3 jan 2019
Police and Border Police forces are pelted with rocks and stones while evacuating settler youth who barricaded themselves in the illegal outpost, which was evacuated two years ago. The youth returned to the outpost in protest of recent Palestinian terrorism.
Twenty-three police officers and three civilians were wounded Thursday morning as Israeli forces evacuated some 300 settlers who have recently returned to the illegal outpost of Amona.
The settlers barricaded themselves in two mobile structures at the former outpost, which was evacuated less than two years ago under a court order. They returned to the outpost last month in protest of a recent outburst of Palestinian terror attacks, which claimed the lives of two soldiers and prematurely born baby.
Police and Border Police were faced with violent rioting by the settlers, who hurled rocks, stones and metal objects at the forces, as well as burned tires and poured oil on access roads to the outpost. Seven settlers were arrested.
The 23 police officers were lightly hurt, mostly from stone-throwing, with one officer stabbed with a sharp object.
At least five Border Policemen and one civilian were taken to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem's Mount Scopus to receive treatment.
After the settlers were evacuated, Israel's Civil Administration began work on evacuating the caravans they brought with them.
The settlers returned for ceremonial event at the Amona outpost in the Mateh Binyamin region, which was February 2017 following a court ruling that it was built on private Palestinian land.
During the event, they placed two units on plots of land they said former Amona residents purchased from Palestinians, with the assistance of private investors and donors.
The event was attended by members of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, MK Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party, and Avichai Buaron, a representative of the residents of the outpost.
"After two years of this place being uninhabited, we are fortunate to resume Israeli life here," said Yisrael Gantz, head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. "The plots upon which we erected the structures were legally purchased. Yesterday, I promised to establish a new settlement in Binyamin in response to the deadly attacks and today we are carrying it out."
Avichai Buaron, who led the Amona residents in recent years, said: "The night we were expelled from our homes we swore to do everything to bring back Jewish life here, to raise the Israeli flag high up so that all our enemies will know—we will be victorious! This land is our home and we will fight for our home to the end."
The settlers then petitioned the High Court of Justice seeking a temporary order to allow them to stay at the outpost but were rejected out of hand, with the state informing them on Monday that they had to evacuate within 48 hours, which expired on Wednesday night.
Twenty-three police officers and three civilians were wounded Thursday morning as Israeli forces evacuated some 300 settlers who have recently returned to the illegal outpost of Amona.
The settlers barricaded themselves in two mobile structures at the former outpost, which was evacuated less than two years ago under a court order. They returned to the outpost last month in protest of a recent outburst of Palestinian terror attacks, which claimed the lives of two soldiers and prematurely born baby.
Police and Border Police were faced with violent rioting by the settlers, who hurled rocks, stones and metal objects at the forces, as well as burned tires and poured oil on access roads to the outpost. Seven settlers were arrested.
The 23 police officers were lightly hurt, mostly from stone-throwing, with one officer stabbed with a sharp object.
At least five Border Policemen and one civilian were taken to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem's Mount Scopus to receive treatment.
After the settlers were evacuated, Israel's Civil Administration began work on evacuating the caravans they brought with them.
The settlers returned for ceremonial event at the Amona outpost in the Mateh Binyamin region, which was February 2017 following a court ruling that it was built on private Palestinian land.
During the event, they placed two units on plots of land they said former Amona residents purchased from Palestinians, with the assistance of private investors and donors.
The event was attended by members of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, MK Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party, and Avichai Buaron, a representative of the residents of the outpost.
"After two years of this place being uninhabited, we are fortunate to resume Israeli life here," said Yisrael Gantz, head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. "The plots upon which we erected the structures were legally purchased. Yesterday, I promised to establish a new settlement in Binyamin in response to the deadly attacks and today we are carrying it out."
Avichai Buaron, who led the Amona residents in recent years, said: "The night we were expelled from our homes we swore to do everything to bring back Jewish life here, to raise the Israeli flag high up so that all our enemies will know—we will be victorious! This land is our home and we will fight for our home to the end."
