The Regavim organization has pledged to keep-up the pressure on the Israeli government until the it upholds the High Court rulings to demolish an illegal EU-funded squatter camp near Sussia. The call comes one day after Members of Knesset from the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus toured the ancient Jewish site and observed the growing illegal Arab squatter community that surrounds it. The tour was conducted by Regavim experts who monitor and report from the field. In August, Netanyahu asked the court for a two-month extension on their ruling, after the European Union and US State Department applied excessive pressure on him not to take action.

On Monday, 16 Elul, lawmakers toured the ruins of the ancient Jewish city of Sussia which is home to a 1,500-year-old shul with multiple Hebrew mosaics. Following which they briefly stopped to observe the growing illegal EU-funded Arab encampment outside the site and were met by a few dozen Palestinian and European activists waving Palestinian flags and chanting “With blood and fire we will protect Arab Sussia” among other things.

Josh Hasten, International Director of Regavim stated: “We were extremely encouraged by the support we received from the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus. Regavim will continue to keep-up the pressure on the government until the supreme court rulings are upheld. We call upon our supporters in Israel and abroad to continue writing letters to Prime Minister Netanyahu to insist that he upholds the right of law and doesn’t bow to the immense pressure being placed upon him.”

While in Sussiya, Jewish Home MK and Co-Chairman of the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus Betzalel Smotrich stated: “It is unacceptable that the international community are interfering with rulings of the Israeli Supreme Court. The democratically elected government of Israel must uphold the right of law in Sussiya and demolish the illegal structures in accordance with the law. Sussiya is being used internationally as a test-case for more foreign funded Arab-land grabs in Area C in an attempt to connect Judea with Gaza and establish a de-facto Palestinian State.”

Likud MK and Co-Chairman of the Land of Israel Parliamentary Caucus Yoav Kisch added: “Today we witnessed the rampant ongoing illegal Palestinian building around Sussiya, a 1,500-year-old Jewish City. We will be taking what we’ve learnt directly back to the Knesset to rally support and ensure that this unacceptable situation comes to an end”

Regavim is a legal advocacy organization, dedicated to ensuring responsible, legal and accountable use of Israel’s national land. By investigating claims on the ground level, Regavim protects national land interests, presenting its findings in the form of white papers and legal action, in addition to briefing the press and diplomatic corps.

PHOTO CREDIT REGAVIM

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)