Knesset Members of the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset faction convened an emergency meeting on the matter of the outposts at the Assaf Outpost this afternoon. Assaf, situated at a strategically critical spot along the Jerusalem-Ofrah highway, is next on the Defense Minister's "to uproot" list. The residents of the site, some ten families, were informed yesterday that they have another week to prepare for a second hearing on the matter.
Participating at today's meeting were MKs Benny Elon, Tzvi Hendel, Yuri Stern and Uri Ariel. Stern began by reviewing the parliamentary and other steps that have been taken to try to thwart the campaign to uproot Yesha outposts. MK Hendel said that the person truly responsible for the uprootings is Prime Minister Sharon, "without whose consent they would not have occurred." Hendel and his colleagues quit Sharon's government coalition about a half-year ago. He proposed that pressure be brought to bear upon Likud MKs, who would "pass it on" to Sharon's office.
MK Elon said that the decision to take 800 soldiers away from their anti-terror missions - "activities that must be carried out on Sabbath" - for the purpose of an action that desecrates the Sabbath [the uprooting of the Gilad Farm] "must be protested with full voice."
One of Assaf's most veteran residents, Eldad Sorek, attacked the claim that many IDF soldiers are required to protect the site: "This is not only a lie, but our presence actually helps reduce the amount of forces needed, and enhances security in the entire area." Beit El Mayor Yisrael Rosenberg said that if policemen come to evacuate the site, "we demand that they wear ID cards. We will relate to anyone not wearing such a card as a provocateur." Policemen who came to uproot the Gilad Farm on Saturday night were not wearing ID cards, leading some to see a connection between that fact and the ferocity with which they evacuated the residents there.
Rabbi Zalman Melamed of Beit El clarified today that he issued no public "ruling" instructing soldiers to refuse to uproot outposts. "We sat together in the Yesha Rabbis Council," Rabbi Melamed said, "and I proposed what I proposed. In the end, we agreed on a different ruling - namely, that soldiers should not refuse to carry out the order, but should ask their commanders to be excused from that mission - and that is our ruling." Other rabbis who teach soldiers in yeshivot and pre-military academies also said today that soldiers should not refuse orders to uproot outposts.
Participating at today's meeting were MKs Benny Elon, Tzvi Hendel, Yuri Stern and Uri Ariel. Stern began by reviewing the parliamentary and other steps that have been taken to try to thwart the campaign to uproot Yesha outposts. MK Hendel said that the person truly responsible for the uprootings is Prime Minister Sharon, "without whose consent they would not have occurred." Hendel and his colleagues quit Sharon's government coalition about a half-year ago. He proposed that pressure be brought to bear upon Likud MKs, who would "pass it on" to Sharon's office.
MK Elon said that the decision to take 800 soldiers away from their anti-terror missions - "activities that must be carried out on Sabbath" - for the purpose of an action that desecrates the Sabbath [the uprooting of the Gilad Farm] "must be protested with full voice."
One of Assaf's most veteran residents, Eldad Sorek, attacked the claim that many IDF soldiers are required to protect the site: "This is not only a lie, but our presence actually helps reduce the amount of forces needed, and enhances security in the entire area." Beit El Mayor Yisrael Rosenberg said that if policemen come to evacuate the site, "we demand that they wear ID cards. We will relate to anyone not wearing such a card as a provocateur." Policemen who came to uproot the Gilad Farm on Saturday night were not wearing ID cards, leading some to see a connection between that fact and the ferocity with which they evacuated the residents there.
Rabbi Zalman Melamed of Beit El clarified today that he issued no public "ruling" instructing soldiers to refuse to uproot outposts. "We sat together in the Yesha Rabbis Council," Rabbi Melamed said, "and I proposed what I proposed. In the end, we agreed on a different ruling - namely, that soldiers should not refuse to carry out the order, but should ask their commanders to be excused from that mission - and that is our ruling." Other rabbis who teach soldiers in yeshivot and pre-military academies also said today that soldiers should not refuse orders to uproot outposts.