Israeli forces destroyed one Jewish start-up neighborhood in Samaria on Monday, and were set to raze three buildings in another one further south. Residents say they will build again.
The forces, sent by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, arrived first in Maoz Esther, just outside Kochav HaShachar. This was the fourth time in three months that the pioneer village has been destroyed, though this time was worse than the previous times – because more buildings had been built in the interim. Nine wooden structures, including a synagogue and three relatively large buildings, were standing as of this morning – and all were razed to the ground.
Emunah A., who has been living there with her husband and baby son since Maoz Esther was first built nearly two years ago, told Israel National News, “This is the eighth time the security forces have taken us down, but the fourth time in the past three months. It was destroyed on Rosh Chodesh [the first day of] Nissan, and then on the eve of Jerusalem Day, and again right after Shavuot, and now again.”
But the four families there are undaunted, and have already begun rebuilding yet again. “People are helping us, thank G-d, including from Kochav HaShachar, and from elsewhere, and youths are here helping us build. We could use some outside help, of course; if someone wants to send a donation, we would be very appreciative.” Emunah can be reached at: emunag@gmail.com.
From Maoz Esther, the destroying forces proceeded southward to the area of Adam in Binyamin, north of Jerusalem. The target this time was five-year-old Bnei Adam, which now boasts 12 structures, eight families and several singles. The outpost was built with the help of the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria, which is attempting to “mediate” between the residents and the forces.
Yishai, speaking from the site around 3:00 p.m., told Israel National News, “The Yesha Council is willing to accept the destruction of the three newest buildings here, and the police have removed the families’ belongings. We don’t accept any such deal, however; we refuse to cooperate with any government in destroying Jewish homes. Moreover, we fear that they will not stop at these three, but will continue to destroy the rest of the buildings as well. It can happen any minute, and we are waiting very tensely.”
Minister Barak took part in a new Torah Scroll ceremony in a synagogue in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City on Sunday night. He later said he had thought the synagogue was part of the Western Wall complex, but that despite the mistake, he would not apologize for taking part in the festivities.
Baruch Marzel of Hevron said this morning, “Just last night, Barak and I celebrated together in the Old City, and he spoke of unity and against division and causeless hatred. We thought he really meant it and that he would repent of his bad deeds – but unfortunately, we see that Barak has remained his old self.”
The Land of Israel Loyalists Movement immediately issued a statement in response to the destruction. “The Netanyahu government is continuing the policy of destroying the Zionist and settlement enterprise in the Land of Israel, but the love of the land that burns within the Nation of Israel will never cease, and the nation will choose a policy of continued building and settling of the Land.”
The Binyamin Residents Committee stated: “The enthusiasm with which Ehud Barak and Central Commanding Officer Gad Shamni go towards every new Jewish structure is pitiful. It is sad to see the sovereign State of Israel closing its eyes to the wild illegal construction of Arabs, while it obsessively destroys every Jewish hut.”
In many places in the Shomron (Samaria), youth have set up lookout teams to warn of any irregular IDF movements towards destroying other outposts and neighborhoods. Residents fear that Barak will seek to take advantage of the coming weeks to snatch an outpost-removal wherever he can. Benny Katzover, head of the Shomron Residents Committee, told Arutz-7’s Hebrew news magazine, “We have a special coordinator whose job it is to make sure that the youths in the various communities are on guard. We also have young lads on the main roads ready to report on the movement of forces. We need every moment in which to breathe, and these lookouts give us this breathing-space.”
