Legal efforts notwithstanding, the residents of Ginot Aryeh, Ofrah and the Binyamin Regional Council in general are preparing for the government's attempt to dismantle Ginot Aryeh and expel the residents. Meir Nachliel, "mayor" of Ofrah, told Arutz-7 today, "We expect the dismantling-attempt to begin anywhere between Sunday and Tuesday, though it could be later."
It was reported last night that 1,000 policemen and policewomen would take active part in the evacuation of Ginot Aryeh, with another 3,000 soldiers in the "second ring." "I think that these reports are, in fact, true," Nachliel said, "and it's very sad that they are willing to deploy such great numbers of forces to throw Jews out of their homes. It looks like Sharon is very determined this time."
Prayer services and Torah classes will be held in the neighborhood this Shabbat, and a general meeting of Ofrah residents and Yesha Council leaders will be held there on Sunday evening. High school students from all over the region and elsewhere in Israel have been alerted to be prepared to arrive on short notice. "If we bring 5,000 people here, the army simply won't be able to dismantle the community," Binyamin Regional Council chief Pinchas Wallerstein said earlier this week.
Efforts are being made to prevent the destruction of another "outpost" as well - the Hazon David Synagogue in Kiryat Arba-Hevon. Located outside the west gate of Kiryat Arba, below the Patriarchs Hill neighborhood, it was established in 2001 following the terrorist murders of David Cohen and Chezy Muallem nearby. "Continued Jewish presence at the site has prevented further escalation of violence and terrorism in the area," says Hevron spokesman David Wilder, "and Arabs living in the vicinity have been quoted as saying that they have no objection to a 'holy place' at the site." Knesset Members and other public figures will take part in a demonstration at the site tomorrow night, in an effort to prevent destruction of the synagogue.
It was reported last night that 1,000 policemen and policewomen would take active part in the evacuation of Ginot Aryeh, with another 3,000 soldiers in the "second ring." "I think that these reports are, in fact, true," Nachliel said, "and it's very sad that they are willing to deploy such great numbers of forces to throw Jews out of their homes. It looks like Sharon is very determined this time."
Prayer services and Torah classes will be held in the neighborhood this Shabbat, and a general meeting of Ofrah residents and Yesha Council leaders will be held there on Sunday evening. High school students from all over the region and elsewhere in Israel have been alerted to be prepared to arrive on short notice. "If we bring 5,000 people here, the army simply won't be able to dismantle the community," Binyamin Regional Council chief Pinchas Wallerstein said earlier this week.
Efforts are being made to prevent the destruction of another "outpost" as well - the Hazon David Synagogue in Kiryat Arba-Hevon. Located outside the west gate of Kiryat Arba, below the Patriarchs Hill neighborhood, it was established in 2001 following the terrorist murders of David Cohen and Chezy Muallem nearby. "Continued Jewish presence at the site has prevented further escalation of violence and terrorism in the area," says Hevron spokesman David Wilder, "and Arabs living in the vicinity have been quoted as saying that they have no objection to a 'holy place' at the site." Knesset Members and other public figures will take part in a demonstration at the site tomorrow night, in an effort to prevent destruction of the synagogue.