Nine families who just moved into their newly completed homes in the town of Amona, east of Ofra in eastern Binyamin, voluntarily left their dwellings on Saturday night when the IDF threatened to demolish the structures.
The families were given a 48-hour ultimatum by the IDF last Thursday.
The IDF was acting according to an interim order handed down by the High Court of Justice on July 4, which ordered the IDF to evacuate all the Jewish families from the town and demolish the structures.
The court’s ruling, handed down by Justice Ayala Procaccia, was made in response to a petition filed by Peace Now, which claimed that the town, established in 1995, is illegal.
In announcing their compliance with the army ultimatum, the families said that “Jews have the religious and historical right to settle anywhere in the Land of Israel. In order not to been seen as violating understandings with the army, the decision was reached to leave the homes.”
Residents claim that the homes were constructed legally and in accordance with government promises, including that of the prime minister, that they would be approved.
Peace Now claims that the army must by law demolish illegal structures. Illegal Arab construction in Judea, Samaria, and the Negev, however, dwarfs the extent of Jewish building lacking official permits. A spokesman for the police in the Negev said recently that the Arabs have erected over 35,000 illegal structures in that region. Only a few of these structures have been demolished.
The families were given a 48-hour ultimatum by the IDF last Thursday.
The IDF was acting according to an interim order handed down by the High Court of Justice on July 4, which ordered the IDF to evacuate all the Jewish families from the town and demolish the structures.
The court’s ruling, handed down by Justice Ayala Procaccia, was made in response to a petition filed by Peace Now, which claimed that the town, established in 1995, is illegal.
In announcing their compliance with the army ultimatum, the families said that “Jews have the religious and historical right to settle anywhere in the Land of Israel. In order not to been seen as violating understandings with the army, the decision was reached to leave the homes.”
Residents claim that the homes were constructed legally and in accordance with government promises, including that of the prime minister, that they would be approved.
Peace Now claims that the army must by law demolish illegal structures. Illegal Arab construction in Judea, Samaria, and the Negev, however, dwarfs the extent of Jewish building lacking official permits. A spokesman for the police in the Negev said recently that the Arabs have erected over 35,000 illegal structures in that region. Only a few of these structures have been demolished.