The settlers then petitioned the High Court of Justice seeking a temporary order to allow them to stay at the outpost but were rejected out of hand, with the state informing them on Monday that they had to evacuate within 48 hours, which expired on Wednesday night.
19 dec 2018
Dozens return to evacuated West Bank outpost of Amona to erect two units in what they said was a response to recent deadly violence.
Dozens of settlers have returned to rebuild the site of an unauthorized West Bank outpost evacuated by the state, in what they said was a response to recent deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Three people — two soldiers and a newborn — have been killed in the past two weeks in attacks in the West Bank. The renewed violence comes just two months after two Israelis were murdered by their Palestinian co-worker at a factory in the West Bank.
The settlers returned for ceremonial event at the Amona outpost in the Mateh Binyamin region, which was evacuated less than two years ago. During the event, they placed two units on plots of land they said former Amona residents purchased from Palestinians, with the assistance of private investors and donors. Amona was evacuated in February 2017, following a court ruling that it was built on private Palestinian land.
The event was attended by members of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, MK Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party, and Avihai Boaron, a representative of the residents of the outpost.
Haaretz daily newspaper quoted defense sources as saying that the settlers had not coordinated the event with the Israel Defense Forces army or the Civil Administration. Furthermore, Haaretz said, the area is classed as a closed military zone.
"After two years of this place being uninhabited, we are fortunate to resume Israeli life here," said Yisrael Gantz, head of Binyamin Regional Council. "The plots upon which we erected the structures were legally purchased. Yesterday, I promised to establish a new settlement in Binyamin in response to the deadly attacks and today we are carrying it out."
'We will fight to the end'
Avihai Boaron, who led the Amona residents in recent years, said: "The night we were expelled from our homes we swore to do everything to bring back Jewish life here, to raise the Israeli flag high up so that all our enemies will know — we will be victorious! This land is our home and we will fight for our home to the end."
"In these dark days, when terrorist attacks are so numerous and the honor of the people of Israel is harmed, we must get fired up and today's ascent to Amona is an appropriate Zionist response," said Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council.
After the evacuation of the outpost, the security cabinet approved a new settlement for Amona residents, the first time Israel has created a new settlement in over 20 years. The settlement, named Amichai, received its first residents in March.
The left-wing anti-settlement movement Peace Now condemned the return to Amona, accusing the settlers of disregarding the law of the land.
"There is no limit to the cynicism of the hilltop criminals who exploit the events of recent days to trample the law and ignite disturbances, all with public funds," the organization said. "These pyromaniacs are backed by Knesset members and local politicians… It is difficult to understand how an order has not yet been issued to evacuate them, and we ask whether the IDF and the police would have allowed this if they were Palestinians. This disgrace should be addressed today."
Peace Now said it would file a complaint with the police against the settlers, and make an appeal to the attorney general.
Dozens of settlers have returned to rebuild the site of an unauthorized West Bank outpost evacuated by the state, in what they said was a response to recent deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Three people — two soldiers and a newborn — have been killed in the past two weeks in attacks in the West Bank. The renewed violence comes just two months after two Israelis were murdered by their Palestinian co-worker at a factory in the West Bank.
The settlers returned for ceremonial event at the Amona outpost in the Mateh Binyamin region, which was evacuated less than two years ago. During the event, they placed two units on plots of land they said former Amona residents purchased from Palestinians, with the assistance of private investors and donors. Amona was evacuated in February 2017, following a court ruling that it was built on private Palestinian land.
The event was attended by members of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, MK Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party, and Avihai Boaron, a representative of the residents of the outpost.
Haaretz daily newspaper quoted defense sources as saying that the settlers had not coordinated the event with the Israel Defense Forces army or the Civil Administration. Furthermore, Haaretz said, the area is classed as a closed military zone.
