DM Ya’alon Orders Two Buildings in Tekoa Razed

[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has ordered the destruction of two buildings in Yishuv Tekoa. The order was carried out on Tuesday morning, 23 Iyar. According to an Arutz-7 report, Ya’alon gave the order because the buildings were constructed on private Arab-owned land as per the position of the Civil Administration.

Gush Etzion Regional Council officials have presented aerial photos which they explain prove beyond any doubt that the land in question is not Arab-owned as reported by the Civil Administration but desolate terrain. The council also stated earlier that if the buildings cannot be legally approved, it would make certain to relocate them.

Tekoa officials report they will continue building alongside their Palestinian neighbors as they have been in past years.

Gush Etzion Regional Council head David Pearl explains that one small structure was taken down but this is not the point. He explains the order to raze the buildings is slap in the face of the incoming administration and all voters who backed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Pearl explains the defense minister could have permitted a new team evaluate the situation and reach its conclusions and he calls in the incoming cabinet ministers to change the current policies of the administration.

There is anger directed towards Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett for his voice was not heard prior to the destruction of the buildings.