Settlers worry Amona and Ofra evacuations might be combined
The evacuation of Amona is slated to be carried out by the end of the year, and the destruction of nine houses in nearby Ofra is due to happen by next February; however, Israeli security forces are looking to save time and energy in fighting opposing settlers by combining both operations, much to settlers' chagrin.
After the government petitioned the to postpone the Amona settlement's evacuation, settlers are concerned that the IDF and Israel Police will also evict the nine houses slated for demolition in the settlement of Ofra at the same time. This due to an initiative presented by both security organizations, which requests to go ahead with both evacuations simultaneously.
The initiative to combine both events was explained by security forces as technically possible due to the proximity of the settlements—both of whom are located in the West Bank—and the fact that evacuating Ofra is not expected to run into significant opposition. Another reason for the dual move would be, according to the petitioners, would minimize the length of time that the settlers would have to deal with the events and harsh feelings that they would evoke. The political echelon, in any case, is currently considering the request.
While such a move would mitigate the trouble security force would expectedly have to deal with during evacuation, it raised resistance from settlers, who feel that combining both struggles would take away from the deep meaning that each evacuation will have within the settler community.
"The settlement of Ofra expects the prime minister and ministers Shaked (justice minister) and Lieberman (foreign minister) to exercise their authority and approve this coming Sunday the "Regulation Bill," so Jews will not be evacuated from their homes, just because of a judicial mishap that occurred while they were being established. It's time for the government to unite both permits, and not the evacuations. It's time to end the judicial injustice and stop the destruction machine acting in the name of an immoral and indecent law," said Ofra residents.