"After two years of this place being uninhabited, we are fortunate to resume Israeli life here," said Yisrael Gantz, head of Binyamin Regional Council. "The plots upon which we erected the structures were legally purchased. Yesterday, I promised to establish a new settlement in Binyamin in response to the deadly attacks and today we are carrying it out."
'We will fight to the end'
Avihai Boaron, who led the Amona residents in recent years, said: "The night we were expelled from our homes we swore to do everything to bring back Jewish life here, to raise the Israeli flag high up so that all our enemies will know — we will be victorious! This land is our home and we will fight for our home to the end."
"In these dark days, when terrorist attacks are so numerous and the honor of the people of Israel is harmed, we must get fired up and today's ascent to Amona is an appropriate Zionist response," said Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council.
After the evacuation of the outpost, the security cabinet approved a new settlement for Amona residents, the first time Israel has created a new settlement in over 20 years. The settlement, named Amichai, received its first residents in March.
The left-wing anti-settlement movement Peace Now condemned the return to Amona, accusing the settlers of disregarding the law of the land.
"There is no limit to the cynicism of the hilltop criminals who exploit the events of recent days to trample the law and ignite disturbances, all with public funds," the organization said. "These pyromaniacs are backed by Knesset members and local politicians… It is difficult to understand how an order has not yet been issued to evacuate them, and we ask whether the IDF and the police would have allowed this if they were Palestinians. This disgrace should be addressed today."
Peace Now said it would file a complaint with the police against the settlers, and make an appeal to the attorney general.
22 nov 2018
Israeli bulldozers demolished a Palestinian-owned family home, workshop, and a structure, on Thursday, in Rahat town in Negev, in southern Israel, under the pretext that the structure was built without the difficult-to-obtain Israeli permit.
According to local sources, Israeli forces along with bulldozers stormed the area, closed all main streets, and prevented residents from reaching the area.
Sources said that Israeli bulldozers completely demolished three structures, including a family home.
The Israeli government has plans to evacuate thousands of Bedouin residents to officially recognized Bedouin townships, one of which is Rahat, in order to build new housing on the evacuated land for non-Bedouin Israeli citizens.
According to Israeli human rights group Adalah, the plan would "result in the destruction of 35 'unrecognized’' Arab Bedouin villages, the forced displacement of up to 70,000 Arab Bedouin citizens of Israel, and the dispossession of their historical lands in the Negev."
Bedouin communities in the Negev have been the target of a heightened demolition campaign in recent weeks, following Israeli leaders publicly expressing their commitment to demolish Palestinian structures lacking difficult to obtain Israeli-issued building permits across Israel and occupied East Jerusalem in response to the Israeli-court sanctioned evacuation of the illegal Amona settler outpost in 2017.
According to local sources, Israeli forces along with bulldozers stormed the area, closed all main streets, and prevented residents from reaching the area.
Sources said that Israeli bulldozers completely demolished three structures, including a family home.
The Israeli government has plans to evacuate thousands of Bedouin residents to officially recognized Bedouin townships, one of which is Rahat, in order to build new housing on the evacuated land for non-Bedouin Israeli citizens.
According to Israeli human rights group Adalah, the plan would "result in the destruction of 35 'unrecognized’' Arab Bedouin villages, the forced displacement of up to 70,000 Arab Bedouin citizens of Israel, and the dispossession of their historical lands in the Negev."
Bedouin communities in the Negev have been the target of a heightened demolition campaign in recent weeks, following Israeli leaders publicly expressing their commitment to demolish Palestinian structures lacking difficult to obtain Israeli-issued building permits across Israel and occupied East Jerusalem in response to the Israeli-court sanctioned evacuation of the illegal Amona settler outpost in 2017.
28 sept 2018
Although Dor Oved was earlier acqitted by the Magistrate's Court, the District Court accepted the state's appeal that the defendant is guilty of incitement, calling for revenge: fight 'to the last drop of blood.'
