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Israeli security forces remove settlement outpost in West Bank
Israeli security forces yesterday demolished six unauthorised homes in the West Bank outpost of Ma’aleh Rehavam, in accordance with an order by the High Court of Justice.
The outpost, established in 2001, is situated in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank, south of Jerusalem. However, a 2007 petition by pro-peace pressure group Peace Now complained that the structures in question and at two other outposts had been built on private Palestinian land. The High Court subsequently accepted the petition and in November ruled that the homes in Ma’aleh Rehavam must be evacuated by 18 May, criticising the government for dragging its feet.
Security forces, complying with the court’s ruling yesterday carried out the demolitions in Ma’aleh Rehavam after the court rejected a last-minute injunction from the settlers that they had purchased the land legally. Entering the outpost at around 10.30am, they were greeted with burning tyres and barricades. Army Radio reported that masked men threw stones at the security personnel and that at least four arrests were made. Seven hours later, after the homes had been demolished, Ma’aleh Rehavam spokesman Moshe Atalo told the Jerusalem Post, “This is a difficult sight. The forces are removing entire families from their homes and destroying their whole lives. Structures have disappeared as if they never existed.”
Israeli security forces are expected during the coming days to remove similar illegal structures from two additional outposts covered by the original Peace Now petition. Seven structures are slated for demolition in Givat Asaf, near Beit El, including one that is used as a synagogue, while a further seven are located in Ramat Gilad, near Karnei Shomron. In total, 16 families are reported to have been living in the homes scheduled for evacuation.
Back in Ma’aleh Rehavam, the High Court ruled that several additional homes there were purchased legally and are expected to receive government permits to remain standing. Two further outposts, Givat Hara’a and Mitzpe Lachish are also set to receive similar permits.