Settlers return to evacuated settlement of Homesh (Archives)
Photo: Reuters
Rightists plan new illegal outposts
Settlers prepare to establish five new illegal outposts in West Bank in response to decision to exclude Eitam hill from Gush Etzion
Settlers in the West Bank are planning to establish several illegal outposts on the hills surrounding Gush Etzion.
According to a decision by settler leaders, a group of settlers will establish the first outpost on Efrat’s Eitam hill in about three weeks. In the weeks to follow, four other outposts are expected to be established.
According to the settlers, the hill in question is within the borders of Efrat in Gush Etzion. However, the hill will become Palestinian property upon completion of the separation fence in the area, which will exclude it from Efrat.
For fear of losing the land, Right-wing organizations have begun spreading notices calling for a renewal of settlement activity.
“The establishment of a settlement in Eitam will be the first step in renewing a wave of settlements in Judea and Samaria. This is our response to the ongoing policy of surrendering to the enemy,” the notices read.
So far, five families with children have registered to be part of the first group, along with several bachelors and a shepherd. “We’re not talking about another demonstration, but a real aliyah and settlement,” organizers told Ynet.
“Instead of dealing with the strengthening of the Israeli people in their own country and the defeat of the Arab enemy threatening our existence, the government is strengthening the PLO movement and trying to establish a terrorist state in the West Bank,” organizers claimed.
Nadia Matar, co-chairman of “Women in Green”, told Ynet, “Our message is that there is something we can do, and that we mustn’t stay home and wait for the rage to pass. We are here to remind the people that all our problems stem from the fact that we’ve lost our connection to the Land of Israel.”
According to Matar, “There is no stronger way to express our connection to our land, or our willingness to fight for the Land of Israel with dedication to keep it, than to build new settlements in places the government doesn’t want to see Jews.”
