By Andrew Friedman/TPS
Dozens of Palestinian Authority Arab activists erected a large tent on state land in the northern Jordan Valley Thursday, near the Israeli town of Mehola.
Eyewitness Hezy Eyal told Tazpit Press Service (TPS) that the Arabs called it a “settlement outpost” and said the move was intended to “protest Jewish settlements in the region.” They named the area Yasser Arafat Village.
Eyal said about two dozen Israeli activists joined the protest, asking why Israelis were living on “Palestinian land” and demanding that IDF forces not expel the Arabs from the site.
IDF and local security forces responded to the demonstration, and field commanders on site ordered the protesters to leave. As of this writing, the protesters have not left, and security forces have not removed them.
Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Elhayani told TPS that the move is reflective of a years-long reticence on the part of the government to exercise Israel’s sovereignty in the area.
“In recent years, [Arabs in the region] have become bolder than they were in the past,” he said. “They have been building illegal structures and taking over state lands. [They are nothing more than] law breakers who have figured out that law enforcement in this region has become lax.
“Today’s attempt by Palestinians to take over state lands is a challenge to the rule of law,” added Elhayani. “I demand not only that they be removed immediately, but that they also face criminal prosecution. Their cars should also be confiscated in order to set an example.”