Agents of the IDF Civil Administration early Tuesday morning destroyed the Ohel Rachel Shul located in the outpost near Yishuv Nachliel, Givat Menachem. It was the third time that the shul was destroyed as the cat and mouse game continues between the government and area residents and activists.

The government officials arrived at the outpost at about 4:00am. After removing sifrei kodesh from the structure, they moved ahead to carry out demolition orders. Four masked persons arrived on the scene and began throwing rocks at officials. Border police tried to apprehend the four, without success. there were no reports of injuries.

Residents of nearby Yishuv Nachliel report on Tuesday morning that the sefer Torah that was in the shul “has disappeared”. No more is known regarding the whereabouts of the sefer Torah at this time.

Benjamin Regional Council Residents’ Committee official called the move “anti-democratic”, complimenting Defense Minister Ehud Barak for “razing a makeshift shul with a tractor and vanishing from the scene in 10 minutes”, questioning the anti-Jewish move and pointing out the fact that illegally constructed mosques are never razed.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)