Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a special statement Wednesday regarding the impending demolition of the Givat HaUlpana neighborhood.
"I am committed to safeguard the settlement enterprise," he said. "The law that the Knesset rejected today would have harmed the settlement enterprise but the formula that I have decided upon – relocating the houses and widening the community of Beit El – strengthens the settlement enterprise."
"This is not a simple or easy day. Relocating the houses is certainly not an action that the government is eager to carry out, but the court made a decision and we respect the court system's decisions. At the same time, the community of Beit El will be widened. The 30 families from the HaUlpana Neighborhood will remain in Beit El and they will be joined by 300 new families."
"Those who think they can use the court system to damage the settlement enterprise are wrong because in practice, the opposite is happening. Instead of Beit El getting smaller, it is being enlarged."
Netanyahu added: "In addition, I have received a clear legal opinion – and I quote: 'the ruling does not establish any legal rule and therefore does not constitute a precedent, and nothing in it can be applied to other cases.'"
Presumably, Netanyahu was quoting the Attorney General and Legal Advisor to the Government, whom he has consulted repeatedly regarding the Givat HaUlpana debate.
Netanyahu addressed the residents of Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron), saying: "I understand your pain. I share it. I met dome of the families, I saw the people, the children. I want to tell you what I told them – there is no government that supports or will support the settlement enterprise more than the one that I head. No government has withstood such great pressures that could have harmed the settlement enterprise."
"We live in a very complex environment, and this includes the diplomatic, international and legal aspects. And within this complex reality, we must navigate with good sense and responsibility."