Despite a decision by the government last week to close a huge illegal quarry operating in Gush Etzion, officials said that as of this weekend, it was “business as usual” at the site. Dov Barak of the Gush Etzion Regional Council said that he had visited the site and found that although the pace of work was slightly less pronounced, there was still plenty of excavation going on.
Gush Etzion Regional Council head Shaul Goldstein said that the continued operation of the quarry was “a scandal. The state promised the High Court that it would force these criminals to stop, but the work continues. Meanwhile the Defense Minister pushes the Civil Administration to destroy the homes of Jews,” he said.