New synagogue
New synagogueEliran Aharon

The State Attorney's Office updated the High Court Thursday regarding the implementation of the plan for eviction and dismantling of the Ayelet Hashahar synagogue in Givat Ze'ev, northwest of Jerusalem.

According to the announcement, the Ministry of Defense placed a movable structure near the shul, and it will serve as temporary synagogue, while a second structure will serve as a study hall.

The synagogue was emptied of all the furnishings and equipment that were inside it by Thursday morning and these were moved to the temporary synagogue and to a shipping container that the Civil Administration placed nearby.

The court was informed that "the Israel Police stationed a guard force next to the synagogue, to prevent unauthorized people from entering and to maintain public order."

The ornate Holy Ark has been dismantled and its contents have been stored in the container. The workmen are now dismantling the synagogue's structure.

On Sunday, representatives of the government - headed by Ministers Moshe Ya'alon, Naftali Bennett and Aryeh Deri - as well as the Givat Ze'ev Regional Council head, the synagogue's rabbi, and a representative of the synagogue's congregants, reached a compromise over the demolition, in which a new building was promised to the synagogue within three months and a temporary structure provided. 

Another meeting Monday with all parties involved yielded an agreement for the synagogue to be evicted peacefully, and for all the congregants to leave of their own will - and to ensure that every object had been removed from the building. 

To this end, the date for full demolition was set for Thursday - with no postponements allowed later than December 10, 2015. It was agreed that a security detail would be posted to the site 24/7 until the demolition ends, ensuring no one can enter the building.