The Jerusalem District Court convicted far-right activist Dor Oved of incitement to violence ahead of last year’s evacuation of the Amona outpost in the West Bank.
In the past, Oved was acquitted by the Jerusalem court, but an appeal against the decision was filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office which led to the subsequent conviction.
In February 2017, the IDF evacuated settlers who had barricaded themselves in the outpost. The evacuation became violent after dozens of youths, who were not residents of the outpost, barricaded themselves in a local synagogue.
During the evacuation 17 police officers and several youths were injured.
Slogans such as "Zionists, beware!" "Zionazism," "Refuse orders and save yourselves from Hell," "Death to the Zionists," and "Ishmael Police," were spray painted on the synagogues’ walls.
According to the indictment, Oved wrote messages in various Whatsapp groups, threatening and encouraging acts of violence during the outpost’s evacuation.
“At Amona, this time around, there must be injuries —but only on the side of the accursed Zionazis,” and “We must not allow the accursed Zionists to believe that they can do whatever they want without consequences,” were some of his posts. He also included an image of the Israeli flag with an Uzi rifle superimposed alongside the phrase: “We will avenge without mercy.”
Ahead of the evacuation, the committee heading the campaign against the Amona evacuation exclusively called for non-violent opposition to the evacuation, asking that even if hit activists should not hit back. They viewed a violent campaign as not standing a chance of success and also being too overly traumatic.
After being convicted of incitement to violence, Oved was acquitted in June 2017, but the prosecution appealed the decision. The appeal was accepted and the acquittal overturned.
In her decision, Judge Hagit Kalmanaovitch wrote that the rhetoric used by the accused clearly calls for violence, seeking injuries upon his opponents and must not be ignored.
The judge also wrote that there is an inherent danger in the viral spread of inciting social media messages, easily spread by the press of a button: “The fact is that it is already ingrained and very widespread.”
In 2014, Oved was sentenced to one year for a “price tag” attack including hateful graffiti sprayed on the building of Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran.
At the time it was reported that he was also facing possible charges for threats made against the prime minster. He sent offensive and threatening letters against the release of Palestinian terrorists, from his prison cell: “If terrorists are freed … someone will get hurt. I promise, you will be the first.”
The Jerusalem District Court convicted far-right activist Dor Oved of incitement to violence ahead of last year’s evacuation of the Amona outpost in the West Bank.
In the past, Oved was acquitted by the Jerusalem court, but an appeal against the decision was filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office which led to the subsequent conviction.
In February 2017, the IDF evacuated settlers who had barricaded themselves in the outpost. The evacuation became violent after dozens of youths, who were not residents of the outpost, barricaded themselves in a local synagogue.
During the evacuation 17 police officers and several youths were injured.
Slogans such as "Zionists, beware!" "Zionazism," "Refuse orders and save yourselves from Hell," "Death to the Zionists," and "Ishmael Police," were spray painted on the synagogues’ walls.
According to the indictment, Oved wrote messages in various Whatsapp groups, threatening and encouraging acts of violence during the outpost’s evacuation.
“At Amona, this time around, there must be injuries —but only on the side of the accursed Zionazis,” and “We must not allow the accursed Zionists to believe that they can do whatever they want without consequences,” were some of his posts. He also included an image of the Israeli flag with an Uzi rifle superimposed alongside the phrase: “We will avenge without mercy.”
Ahead of the evacuation, the committee heading the campaign against the Amona evacuation exclusively called for non-violent opposition to the evacuation, asking that even if hit activists should not hit back. They viewed a violent campaign as not standing a chance of success and also being too overly traumatic.
After being convicted of incitement to violence, Oved was acquitted in June 2017, but the prosecution appealed the decision. The appeal was accepted and the acquittal overturned.
In her decision, Judge Hagit Kalmanaovitch wrote that the rhetoric used by the accused clearly calls for violence, seeking injuries upon his opponents and must not be ignored.
