NITZANIM - Dozens of Nitzan residents and members of the Green Course
environmental group held a rally Friday in front of tractors constructing the caravan site in Nitzanim, slated for evacuated settlers in the framework of the planned pullout.
Demonstrators attempted to halt construction works, but Nitzan residents said it was only members of Green Course that attempted to impede the works being done in the western Negev Nitzanim area.
The residents decided to incorporate the protest with the children’s traditional Lag Baomer march.
“We announced we would not take any physical action to try and stop the construction, even if the Green Course members had other plans,” Nitzan resident and Society for the Protection of Nature in Nitzanim head Yair Farjun said.
Police summoned to scene
The march stopped in front of the roaring tractors, upon which Green Course members tried to stop the works.
“We stood in front of the tractors and simply stopped them,” organization member Asaf Shmueli said. “All we are asking for is to see their permits and blueprints.”
Police units summoned to the scene dispersed the crowd.
The demonstrators praised Disengagement Administration Head Yonatan Bassi, who has expressed his opposition to the construction in the Nitzanim region.
“We support him in light of his comments against the construction of caravan sites,” Farjun said.
'Only in Nitzan'
Nitzan residents officially joined the campaign against the relocation of settlers to the Nitzanim region after they filed additional plea with the High Court.
Attorney Avner Hecker, who is handling the case on behalf of the residents, said several days ago authorities notified Nitzan residents they have sixty days to state their opposition to the imminent construction works.
“But after only two days the construction began without planning and construction permits,” he said.
Hecker explained the residents are willing to absorb the evacuees only in the town of Nitzan itself, and not via caravans constructed on the area’s sand dunes.
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