Migron (Israeli settlement)
Migron
| |
|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| District | Judea and Samaria Area |
| Council | Mateh Binyamin |
| Region | West Bank |
| Founded | 1999 (re-founded in 2001) |
Migron (Hebrew: מגרון) is an unauthorized Israeli settlement founded in 1999 and re-founded in 2001 according to the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council.[1] Migron is 5 kilometers north of Jerusalem in the jurisdiction of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council in the northern West Bank.[2][3] On August 2nd, 2011, Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling ordering the state to dismantle the outpost by April 2012.[2]
Migron is the largest unauthorized settlement in the West Bank and home to approximately 50 families.[2] It is situated just off Highway 60 between Ofra and the Shaar Binyamin Industrial Park and was named after the village Migron mentioned in Isaiah 10:28 as being a village somewhere on the route between Ai and Mikhmas that the Assyrian army advanced along.[4][5]
According to the Sasson Report, based on the brigade commander of the area, "Migorn was established a few days prior to Operation Defensive Shield in April 2002. At first a request for a cellular radio tower on the hill top was filed. At that time there was a wave a of deadly terrorist attacks around the country. The Israel Defence Forces could not deny the request that would have improved communication with the place especially given the need for emergency contact with casualties, and all this in spite of fact that the land for which the request was filed was private Palestinian land." The report also relates that 'some time later five caravans were placed next to the radio tower and though he was told that the caravans have no authorization neither was he given authorization to evacuate them. The report also says that the infrastructure for Migron was fully funded by the Housing Ministry at the cost of four million NIS, even though these were private Palestinian lands, with no statutory planning and no cabinet decision regarding the construction. [6]
In July 2008, questions were raised as to the ownership of some of the land that Migron stands on. According to a news report, Abd Allatif Hassan Sumarin, who supposedly sold a plot of land to Al Wattan Ltd in 2004, allegedly died in 1961.(Al Wattan is owned by the Binyamin Regional Council).[7]
The settlers of Migron have been preparing for the evacuation of the settlement since Ariel Sharon announced the dismantling of the settlement in 2003.[8] On 11 August 2008 the settler leadership voted to move on to an undeveloped area of a nearby settlement, an Israeli Defense Ministry proposal to relocate the unauthorized Migron outpost.[9][10] From the Sasson Report it was concluded that more than 4 million NIS of public funds were improperly invested in the outpost.[11] On 17 December 2006, the Israeli Government, responding to a petition from Palestinians from Deir Dibwan and Burqa claiming to own some of the land upon which Migron is located, concluded that there was never any authorization from any official granting its establishment. In addition the Israeli State admitted the outpost stands on private Palestinian land. After Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to evacuate the unauthorized outpost of Migron the Israeli State Prosecution informed the Israeli High Court of Justice of the decision.[12][13][14] A defense official said in August 2008 that the settlers would be moved to new homes in a nearby settlement, however construction of new homes could take months.[15]
On August 2nd, 2011, Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling ordering the state to dismantle the outpost by April 2012. It is the first time the Supreme Court has ordered the state to dismantle an outpost in the West Bank.[2]
References
- ^ Mateh Binyamin Regional Council profile Migron
- ^ a b c d Levinson, Chaim (2 August 2011). "Israel's Supreme Court orders state to dismantle largest West Bank outpost". Haaretz. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ Ha'aretz 7 February 2008 Migron founders: Gov't okayed, funded settlement By Nadav Shragai
- ^ Isaiah 10 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre
- ^ Carl Friedrich Keil (1857 Digitized 21 Sep 2007) Translated by James Martin Commentary on the Book of Joshua p 181
- ^ The Sasson Report, pages 105-107
- ^ Ha'aretz 8 July 2008 Murky dealings over Migron By Uri Blau
- ^ Israelinsider.com 17 December, 2003 Settlers prepare for "last stand" at unauthorized Migron outpost By Ellis Shuman
- ^ Jpost 4 August 2008 Adam settlement to accept Migron families By Tovah Lazaroff
- ^ Jpost 12 August 2008 Settler leaders agree to move Migron By Tovah Lazaroff
- ^ USA Today 14 August 2005 No one knows full cost of Israel's settlement ambitions Associated Press
- ^ Peace now
- ^ Ha'aretz 23 January 2008 State: Migron outpost to be evacuated within six months By Yuval Yoaz
- ^ Jpost 7 August 2008 Settlers leaders to vote on moving Migron outpost By Tovah Lazaroff
- ^ Ha'aretz 12 August 2008 Government to move illegal outpost Migron to existing settlement By Reuters