Ofra residents: postpone the evacuation
The Supreme Court determined that nine houses in Ofra which were built on private Palestinian land should be demolished; The residents are requesting a postponement.
The residents claim that the housesthey are supposed to move into won't be ready on time. The appeal stated: "Ever since the demolition order, the residents didn't stand idly by, and began pushing toward the implementation of the verdict; they reviewed properalternatives for relocation, and eventually decided to purchase new structures for their families in Ofra. The process of completing the construction of the new houses has been delayed and it is still in progress. They will be completed in three months at the latest."
It is important to note that since it is not a State requested postponement but rather one submitted by residents, the chances of it being accepted are not very high. In response to the request, President of the Supreme Court Miriam Naor asked both sides to submit their responses by next Monday.
About two weeks ago, Ofra residents came to the Knesset to try and prevent the planned move. In a letter they distributed in the hallways of the Knesset, they stated: "we demand changing the land's status once and for all. The helplessness and inaction of the government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not make us yield in the face of the Israeli government's move to demolish houses in Ofra."
An Ofra official added by saying that "those who ignore Ofra and come riding in on a bulldozer – will be welcomed with a fierce fight."
At the beginning of next week, the Ofra residents will go on a hunger strike in front of the government's buildings. In addition, the efforts of the Amona residents to find a proper solution after the agreement they signed is on the brink of failure is still ongoing. Yesterday, Amona residents assembled Rabbis and right-wing officials calling to everyone to renew the fight and show up at the outpost on command.
