Police evacuate site near Migron

Settlers say construction was act of protest against any deal over the fate of 105 unauthorized outposts.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Migron 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Migron 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Right-wing activists manning a site near the West Bank outpost of Migron were evacuated by police Monday. The protesters began building at what they hoped would be a new outpost last week. Former Kedumim mayor Daniella Weiss, who organized the group, said the construction was an act of protest against both the government and any deal the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip might consider making with them over the fate of 105 unauthorized outposts. According to the road map, Israel must remove 105 outposts, which were constructed between 1995 and 2005. Israel has made a point of assuring the US that it will remove all outposts constructed after former prime minister Ariel Sharon took office in March of 2001. Migron, which has 45 families, was built in 2002 and is one of the larger outposts. But in spite of ongoing reports of a deal that would include the voluntary evacuation of Migron, the council has promised to fight to legalize the outpost, which is slated for demolition in August. Weiss, claims not to trust the council, believing they wish to evacuate Migron, but the residents of Migron have placed their faith in the council. Migron spokesman Gideon Rosenfeld told The Jerusalem Post they had asked the activists to cease their activities. "Their actions are harming us, not helping us," he said. According to a Civil Administration spokesman, members of their unit arrived at the protest site with border police on Monday to issue an injunction against the activists, who had placed concrete blocks and other building material at the site. "Initially, the 15 teenage activists at the site yelled out slurs at them such as 'Nazis,'" the spokesman said. "Then the activists tried to prevent the border police from taking away the equipment through acts of civil disobedience." But Weiss said the incident was more violent than portrayed by the Civil Administration. She charged that the border police attacked the activists and stole their equipment. Weiss said the activists have already returned and plan to continue their building activities.