The judge also wrote that there is an inherent danger in the viral spread of inciting social media messages, easily spread by the press of a button: “The fact is that it is already ingrained and very widespread.”
In 2014, Oved was sentenced to one year for a “price tag” attack including hateful graffiti sprayed on the building of Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran.
At the time it was reported that he was also facing possible charges for threats made against the prime minster. He sent offensive and threatening letters against the release of Palestinian terrorists, from his prison cell: “If terrorists are freed … someone will get hurt. I promise, you will be the first.”
18 june 2018
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday afternoon, two young Palestinian men in occupied East Jerusalem.
The soldiers abducted the two Palestinians, who remained unidentified at the time of this report, after stopping them in the Old City of Jerusalem.
They were handcuffed before the soldiers took them to a detention and interrogation facility in the city.
On Sunday evening, the soldiers closed the southern entrance of Nablus city, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Media sources in Nablus said the closed road is near Huwwara military roadblock, and that the soldiers sealed it after groups of extremist Israeli colonizers protested the evacuation of an illegal outpost, which was installed on Palestinian lands, south of Nablus.
The colonialists were protesting near Yitzhar illegal colony’s junction, before the soldiers closed the road to all Palestinian traffic.
The soldiers abducted the two Palestinians, who remained unidentified at the time of this report, after stopping them in the Old City of Jerusalem.
They were handcuffed before the soldiers took them to a detention and interrogation facility in the city.
On Sunday evening, the soldiers closed the southern entrance of Nablus city, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
Media sources in Nablus said the closed road is near Huwwara military roadblock, and that the soldiers sealed it after groups of extremist Israeli colonizers protested the evacuation of an illegal outpost, which was installed on Palestinian lands, south of Nablus.
The colonialists were protesting near Yitzhar illegal colony’s junction, before the soldiers closed the road to all Palestinian traffic.
13 june 2018
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday evicted Jewish settlers from 15 homes in the Netiv HaAvot unauthorized outpost which was built illegally on private Palestinian land near Bethlehem in the West Bank.
Israel's Supreme Court ordered the eviction in 2016, saying the homes were illegally built on private Palestinian land.
The eviction action was taken in response to an appeal filed by the Palestinian owners of the land on which the outpost was illegally constructed.
The Israeli government said it has allocated 60 million shekels for evicting the settlement and compensating the residents. It will rebuild their homes on nearby lands that are not privately owned.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper quoted Israeli security sources as saying that a deal has been reached with the settlers on the eviction order whereas the protests are confined to only two buildings.
A large number of Israeli protesters including ministers and right-wing leaders demonstrated against the eviction.
Israel's Supreme Court ordered the eviction in 2016, saying the homes were illegally built on private Palestinian land.
The eviction action was taken in response to an appeal filed by the Palestinian owners of the land on which the outpost was illegally constructed.
The Israeli government said it has allocated 60 million shekels for evicting the settlement and compensating the residents. It will rebuild their homes on nearby lands that are not privately owned.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper quoted Israeli security sources as saying that a deal has been reached with the settlers on the eviction order whereas the protests are confined to only two buildings.
A large number of Israeli protesters including ministers and right-wing leaders demonstrated against the eviction.
12 june 2018
Most families leave illegal outpost without any resistance, but Hilltop Youth climb on rooftops and pour paint and throw water bottles on police; forces begin carrying teens away one by one, 13 police officers wounded in clashes; 2 teens, 1 adult arrested for assaulting officer.
Clashes broke out Tuesday afternoon between security forces and members of the Hilltop Youth group during the evacuation of the last home in the illegal outpost of Netiv Ha’avot in Gush Etzion.
Teenagers standing on the house’s rooftop poured paint and threw stones and water bottles on the forces.
The police began carrying the youths away one by one. The outpost's residents asked the youths to come down from the rooftops, but they refused.
Bayit Yehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich and Amana director Ze'ev Hever were also at the entrance to the house.
