An outpost just south of Ofrah, in which resided three families and 20 singles, has been dismantled - by the residents themselves. Named for Ofrah resident Aryeh Hershkovitz, who was murdered in a terrorist shooting attack in Jan. 2001, the neighborhood of Ginot Aryeh failed the test of Supreme Court review and was slated for demolition in the very near future. The residents decided to avoid a clash with the security forces, and dismantled it themselves. Most of the caravans were moved to an area within Ofrah, and will mark the beginning of a new neighborhood there. Two caravans remain in the original location of Ginot Aryeh, to house soldiers engaged in protecting the area.
Binyamin Regional Council chief Pinchas Wallerstein told Arutz-7 last night that he will of course do what he can to avoid clashes with the army, "but this does not mean that we will dismantle every outpost that has been issued demolition orders. We will never agree to the removal of Givat Assaf, for instance, or Givat HaRoeh next to Shilo, which is also on the chopping block. I will make every effort, of course, to meet with the Defense Minister and convince him of the importance of these locations..."
The aforementioned Givat Assaf is one of the three outposts that were added only last week to the list of those Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Mofaz have marked for destruction. Just four kilometers south of Ginot Aryeh, Givat Assaf is named for Assaf Hershkovitz, Aryeh's son who was murdered in the same manner as his father three months later. Twelve families live at what Wallerstein called a "critically strategic" spot at the turnoff to Beit El on the Jerusalem-Shilo highway.
Wallerstein said that there is no immediate threat to the three newest outposts, "as we have at least eight days in which to begin legal proceedings. I know that in two of the cases, these have already begun... However, I believe that there will be an attempt within a day or two to remove Mitzpeh Yitzhar in central Shomron."
In this connection, a dramatic development occurred late last night when the Supreme Court issued a restraining order, at the behest of the residents, against the evacuation of Mitzpeh Yitzhar. A court hearing will be held this Wednesday morning. Close to 1,000 policemen who were deployed in the area for the evacuation have left the site, and will have to be called back - at great expense and trouble - if the court rejects the latest petition. Hundreds of residents and Yesha supporters are expected to arrive on the scene, if necessary, to help prevent the uprooting.
Binyamin Regional Council chief Pinchas Wallerstein told Arutz-7 last night that he will of course do what he can to avoid clashes with the army, "but this does not mean that we will dismantle every outpost that has been issued demolition orders. We will never agree to the removal of Givat Assaf, for instance, or Givat HaRoeh next to Shilo, which is also on the chopping block. I will make every effort, of course, to meet with the Defense Minister and convince him of the importance of these locations..."
The aforementioned Givat Assaf is one of the three outposts that were added only last week to the list of those Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Mofaz have marked for destruction. Just four kilometers south of Ginot Aryeh, Givat Assaf is named for Assaf Hershkovitz, Aryeh's son who was murdered in the same manner as his father three months later. Twelve families live at what Wallerstein called a "critically strategic" spot at the turnoff to Beit El on the Jerusalem-Shilo highway.
Wallerstein said that there is no immediate threat to the three newest outposts, "as we have at least eight days in which to begin legal proceedings. I know that in two of the cases, these have already begun... However, I believe that there will be an attempt within a day or two to remove Mitzpeh Yitzhar in central Shomron."
In this connection, a dramatic development occurred late last night when the Supreme Court issued a restraining order, at the behest of the residents, against the evacuation of Mitzpeh Yitzhar. A court hearing will be held this Wednesday morning. Close to 1,000 policemen who were deployed in the area for the evacuation have left the site, and will have to be called back - at great expense and trouble - if the court rejects the latest petition. Hundreds of residents and Yesha supporters are expected to arrive on the scene, if necessary, to help prevent the uprooting.