Homesh
HomeshCourtesy of Homesh First

The state has submitted its response to the petition to the Supreme Court requesting an order to vacate the Yeshiva in Homesh.

The state's answer states that since the Supreme Court issued a conditional order, the state decided to recognize the construction, transferred the ownership of the surrounding state lands to the Samaria Regional Council, and that procedures are underway to approve construction.

"Following the amendments to the legislation and the security legislation relevant to our case, the prohibition of Israelis staying in the area by virtue of the Law of Disengagement is no longer in effect. This means that there is no legal impediment to the very presence of Israelis on state land in the area."

"The intention of the political echelon is to recognize the permanent stay of the Yeshiva in the place, on state land. To this end, the area of ​​state land was added to the territory of the Samaria Regional Council, and the Samaria Regional Council was given permission to plan this area, and a program for the plan was even submitted to the Planning Bureau, regarding which a professional discussion is already underway."

With regard to the private Palestinian lands, it is written that "the construction used by the Yeshiva that was located on private lands in the Homesh area was removed, although a new building used for the needs of this Yeshiva was erected in the adjacent area, on regulated state land."

It is also written that "currently there is no obstacle for the owners of the private lands to access their lands", therefore, "the state's position is that there is no room for the honorable court's intervention in the actions of the state".

The left-wing organization Yesh Din commented: "Contrary to an explicit commitment given to the Supreme Court, the government seeks to establish a permanent settlement and officially admits for the first time that it is returning to establish settlements that were evacuated during the secession. The state's response is an example of the implementation of the policy of annexation and apartheid: while the political echelon cooperates with an act of criminality, the state goes out of its way to reward criminals and establish a permanent settlement on the lands of the village of Burqa, while completely ignoring the property rights and security of the Palestinian landowners. Even if the buildings were moved a few meters to state land, this does not change the threat that hovers over any Palestinian who seeks to exercise his rights and cultivate his land there."

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, said, "This is the beginning of a moral and, above all, just correction of values. In the end, justice prevails, even if it is delayed. It will come. The settlement in northern Samaria is the security barrier of the entire State of Israel. This is the right Zionist act at this time."

Benny Gal, who had previously been expelled from Homesh, commented, "We are happy to see that the State of Israel is re-recognizing the settlement and security importance of Homesh. Whoever controls Homesh controls the entire coastal plain. We are confident that the State of Israel will continue with the settlement procedures."

Shmuel Vandi, CEO of the Homesh Yeshiva, said, "This year, we have advanced another step in correcting the injustice. We are happy that the State of Israel is doing the obvious, we expect the government to formally recognize the return to all the settlements of Northern Samaria and Gush Katif soon."