Didi Dickstein, resident of Givat Haulpana
Didi Dickstein, resident of Givat HaulpanaIsrael news photo: Flash 90

A delegation of Meretz activists headed by Meretz chairwoman MK Zehava Galon is expected in Beit El's Givat HaUlpana neighborhood Tuesday. The leftist faction will protest the fact that five structures that the High Court ordered demolished have not yet been reduced to rubble.

The state's representatives gave a commitment to the court one year ago that the destruction would take place by May 1, 2012. The state recently requested a three-month extension to look for an alternative legal solution for the matter, however, and the court agreed to give it 60 additional days.

The neighborhood is an integral part of Beit El and is made up of permanent apartment blocks and homes, not at all an outpost or area with temporary structures.

MK Galon said that her party is currently the only one that cares about the rule of law, "while the rest of the parties prefer to ignore the trampling of the law by the settlers."

The Meretz visit appears to be timed to place pressure on the High Court regarding the fate of Migron as well.

Residents of Givat HaUlpana said Tuesday that "the neighborhood is glad to host all Jews and will be happy to meet whoever visits it today, too. This is testimony to the sacredness of the place, which is the patrimony of the Jewish people – 'The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring' (Genesis 28:3) – and these things are truer in this generation than in any other."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has given instructions to try and legalize the neighborhood,

Arutz Sheva has reported. In a recent cabinet meeting he said: "We have nothing in principle against Beit El. It is a veteran, big, and very important community. In the previous government we had similar issues in Ofra, and I am signed on the affidavits in the courtroom. In the end we are responsible for the rule of law, that the State of Israel will be normative. At the same time we are responsible to find a way to bring about a solution for the Ulpana neighborhood, and I hope a solution is found.”