September 2nd – Following the High Court of Justice’s ruling from last week, the residents of the community of Migron, in the Benyamin region, were forcibly removed from their homes this morning. Large police forces arrived at the community early this morning, knocking on doors and serving the residents a court order to evacuate their homes. A few families offered passive resistance, but most of the fifty families left on their own accord.
Most of the children were evacuated last night by the residents to shield them from possible trauma. Most of the families were evacuated to the nearby Ofrah guest house, waiting for the completion of their new community on Givat Hayekev.
The community’s legal status was in dispute for the past six years, as Arabs claimed they own the lands on which the community resides. The residents, on their part, have recently purchased most of the individual plots specifically under debate. Despite that, the High Court ruled in favour of the Arab plaintiffs.
A few youth, who are not residents of the community, came to Migron to offer resistance, but were overpowered by the police forces.
This morning, hours before their forced evacuation, the residents of Migron planted tree saplings, explaining that they were planting the trees now in preparation for their future return to Migron, when the trees will be full grown.
Eitay Harel, one of the founders of Migron stated today: “This is a sad day. I want to promise myself, the residents of Migron, our feeble Prime Minister and our brethren from Peace Now who are engaged in destruction – I wish none of them to suffer the pain that we are experiencing now, the pain of bereavement, but we sang the Tikvah, the national anthem. Our hearts are pierced, but we will return. We believe in all our hearts that this story will end with the establishment of two communities. We are ashamed that there are Jews who work to betray the Land of Israel. I am sure the truth will be revealed, we own the land and there is no one who contests this point. They have produced mere claims for the sake of destruction. We are tearful and enraged, but we will channel these energies to arise from the dust and resettle the land.”