Though the anti-Yesha Peace Now organization had enlisted Arab land-owners to file suit against the very existence of the community of Migron, and though residents had braced for the worst, the Supreme Court decided to postpone its decision by two more months.
The State had said, several weeks ago, that it would try to reach a compromise with the residents over the coming weeks, but Defense Minister Peretz said yesterday that such efforts had come to a fruitless end.
Wallerstein said that Peace Now worked together with Defense Minister Amir Peretz for their common political goals: "The government's position, as explained by Defense Minister Peretz, is that there is no longer any need for time to find a compromise. Peretz apparently feels that the main thing is his bid to win his party's primaries three months from now - even if it means that several dozen more families will be thrown out of their homes.... He was advised to call off talks with us, because it would not look good for his primaries campaign if he comes to an agreement with us. It's very sad to see a man who puts his own personal interests ahead of those of the nation."
Wallerstein said that Migron's lawyer, Atty. Chanan Meltzer, "was just great, and the Court decided not to accept [Peretz's] position, and instead ordered another two months in which to find a compromise. Both sides will present their positions at that time; I assume that another hearing will be held in 3-5 months from now."
Wallerstein explained Migron's critical strategic importance, in that it overlooks the highway leading to many Jewish communities in the Shomron: "A few years ago, former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer [of the Labor Party] agreed that this place must remain [settled by Jews]. Very sadly, Peace Now reminds me of other dark times in Jewish history when Jews would join up with their enemies against their own people..."
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler asked Wallerstein, "The petition claims that 'No one, no matter how senior, had the right to approve the construction of Migron, nor can he guarantee that this community will stand where it was built and will never be evacuated.' How do you deal with such hard-hitting claims?"
"First of all, let's not get confused," Wallerstein responded. "There is no dispute that ex-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared that Migron was a vital strategic place. He told us, the members of the Yesha Council, that he had informed the Americans that he insists that this place and three other outposts must remain, despite other previous commitments that might have been."
"In this spirit," Wallerstein continued, "the Defense Minister agreed that Migron would not be removed, and all Central Commanders since then have also demanded that this location remain as is. Furthermore, many different government offices have helped Migron with infrastructures, and it was even decided in the Defense Ministry to begin with planning the permanent community."
Wallerstein said that Peace Now "has another court suit coming up against the community of Haresha, and against a neighborhood in Eli, where Ro'i Klein lived."
[Lt.-Col. Ro'i Klein, 31, fell in battle during the recent war in Lebanon. The lieutenant-commander of Regiment 51 in the Golani Brigade, he was the highest-ranking officer at the time in the terrorist-trap village of Bint Jbeil. In the midst of a battle, he saw that Hizbullah terrorists had lobbed a grenade close to his soldiers. With the grenade's detonation imminent, his last act was to cry "Shma Yisrael" [Hear O Israel, G-d is One] and leap towards the grenade, thus blocking most of the fragmentation from hitting his troops.]
"Peace Now wants to expel Ro'i's family from its home," Wallerstein said.
The State had said, several weeks ago, that it would try to reach a compromise with the residents over the coming weeks, but Defense Minister Peretz said yesterday that such efforts had come to a fruitless end.
Wallerstein said that Peace Now worked together with Defense Minister Amir Peretz for their common political goals: "The government's position, as explained by Defense Minister Peretz, is that there is no longer any need for time to find a compromise. Peretz apparently feels that the main thing is his bid to win his party's primaries three months from now - even if it means that several dozen more families will be thrown out of their homes.... He was advised to call off talks with us, because it would not look good for his primaries campaign if he comes to an agreement with us. It's very sad to see a man who puts his own personal interests ahead of those of the nation."
Wallerstein said that Migron's lawyer, Atty. Chanan Meltzer, "was just great, and the Court decided not to accept [Peretz's] position, and instead ordered another two months in which to find a compromise. Both sides will present their positions at that time; I assume that another hearing will be held in 3-5 months from now."
Wallerstein explained Migron's critical strategic importance, in that it overlooks the highway leading to many Jewish communities in the Shomron: "A few years ago, former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer [of the Labor Party] agreed that this place must remain [settled by Jews]. Very sadly, Peace Now reminds me of other dark times in Jewish history when Jews would join up with their enemies against their own people..."
Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler asked Wallerstein, "The petition claims that 'No one, no matter how senior, had the right to approve the construction of Migron, nor can he guarantee that this community will stand where it was built and will never be evacuated.' How do you deal with such hard-hitting claims?"
"First of all, let's not get confused," Wallerstein responded. "There is no dispute that ex-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared that Migron was a vital strategic place. He told us, the members of the Yesha Council, that he had informed the Americans that he insists that this place and three other outposts must remain, despite other previous commitments that might have been."
"In this spirit," Wallerstein continued, "the Defense Minister agreed that Migron would not be removed, and all Central Commanders since then have also demanded that this location remain as is. Furthermore, many different government offices have helped Migron with infrastructures, and it was even decided in the Defense Ministry to begin with planning the permanent community."
Wallerstein said that Peace Now "has another court suit coming up against the community of Haresha, and against a neighborhood in Eli, where Ro'i Klein lived."
[Lt.-Col. Ro'i Klein, 31, fell in battle during the recent war in Lebanon. The lieutenant-commander of Regiment 51 in the Golani Brigade, he was the highest-ranking officer at the time in the terrorist-trap village of Bint Jbeil. In the midst of a battle, he saw that Hizbullah terrorists had lobbed a grenade close to his soldiers. With the grenade's detonation imminent, his last act was to cry "Shma Yisrael" [Hear O Israel, G-d is One] and leap towards the grenade, thus blocking most of the fragmentation from hitting his troops.]
"Peace Now wants to expel Ro'i's family from its home," Wallerstein said.