequent attacks in a bid to intimidate the population into leaving the area.

Settlers from Kfar Adumim pumped waste water and sewage into the village on Monday. However, Combatants for Peace activists filled bottles with the waste water today and returned them to the settlers in protest.

Michal Hokerberg said it was important that Jewish people had established a peace camp in the village as it showed “true support for peace and the realisation of the rights of the Palestinian people.”

The Israeli activist accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using “intimidation, political and intellectual terrorism against the citizens,” damaging the peace process.

“Any person who does not think like the right-wing camp, they accuse that person of treason and hostility to the state,” she said.

Artist Odel Dotish said her “heart hurts” because of Mr Netanyahu’s demolition plans. She said that she came to the camp because she wanted to challenge the rise of the extreme right in Israel.

“I consider myself a Palestinian Jew and there must be a Palestinian state where Palestinians would live freely,” she said.