The High Court of Justice earlier this week instructed the state to present its plan to remove the community of Amona within three months, granting a four month extension until such time the residents will be homeless.

The state appealed to the court, seeking a half year extension until it is compelled to remove additional Jews from their homes, once again in the Binyamin Regional Council district as was the case with Beit El’s Ulpana neighborhood and with Migron. The court rejected the request for 6 months but was persuaded to grant a 4-month extension.

The radical left-wing Peace Now organization together with PA (Palestinian Authority) residents petitioned the court to oust the over 40 Jewish families, claiming they are on illegal land.

Amona, near Ofra, was founded in 1997. The nine permanent homes in Amona were destroyed by the government in 2006, an act that led to violent confrontations between some 4,000 Jews and about 8,000-10,000 police. Some people sustaining serious injuries. Despite the formidable resistance, the homes were razed. In March 2006, the Knesset inquiry into the events at Amona determined that security forces had employed excessive brutality, striking protesters with clubs and charging them with horses. Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra was criticized for preventing police commanders from testifying at the hearings. The committee also found contradictions in the testimonies of IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and the Public Security Minister. Despite these findings, no resignations followed. In May 2006, President Moshe Katsav met with some of the protesters injured at Amona and stated that he would ask for a renewal of the investigation. Katsav has since been compelled to step down from office and he is serving a prison term after being convicted of attacking women.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)