Children play in Beit El's Ulpana neighborhoo
Children play in Beit El's Ulpana neighborhooFlash 90

Caravans that were to be brought to Beit El will be transferred to the Lachish region, Government Secretary Tzvika Hauser said Friday morning, speaking to MKs Zevulun Orlev and Zeev Elkin. The transfer of the caravans had led to fear that the government was preparing to demolish homes in the Binyamin-area town despite promises to find a way to save the homes.

Hauser’s announcement followed overnight meetings aimed at stopping preparations for demolition. The coalition had agreed not to carry out any preparations until after voting on the Regulation Law, a bill that would legalize the threatened Beit El homes and prevent eviction.

After speaking to Hauser, Orlev updated protesters in Jerusalem of the change.

The caravans had originally been intended for dozens of families expelled from Gush Katif in the 2005 Disengagement. The families are still waiting for the government to finish infrastructure that would allow them to build permanent homes.

In the meantime, the caravans they were given nearly seven years ago – which were built to last for a single year – have been falling apart.