A building that was established by the Defense Minister near the home of MK (Bayit Yehudi) Betzalel Smotrich was established on private Arab land in the Shomron community of Kedumim. According to the Walla News report, the building serves as the area civilian security dispatch station for the yishuv surrounding area and the land belongs to the adjacent Arab village Kedum.

About two weeks ago, it was reported that Smotrich’s home was built contrary to the master plan, and it is possible it too is entirely or in part on private Arab land. The report cites Smotrich was a leading force in the passing of the Regulation Bill, to retroactively legalize thousands of buildings throughout Yehuda and Shomron.

Smotrich lives in the area known as Rashi Hill. Experts from the Civil Administration who measured housing plots back in 2012 documented some of the buildings in the center of the community were not on the state land intended for construction, and Smotrich’s was among those. It appears that a portion of some of the homes, including Smotrich’s, were built on private Arab land, based on land registry documents.

Civil Administration officials confirm the civilian security center is indeed outside of the master plan area and enforcement proceedings have begun. Defense Ministry officials refused to comment on the illegally built structure that was constructed years ago. The building, which serves as the area emergency civilian dispatcher center, has saved many lives since its construction, including addressing many terror attacks on nearby Route 55.

Some two years ago, it was decided to integrate it with other emergency services and it is being moved to a new venue in the coming year.

Officials in Smotrich’s office responded to the report with the following statement: Things were done as required. The only ones who are in conflict of interest are reporters who are trying to represent the Palestinians to evacuate Jews from their homes, however, no Regulation Law will help such self-hatred. As I have done to date, so in the future – I will do my utmost to defense the settlement and continue to develop them as a direct continuation of the Zionist dream”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)