By the end of the evacuation, two teenagers and a young man were arrested for assaulting a police officer, while dozens of other teens were barred from the area.
Thirteen police officers were wounded during the evacuation. One was in moderate condition and the others were lightly hurt.
Meanwhile, dozens of people blocked the entrance to Jerusalem and burned tires in protest of the Netiv Ha'avot evacuation. Three protestors were detained.
Some 40 protestors held signs reading, “Build without evacuating,” and chanted: “The Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people."
On Tuesday morning, thousands of police officers were deployed in several circles at Netiv Ha’avot ahead of the evacuation of 15 families from the outpost.
About 1,000 teenagers gathered at the outpost ahead of the evacuation, which began at 9 am. Dozens of them clashed with Border Police forces.
Several youths climbed to the roof of one of the houses and refused to come down despite the residents’ repeated requests. Police detained two of the protestors.
The evacuation then continued without any significant resistance, as the evictees walked out of their homes in tears.
Earlier, youths set fire to tires and garbage cans at the outpost and began shoving the police, chanting “Soldier, policeman, refuse orders.”
In response, the Border Police isolated the teens and encircled them. Dozens of police officers were provided with special documentation equipment to document rioters.
The police issued a statement saying, “The dialogue with the residents and the local leadership is ongoing to prevent friction and unnecessary clashes and allow a proper execution of the mission the forces have been tasked with.
“The police expect the residents’ families, which are a law-abiding public, to keep showing responsibility and work to restrain non-local elements and not to allow any violence against police officers and innocent people under any circumstances.
“The police call on the leadership to keep showing responsibility and high involvement to facilitate the proper implementation of the court order.”
Most of the protest was expected to center around two homes. The High Court of Justice ruled that the homes had been built illegally, some on unregulated lands, following a petition filed by the Peace Now movement.
Netiv Ha’avot residents say not a single Palestinian has been able to prove his ownership of the land so far. Peace Now, however, says the petition includes names of Palestinian petitioners who claim to own the land.
After dozen of High Court petitions and discussions, the evacuation of the outpost’s 15 families was scheduled for Tuesday. The families were to move temporarily to a plot prepared for them.
Netiv Ha’avot resident Orit Noy told Ynet: “The stupidity here is incomprehensible. Anyone who came here in the past two years said it was the most stupid thing that could happen. Not a single person, neither from the Left nor from the Right, understands why this is happening.
“All ministers and Knesset members are saying that this is a foolish ruling. It’s unbelievable that no one is able to stop this. They’re going to destroy out home and there will be nothing here. No one will come here. In two years, God willing, we’ll return and rebuild our home here.”
Thousands of people, including Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, attended a protest rally at Netiv Ha’avot on Monday evening.
“Whoever wanted to destroy 15 homes will received, God willing, 350 homes on this hill,” Education Minister Bennett said. “The residents of the Netiv Ha’avot neighborhood and everyone who cares about the settlement enterprise in this country, can’t understand. There is no other word apart from absurdity."
“One of the girls asked me why,” the Bayit Yehudi leader added. “I didn’t know how to answer. There is no answer, no reason and no logic. Sometimes, the High Court is very active on human rights, but when it comes to the rights of the residents here, the court suddenly becomes passive.”
Justice Minister Shaked said, “The evacuation is the result of a serious mistake. It began with an erroneous response from the state several years ago, but that was fixed from the root, and ended with an erroneous High Court decision. The news is that it ends here. In the past three years, we have changed the discourse. Instead of asking, ‘When are we evacuating?’ we’re asking, ‘How do we regulate?’”
The families will live in the alternative plot for two years and hope that the evacuated outpost area will be regulated.
Clashes broke out Tuesday afternoon between security forces and members of the Hilltop Youth group during the evacuation of the last home in the illegal outpost of Netiv Ha’avot in Gush Etzion.
