State attorneys, responding to the High Court on Monday, said that Israel will demolish the town of Migron in exactly one year, whether or not the current residents agree to relocate. Residents who agree will be moved to the Samaria town of Adam, they added.
The government has already written up plans to build 50 new homes in Adam to accommodate the Migron expellees, attorneys said. If Migron residents reject the new homes, they will be forcibly removed from Migron with no alternate accommodations.
High Court justices will rule on whether or not to approve a deal between the Yesha (Judea and Samaria) Council and the government allowing the destruction of Migron in exchange for housing in Adam. The Defense Ministry has offered to allow 1,450 housing units to be built in Adam in exchange for the evacuation of Migron; however, only 50 units will be built in the first stage of construction.
Migron was built almost 10 years ago along Highway 60, which leads from Jerusalem to central Jewish communities in Samaria and Binyamin. The strategically located community is home to 43 families. It was built with help from multiple governments, but never received official authorization.
Peace Now filed suit against the existence of the community after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon backed down from threats to uproot the growing town. The European Union-funded organization claims that Migron was built on Arab-owned land.
Peace Now officials expressed dissatisfaction Monday with the state's response to the court, and urged the government to remove Jews from Migron more quickly. Construction of new homes for Migron residents could take years, and Jews should not be allowed to remain in the area for such a long period of time, Peace Now argued.