The High Court on Wednesday gave Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Head of Central Command Gadi Shamni 90 days to present it with a “clear schedule” for the demolition of the Derech Avot outpost in Gush Etzion.
The court was responding to a motion by the “Peace Now” group that asked that the outpost be torn down because, it claims, it was built on Arab-owned land.
The State’s representative, Attorney Gilad Shirman, said that there was no disagreement regarding the fact that the outpost had been built illegally, and noted that orders of demolition have been issued.
“However,” he explained, “things need to be seen from a wider angle, and at this moment the demolition of this outpost is not at the top of the agenda as far as ‘burning’ national issues are concerned."
Attorney Yaron Kostelitz, who represented the Gush Etzion Regional Council said at the court session that the outpost was established with funding from the State of Israel and that a professional committee should decide the status of the parcel of land it was built upon.
Kostelitz added that the question of the ownership of the land is crucial for deciding the case and recommended hearing the residents before carrying out the demolition orders.