Soon: "Khan al-Ahmar 2"

According to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, "in the very near future," the state of Israel will enforce the Supreme Court ruling and evacuate the illegal Bedouin outpost, known as the Khan al Ahmar. Now it has become clear that another Bedouin outpost, built with EU funding just a few meters from Khan al Ahmar and the subject of two separate petitions of the Court supreme, is about to become the last front of the long battle for control of the region of Adumim.

In 2015, the Regavim organization, which takes legal action against illegal Arab constructions on Israeli national lands, asked the Ministry of Defense to enforce the demolition orders issued for this illegal outpost. At the time, the Ministry of Defense had announced that the group of illegal structures was at the top of the list of priorities in the fight against fraud and that it would be demolished shortly. The Palestinians have asked the Supreme Court to freeze the demolition and Regavim has filed a counterclaim asking the Defense Ministry to honor its commitments.

Last week, the state responded to the Palestinians' request, informing the Supreme Court that the Ministry of Defense and residents of the squatter camp had agreed to negotiations, examining options to legalize the outpost in its current location or exploring possible relocation sites. if necessary. Residents, who are represented in the Supreme Court by lawyers from the Palestinian Authority, have indicated that they only wish to negotiate for the legalization of the outpost in its current location and that They would not consider any relocation offer.

Regavim said he was shocked by the reversal of the Department of Defense's policy, since the outpost in question is located in the middle of a crossroad on the road to Route 45, a interurban route approved several years ago. Legalizing the outpost in its current location, or even allowing protracted negotiations, would mean that the plans for Route 45 will have to be completely abandoned or, at least, deferred for many years.

At the recent press conference called to announce his resignation from the post of Defense Minister, Avigdor Liberman criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to "postpone" Khan al-Ahmar's evacuation; nevertheless, it is now clear that the policy of the Ministry of Defense has been reversed under the leadership of Liberman.

It should also be remembered that after the announcement of the mbadive expansion project of the Arab city of Kalkilya, the Cabinet announced that it would no longer be allowed to the civil administration to formulate or pursue construction projects in the Palestinian sector without Cabinet approval, particularly in the country. areas of strategic importance, near Israeli communities or along major highways. In the case of "Khan al Ahmar 2" – which Liberman himself has authorized to pursue – the three conditions stipulated by the Cabinet are applicable.

Yishai Hemo, director of Regavim operations in Judea and Samaria, pointed out that "the network of illegal outposts along Highway 1 is not just a randomly illegal construction at which the state closes the eyes; it is an illegal outpost, as the Ministry of Defense Admitted, tools in the calculated and systematic program of the Palestinian Authority seizure of land in strategic locations, aimed at stifling growth Jewish communities and take control of Area C. "

"The fact that the Defense Ministry led by Avigdor Liberman is willing to negotiate the legalization of the outposts in this type of venue is equivalent to the Israeli approval of Palestinian control of these areas," Hemo said. "The State of Israel can not allow Palestinians to control Highway 1."

The Supreme Court should hear motions regarding "Khan al Ahmar 2" in the coming weeks.