Migron residents fund-raise to buy more outpost land

Asking donors to contribute at least NIS 400 to help buy up land; Ministerial Committee on Settlements to meet Tuesday.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Migron outpost 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
Migron outpost 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
Migron families have embarked on a fund-raising campaign to buy some of the land on which their outpost is located from the Palestinian property owners.
The High Court of Justice has ordered the state to evacuate the outpost by August 28, because it was built without permits on land classified by the state as belonging to private Palestinians in the Binyamin region of the West Bank.
It issued its mandate in response to a petition by Peace Now, initially filed on behalf of the Palestinian land owners in 2006.
Migron residents have long claimed that they had purchased some of the property on which their outpost of 50 families is located. But the court did not accept that claim.
In July Migron residents announced that some of the lots had now been repurchased. They have since petitioned the High Court of Justice to annual the evacuation decree for those families living on the purchased lots.
Migron families are now seeking to buy more of the lots. Making a linguistic play on a biblical term, they have embarked on the “four cubits” campaign. They are asking donors to contribute at least NIS 400 to buy up Migron.
The High Court of Justice is debating the Migron residents’ new petition, but has continued to hold firm to the mandate to evacuate the outpost.
Migron spokesman Itai Chemo said that the families in his community were fighting a two pronged battle: The first was to avert an evacuation.
But the second, he said, was to ensure that no matter what, the property remained in Jewish hands.
The Ministerial Committee on Settlements plans to hold a meeting on Tuesday to formulate the state’s opinion with respect to three High Court of Justice cases with regard to land issues involving West Bank Jewish residents.
The Ministerial Committee on Settlements, which now sets policy for state responses to the court, said that if the land purchase was authenticated there was no reason to evacuate the Migron homes.
During a July court hearing on the matter, state attorney Osnat Mandel said there was a disagreement between her office and the government with respect to that claim by the ministerial committee, because Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein found it legally problematic.
The Ministerial Committee is now reexamining its response, in advance of a High Court of Justice mandate to resubmit its position on Migron by August 19.
The Ministerial Committee on Settlements is also expected to examine the state’s position with regard to two former Palestinian market stalls in Hebron, that Jewish residents of the city now live in.
In addition, it will also examine its position on unauthorized construction on private Palestinian land in Beit El.