West Bank outpost cleared voluntarily
Three caravans placed illegally in Bnei Adam outpost near Jerusalem transported to Kochav Yaakov settlement; Peace Now: 'Cosmetic' move
Residents of the West Bank outpost Bnei Adam, located near Jerusalem, voluntarily evacuated overnight Thursday three caravans that had been placed there illegally, this in accordance with their commitment to Civil Administration head Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai.
The caravans were transported to the Kochav Yaakov settlement in the northern West Bank.
The residents of Bnei Adam initially refused to leave the outpost despite a compromise agreement initiated by Yesha Council Director Pinchas Wallerstein. However, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, head of the Bnei Akiva yeshivot, ruled that the residents of Bnei Adam must accept Benjamin Council head Avi Roeh's agreement that the three caravans in the outpost be evacuated voluntarily.
The ruling left the settles conflicted, as some agreed to a consensual evacuation and some still opposed it. A settlers' group calling itself "the committee for the cessation of the cooperation with the enemy" distributed flyers throughout the West Bank calling on settlers to disregard the ruling.
"Rabbi Haim Drukman has no authority to make any decision concerning the settlement of the Land of Israel," said the flyers.
Wallerstein said the transfer of the families to the Kochav Yaakov "helped strengthen the settlement enterprise in the West Bank and dispel rumors of a settlement freeze."
Itzik Shadmi of the Binyamin Settlers' Committee told Ynet, "I regret what happened here tonight and sympathize with the families, (of Bnei Adam) who could not withstand the pressure.
"We promise to continue to fight for every caravan in the West Bank," he said.
Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer called the evacuation of the caravans was a "cosmetic" move.
"The settlers are not giving up on any caravan and are taking advantage of this evacuation to expand the Kochav Yaakov settlement," he added.
