Peace Now has fought a no-holds-barred war against the Jewish presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza for over 25 years. In its latest court suit, the organization claimed that the demolition orders against the outposts in question are about to expire at the end of the month.
However, the Court ruled that the suit is basically irrelevant, as Defense Minister Amir Peretz recently signed a document extending the validity of the demolition orders. The Court essentially accepted the State's request to be allowed to formulate its policies on the issue according to its own timetable and security considerations.
Peace Now said afterwards that it would not hesitate to turn again to the Court in the future if circumstances warrant it.
The six outposts in question are:
Excerpts from an Arutz-7 report of Aug. 26, 2004:
YESHA RESIDENTS RISE TO THE CALL
Well over 1,000 residents from Jerusalem, Beit El, Ofrah and the vicinity arrived on very short notice at the Givat Assaf neighborhood last night - and their presence prevented Israeli Army forces from uprooting families there.
...At approximately 10:20 PM, word came over the public loudspeakers in Beit El and Ofrah that the army was on its way to evacuate Givat Assaf. Hundreds of residents immediately began making their way to the site, while at the same time phoning their friends in nearby areas and informing them of the grave situation... At approximately 1 AM, the IDF Binyamin Brigade Commander arrived at the site, and met with local and Yesha leaders... In a calm and almost friendly meeting, it was decided that the army would not attempt an evacuation at present, but would rather give the residents until the morning to decide their next moves: Either agree to place [contested] caravans within the neighborhood, or turn to the Supreme Court - or face a forcible evacuation.
Many of those who gathered recited the Selichot prayers until 1:30 AM, when word of the decision came, and the crowd began to disperse... The morning deadline has come and gone, and the army has not arrived to hear the residents' decision. A petition to the Supreme Court is still under consideration, but residents are not concerned that the army will return this evening: "It is too close to the Sabbath," one said. "The bottom line is that because so many people came last night, the army backed off."
Earlier yesterday, IDF troops succeeded in dismantling two Yesha outposts deemed "unauthorized."
However, the Court ruled that the suit is basically irrelevant, as Defense Minister Amir Peretz recently signed a document extending the validity of the demolition orders. The Court essentially accepted the State's request to be allowed to formulate its policies on the issue according to its own timetable and security considerations.
Peace Now said afterwards that it would not hesitate to turn again to the Court in the future if circumstances warrant it.
The six outposts in question are:
- Givat Assaf, with 14 families, located on the strategic Beit El turnoff and with a commanding view of the Jerusalem-Shilo-Ariel highway. The community was established in April 2001 after Ofrah resident Assaf Hershkovitz was murdered by Arab terrorists just a few hundred meters away. His father Aryeh had been murdered by Arabs three months earlier in a similar manner several kilometers away.
- Givat HaRoeh, 17 families, near Eli. Founded in 2002, it faced imminent destruction in September-October 2004, but the army never arrived (see excerpts below).
- Ramat Gilad near Karnei Shomron, with 8 families, including one with 11 children; their mother is the sister of terror-victim Gilad Zar, for whom the neighborhood is named. Like other outposts, the neighborhood has received all the necessary permits, save for final authorization from the Defense Minister. It was briefly known as Flag Hill, because nine years ago, the youth of Karnei Shomron fashioned there an almost 800-square meter Israeli flag - the largest flag in the world, as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. The flag was later set on fire by Arab hoodlums. A year later, Ramat Gilad was founded on the site. (Another neighborhood named for Gilad is Havat Gilad - the Gilad Farm. Currently not endangered, it is located between Kedumim and Yitzhar, near where Gilad was shot and killed by Palestinian terrorists as he was carrying out his duties as local security officer.)
- Mitzpeh Yitzhar - near Yitzhar, in Samaria. 3 families and several bachelors live there, despite the repeated demolition of structures built there. It was most recently destroyed in May 2004, and has since been rebuilt.
- Mitzpeh Lachish - Also known as Negohot West, it is located on the southwestern corner of Judea. Five families live there and it is considered a full-fledged neighborhood of the community of Negohot.
- Maaleh Rehavam - A mixed religious-secular community in eastern Gush Etzion, home to 24 residents – five families and several singles. Residents lived in caravans for the first two years after its founding, but three permanent homes have been built in recent years. It overlooks the Judean Desert, the Herodion, Tekoa and Nokdim, where Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman lives.
Excerpts from an Arutz-7 report of Aug. 26, 2004:
YESHA RESIDENTS RISE TO THE CALL
Well over 1,000 residents from Jerusalem, Beit El, Ofrah and the vicinity arrived on very short notice at the Givat Assaf neighborhood last night - and their presence prevented Israeli Army forces from uprooting families there.
...At approximately 10:20 PM, word came over the public loudspeakers in Beit El and Ofrah that the army was on its way to evacuate Givat Assaf. Hundreds of residents immediately began making their way to the site, while at the same time phoning their friends in nearby areas and informing them of the grave situation... At approximately 1 AM, the IDF Binyamin Brigade Commander arrived at the site, and met with local and Yesha leaders... In a calm and almost friendly meeting, it was decided that the army would not attempt an evacuation at present, but would rather give the residents until the morning to decide their next moves: Either agree to place [contested] caravans within the neighborhood, or turn to the Supreme Court - or face a forcible evacuation.
Many of those who gathered recited the Selichot prayers until 1:30 AM, when word of the decision came, and the crowd began to disperse... The morning deadline has come and gone, and the army has not arrived to hear the residents' decision. A petition to the Supreme Court is still under consideration, but residents are not concerned that the army will return this evening: "It is too close to the Sabbath," one said. "The bottom line is that because so many people came last night, the army backed off."
Earlier yesterday, IDF troops succeeded in dismantling two Yesha outposts deemed "unauthorized."