Residents of the Shomron community of Ofra protested outside the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday morning 24 Elul, demanding a resolution to the problems of many homes in their community, as well as nearby Amona and many other homes throughout Yehuda and Shomron. Joining the protestors were the community’s rav, Rabbi Avi Gisser, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, MKs Moti Yogev and Yehuda Glick and local and regional officials.

Shaked was among the speakers, all carrying the same message, that Ofra after 41 years is still working to legalize some of its homes as became a news item when the government refused aid for a disabled IDF veteran because his home is ‘illegal’, Yehuda Hayisraeli.

The message was a clear one, that the government is compelled to find a long-term all-encompassing solution and not continue dealing with individual cases of damage control as the nation’s High Court of Justice feels razing Jewish homes is the only solution.

Yogev and others stressed Israel and the yishuvim are not occupying anyone’s land, but rather “we have returned home to settle the land”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)