Rabbi Dov Lior: Phones may be used on Shabbat to stop IDF evacuations

Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior: "In light of threat of destruction of outposts, public asked to stay alert and report any suspicious movement of troops."

By ELAN MILLER
dov lior 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
dov lior 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior has given permission to the residents of West Bank settlements to use their phones on Shabbat to report "suspicious IDF movements," according to settlement activists. A message being circulated by Efrat-Gush Etzion-Kiryat Arba Hevron Action Committees warned settlers to remain vigilant, stating: "In light of the threat of destruction of outposts, the public is asked to stay alert and report any suspicious movement of troops." The message continued, "If one sees a movement of troops on Shabbat and there is a possibility that those troops are on their way to destroy outposts, one can use the phone, on Shabbat, to report about it to the known activists of the area and they will check what is going on and give instructions to the public accordingly." Nadia Matar, a representative of the Efrat-Gush Etzion-Kiryat Arba Hevron Action Committees explained on Sunday that following Defense Minister Ehud Barak's recent meeting with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, settlers fear the IDF may dismantle settlement outposts at any moment. Matar noted that six or seven Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers have been taken to a military base near Alon Shvut, in Gush Etzion, and made clear that settlers are on "high alert" as they fear that these vehicles will be used to dismantle "20-or-so outposts" in the vicinity in the not-too-distant future. One of the country's most prominent Zionist rabbis, Lior is no stranger to controversy. During 2005's disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Lior called on all his former students to defy their commanders and refuse to take part in the "expulsion" of Jews. Earlier this year, he also said in an interview that it is forbidden for Jews to hire or rent property in Israel to Arabs.