Teenagers standing on the house’s rooftop poured paint and threw stones and water bottles on the forces.
The police began carrying the youths away one by one. The outpost's residents asked the youths to come down from the rooftops, but they refused.
Bayit Yehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich and Amana director Ze'ev Hever were also at the entrance to the house.
By the end of the evacuation, two teenagers and a young man were arrested for assaulting a police officer, while dozens of other teens were barred from the area.
Thirteen police officers were wounded during the evacuation. One was in moderate condition and the others were lightly hurt.
Meanwhile, dozens of people blocked the entrance to Jerusalem and burned tires in protest of the Netiv Ha'avot evacuation. Three protestors were detained.
Some 40 protestors held signs reading, “Build without evacuating,” and chanted: “The Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people."
On Tuesday morning, thousands of police officers were deployed in several circles at Netiv Ha’avot ahead of the evacuation of 15 families from the outpost.
About 1,000 teenagers gathered at the outpost ahead of the evacuation, which began at 9 am. Dozens of them clashed with Border Police forces.
Several youths climbed to the roof of one of the houses and refused to come down despite the residents’ repeated requests. Police detained two of the protestors.
The evacuation then continued without any significant resistance, as the evictees walked out of their homes in tears.
Earlier, youths set fire to tires and garbage cans at the outpost and began shoving the police, chanting “Soldier, policeman, refuse orders.”
In response, the Border Police isolated the teens and encircled them. Dozens of police officers were provided with special documentation equipment to document rioters.
The police issued a statement saying, “The dialogue with the residents and the local leadership is ongoing to prevent friction and unnecessary clashes and allow a proper execution of the mission the forces have been tasked with.
“The police expect the residents’ families, which are a law-abiding public, to keep showing responsibility and work to restrain non-local elements and not to allow any violence against police officers and innocent people under any circumstances.
“The police call on the leadership to keep showing responsibility and high involvement to facilitate the proper implementation of the court order.”
Most of the protest was expected to center around two homes. The High Court of Justice ruled that the homes had been built illegally, some on unregulated lands, following a petition filed by the Peace Now movement.
Netiv Ha’avot residents say not a single Palestinian has been able to prove his ownership of the land so far. Peace Now, however, says the petition includes names of Palestinian petitioners who claim to own the land.
After dozen of High Court petitions and discussions, the evacuation of the outpost’s 15 families was scheduled for Tuesday. The families were to move temporarily to a plot prepared for them.
Netiv Ha’avot resident Orit Noy told Ynet: “The stupidity here is incomprehensible. Anyone who came here in the past two years said it was the most stupid thing that could happen. Not a single person, neither from the Left nor from the Right, understands why this is happening.
“All ministers and Knesset members are saying that this is a foolish ruling. It’s unbelievable that no one is able to stop this. They’re going to destroy out home and there will be nothing here. No one will come here. In two years, God willing, we’ll return and rebuild our home here.”
Thousands of people, including Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, attended a protest rally at Netiv Ha’avot on Monday evening.
“Whoever wanted to destroy 15 homes will received, God willing, 350 homes on this hill,” Education Minister Bennett said. “The residents of the Netiv Ha’avot neighborhood and everyone who cares about the settlement enterprise in this country, can’t understand. There is no other word apart from absurdity."
“One of the girls asked me why,” the Bayit Yehudi leader added. “I didn’t know how to answer. There is no answer, no reason and no logic. Sometimes, the High Court is very active on human rights, but when it comes to the rights of the residents here, the court suddenly becomes passive.”
Justice Minister Shaked said, “The evacuation is the result of a serious mistake. It began with an erroneous response from the state several years ago, but that was fixed from the root, and ended with an erroneous High Court decision. The news is that it ends here. In the past three years, we have changed the discourse. Instead of asking, ‘When are we evacuating?’ we’re asking, ‘How do we regulate?’”
The families will live in the alternative plot for two years and hope that the evacuated outpost area will be regulated.
