Large police forces raided the Kumi Ori neighborhood in the settlement of Yitzhar in Samaria on Wednesday and began demolishing the homes of the Zarug and Gozlan families there, Hakol Hayehudi reported. IDF forces at the same time blocked major intersections in Samaria to Jewish motorists. Two residents were arrested and a few more were detained and released. The Jatt Junction in Samaria was closed to traffic, as were other main junctions.
Last week, the High Court of Justice rejected a petition filed by Neria Zarug and his brother-in-law Aaron Gozlan against demolishing their homes, on the grounds that the authority for building enforcement in the territory in question, which is in Area B, rests with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
The justices ruled that the army is allowed to enforce planning and construction laws in the area only against Jews. However, according to Hakol Hayehudi, the same justices did strike a hopeful note, urging local residents to apply to the Palestinian Authority for building permits.
Who said Bagatz doesn’t have a sense of humor?
As of Wednesday morning, large Border Police forces, armed with tractors, have spread through the settlement of Yitzhar and its Kumi Ori neighborhood. Many residents have come to protest the destruction and are calling on the general public to join them – which would be difficult, seeing as the major arteries have been blocked by the IDF. The residents believe the evacuation would take several hours.
