Building Shvut Ami Bet
Building Shvut Ami BetIsrael news photo

Security forces evacuated and dismantled the Mitzpe Ami settlement near Kedumim in Samaria on Saturday night.

There were no reports of injuries or violence. According to Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew news service, 13 settlers were arrested for opposing the evacuation which began just before dawn when forces arrived and presented a notice that the area had been declared a closed military zone.

More than 800 people filled the settlement and surrounding villages Saturday night for Simchat Torah celebrations and to voice opposition to the evacuation.

Speeches at the celebration called on Israel to build more settlements and take hold of every bit of Israeli land. “The Jewish people reject any notion of capitulation and surrender of any piece of the land of Israel,” said one speaker.

Knesset member Michael Ben Ari (National Union), Samaria Council director Gershon Mesika, and director of the Likud party’s Jewish Leadership faction Moshe Feiglin were in attendance.

Mitzpe Ami, a secondary development within Shevut Ami that was also called Shevut Ami Beit, was established in August of 2009. In response to the evacuation, settlements in Shevut Ami, Ramat Migron, Mitzpe Avichai and others are expected to be opened in the near future, settlers said.