Israel stalls on future of flashpoint West Bank outpost

Analysis: Bennett's coalition ignores agreement reached with settlers to work towards establishing a yeshiva at Evyatar outpost after settlers vacated site in favor of military presence

Elisha Ben Kimon|
In 10 days it will have been a year since a compromise agreement with the West Bank settlers was singed to end the stalemate over an illegal flashpoint outpost of Evyatar.
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  • This was the first major hurdle the newly established government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had faced.
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     גבעת אביתר
     גבעת אביתר
    Evyatar outpost
    (Photo: Reuters)
    According to the agreement, the settlers who had gathered there agreed to leave with the assurance that the government would review the legal ownership of the land claimed by Palestinians, in order to allow an establishment of a yeshiva there.
    According to the agreement, signed by Bennett and Defense Minister Benny Gantz with and the settler leadership, an IDF unit would be e there until a final determination is made.
    Those who supported the agreement claimed it offered the best case scenario, and those against it blamed the settlers' representatives for giving in to the "leftist government".
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     גבעת אביתר
     גבעת אביתר
    Evyatar outpost
    (Photo: Reuters)
    The Evyatar outpost was illegally established by fierce ideological settlers in May 2021, in response to the murder of 19-year-old Yehuda Guetta in a terrorist attack at the Tapuach Junction in the West Bank in 2021.
    Despite expectations, and after the Defense Ministry determined there was state owned land that could be dedicated to the yeshiva, there has been no progress on the ground.
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     גבעת אביתר
     גבעת אביתר
    Evyatar outpost
    (Photo: Reuters)
    The agreement influenced the status quo in West Bank settlements, with security authorities increasing their activity against other illegal outposts.
    The government is clearly in violation of their agreement with the settlers when it comes to Evyatar since the outpost remains a closed military area, populated by soldiers.
    It is also a point of contention among members of the current coalition - already struggling to keep a hold on power.
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