IDF and police forces completed the evacuation and dismantling of the Giborei Hevron encampment between Hevron and Kiryat Arba (HKA) early this morning. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz gave the order, and the army determined the timing. Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior called on the four families and singles who have lived there for the past several weeks, and the some 200 others who came to resist the evacuation, not to clash with soldiers. The eviction was in fact carried out with a minimum of resistance, though six persons were taken into custody.
HKA leaders attempted to negotiate with the army, asking that at least a small civilian presence remain. The army did not agree, but the talks delayed the evacuation until 5 AM.
This was the second "defeat" suffered in recent days in the campaign to make Hevron and Kiryat Arba more Jewish and more secure. The Supreme Court yesterday extended by two weeks an order preventing the demolition of mostly-abandoned Arab structures along the road, as well as other works.
The encampment was established a month ago, following the ambush battle at the site in which twelve civilians, soldiers, and officers were killed. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at the time that a Jewish territorial contiguity must be established between Kiryat Arba and Hevron. Malachi Levinger of Kiryat Arba, a leader in the new settlement efforts, said that the community is expecting Sharon to make good on this promise.
Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon told Arutz-7 this morning, "Our struggle will continue and a Jewish neighborhood will definitely be established - for there is no other choice." He said that they are not insisting on that specific piece of land, which the Arabs claim is privately-owned: "There are enough state-owned lands in the area on which to build a Jewish neighborhood." Regarding the timing of the government action, Arnon attributed it to both the Likud's poor image in the press in light of the primaries scandal and American pressure.
Women in Green publicized an announcement against the uprooting of "the Giborei Hevron encampment that was established as a Zionist response to a murderous attack. This time, however, the na?ve amongst us cannot blame [the Labor Party's] Ben-Eliezer [who authorized the previous uprooting at Gilad Farm]. It is clearly Prime Minister Sharon who is the initiator and who is to blame, spitting in the face of the terror victims and rewarding those who murder Jews."
HKA leaders attempted to negotiate with the army, asking that at least a small civilian presence remain. The army did not agree, but the talks delayed the evacuation until 5 AM.
This was the second "defeat" suffered in recent days in the campaign to make Hevron and Kiryat Arba more Jewish and more secure. The Supreme Court yesterday extended by two weeks an order preventing the demolition of mostly-abandoned Arab structures along the road, as well as other works.
The encampment was established a month ago, following the ambush battle at the site in which twelve civilians, soldiers, and officers were killed. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at the time that a Jewish territorial contiguity must be established between Kiryat Arba and Hevron. Malachi Levinger of Kiryat Arba, a leader in the new settlement efforts, said that the community is expecting Sharon to make good on this promise.
Hevron spokesman Noam Arnon told Arutz-7 this morning, "Our struggle will continue and a Jewish neighborhood will definitely be established - for there is no other choice." He said that they are not insisting on that specific piece of land, which the Arabs claim is privately-owned: "There are enough state-owned lands in the area on which to build a Jewish neighborhood." Regarding the timing of the government action, Arnon attributed it to both the Likud's poor image in the press in light of the primaries scandal and American pressure.
Women in Green publicized an announcement against the uprooting of "the Giborei Hevron encampment that was established as a Zionist response to a murderous attack. This time, however, the na?ve amongst us cannot blame [the Labor Party's] Ben-Eliezer [who authorized the previous uprooting at Gilad Farm]. It is clearly Prime Minister Sharon who is the initiator and who is to blame, spitting in the face of the terror victims and rewarding those who murder Jews."