Outpost Campaign Targets Minister Hershkowitz

A new poster has been spotted on the issue of the dismantlement expected of Givat Assaf and other communities built on land the late King Hussein distributed to certain local residents to curry their favor and upon which nothing had been built nor had any agriculutral use been made of that land:

It asks that Minister Hershkowitz be pressured to inform PM Netanyahu that his party will leave the government before any dismantlement occurs, not after.

He seems to be getting the message. So does his party comrade, Uri Ohrbach. And their faction member Michael ben-Ari tore into Benny Begin today.

Netanyahu, however, seems determined to have his coalition break up:

After announcing his intention to set up a team that would examine the possibility of retroactively legalizing construction in some West Bank outposts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, "The effort should focus on bolstering the communities, not clashing with the law. It is forbidden to build on anyone's private land."

..."We must build in accordance with the law, thus strengthening the Land of Israel. There is no contradiction between the (settlement enterprise) and upholding the law," Netanyahu added.

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said he objects to the destruction of outposts in the West Bank because, according to him, there is "no proof of ownership and because the structures were erected by the state in good faith.  The homes were built by the government, and destroying them would be the wrong solution," he added.

Knesset members Miri Regev and Yariv Levin also criticized Netanyahu's remarks, with Levin claiming that "judicial elements are dictating a political viewpoint that is preventing the government from governing. There is a simple solution to the problem, and the government must not destroy (outposts)."

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said during the meeting, "(The State) builds homes, a Palestinian casts doubt (over their legality) and someone petitions the High Court of Justice. It is enough that someone casts the slightest doubt for the State to become defensive and seal the communities' fate."

Netanyahu responded by saying: "Why must I destroy these homes? Is it required (from a legal standpoint)? I can offer compensation."

Steinitz continued to say that "we are making families miserable – not for a peace agreement and not for justice. It is morally and legally wrong. As someone who has researched the events at Amona – we will be subjecting ourselves to unnecessary tension and division."

We wait.

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