Destruction at outpost
Destruction at outpostIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Large police and army forces arrived in Mitzpeh Avichai early this morning and destroyed six structures. Police violence was unusually intense, residents reported.

Large police and army forces arrived in Mitzpeh Avichai early this morning and destroyed six wooden structures, including a synagogue. Police violence was unusually intense, a resident reported; five residents were injured, including a 16-year-old girl. Four were arrested.

The residents immediately got to work rebuilding the neighborhood, though others went out and burned nearby Arab fields in a familiar response known as Price Tag.

One of the razed homes belonged to Aryeh Davis, a member of Kiryat Arba’s emergency response team. He told Arutz-7 that the forces arrived at 3:00 AM: “Hundreds of Yassam and Border Guard police, as well as soldiers from the Nachal’s Battalion 50, descended upon us. They shook and pounded on our house in their attempt to get in, and as a result, a bookcase collapsed, hitting our baby daughter.”

Synagogue Destruction Has Become Routine

Five years ago, the nation was aghast at the possible scenario of the State destroying synagogues in Gush Katif, and intense efforts were made to avoid it. It was said that Jewish communities abroad would be left with no recourse when local authorities, or anti-Semites, moved to destroy synagogues, if Israel itself destroys Jewish houses of worship. Since then, however, the State has destroyed synagogues in several places, including Nachliel, Yad Yair, Hazon David (dozens of times), Maoz Esther, Tapuach, and others.

Resident Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “If a mosque is destroyed, all the bleeding hearts cry out – but when a synagogue is torn down, they are all quiet.”

The buildings were not destroyed because of the construction freeze, but were rather deemed illegal for other reasons. Demolition orders were issued against them last week.

MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union), who took part in a festive “New Torah Scroll” ceremony at Mitzpeh Avichai ten days ago, said in response, “The forces of destruction of the Netanyahu government continue to flex their muscles at the expense of Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria. This racist destruction in Mitzpeh Avichai is another pitiful attempt to strike out at the pioneer settlers of the Land in order to bend over backwards before the terrorist Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas). But, the pioneers are stronger; when Netanyahu and Barak are thrown into the trash bin of history, Mitzpeh Avichai will be opening new kindergartens.”