Defense Ministry Plans on Establishing New Israeli Settlement in West Bank

[Israeli]

The new community is intended for those currently living in the Amona outpost, which is slated for evacuation and demolition by the end of the year.

Chaim Levinson May 07, 2016

The Defense Ministry, together with the settlement movement Amana, is planning a new settlement near Shiloh in the northern West Bank. The new construction is intended for the 40 families now living in the outpost of Amona, which is set to be evacuated by the end of the year.

The settlement's architectural plans, obtained by Haaretz, show that it will be built on state lands near the outpost of Geulat Zion, which has been focal point of violence against Palestinians. Geulat Zion was the home of Amiram Ben-Uliel, charged with the arson-murder of the Dawabsheh family in the Palestinian village of Duma. The police frequently carry out demolition orders in the outpost.

The planning of the settlement is meant to dispel opposition to the evacuation of Amona. It will have 139 housing units, and Amana’s secretary general, Zeev Hever, could sell about 90 of them on the open market.

Hever was questioned under caution by the police last month on suspicion of fraud.

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