First Arrests at Netiv Ha'Avot as Evacuation Begins

These two youth have the honor of being the first two people arrested at the protests in Netiv Ha'Avot on Tuesday morning.

Following the orders of the Israeli High Court, the Israeli government is evacuating and destroying 15 homes in the Netiv Ha'Avot neighborhood due to a one meter strip of disputed land that runs through the edge of some of the houses. Netiv Ha'Avot is a neighborhood in the town of Elazar in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem.

Instead of finding a compromise solution, including dismantling just the small sections of the homes in question, the court ordered all the homes destroyed. There are actually no proven owners of the one meter strip in question, and no one will be "getting it back."

As of 8:10 AM, 3500 youths are in Netiv Ha'Avot to protest the destruction, along with another 1000 adults, according to police. As of 9:00 AM, the police announced the evacuation has officially begun.

Residents have called on everyone to protest passively, with no violence. The images coming out of Netiv Ha'Avot are very reminiscent of the destruction of Gush Katif in 2005, which was also implemented by the Likud government.

The government has promised to build 350 new homes in Netiv Ha'Avot in response to the court's destruction order.

Video- Inside one of the homes to be evacuated:

Video- Josh Hasten outside one of the homes about to be evacuated: