Soccer Dad

No natural growth at ramat gilad

A friend who lives near Ramat Gilad writes:

Ramat Gilad, located just north of Karnei Shomron, was established in 2001. It was named in memory of Gilad Zar, who was murdered by Palestinian terrorists while on a security patrol nearby. Gilad's father, Moshe, had already built a home nearby before the murder. Shortly afterwards, Moshe Zar's daughter and her family (including her 11 children) moved into one of six caravans that had been set up by the Yesha Council. Other families moved into the remaining caravans.

Avraham

Now that I have that background, I remembered that though this land is considered an "outpost" it was purchased by Moshe Zar.

The Zars are no strangers to Eretz Yisrael. Moshe Zar fought with Arik Sharon in the famed hundred and first brigade, stamping out Arab terror in the 1950s. Later, the Zars were amongst the first Jewish residents of the Shomron. Moshe Zar purchased thousands of acres of land in the Shomron, land instrumental to further Jewish settlement in the region. In an attempt to stop his continued land purchases, Arab terrorists attacked Moshe Zar, almost killing him. That did not stop him.

Since their son's murder, the Zars have not sat quietly by. Together with their daughter-in-law Hagar, they initiated a new community called Ramat Gilad, in the Shomron. They have continued to further the cause they believe in more than all, settling the Land of Israel.

Still the Israeli government apparently objects to this privately purchased land.

At the request of many of the citizens, I am writing these lines for the purpose of including you in the information and actions we have taken and to present my evaluation of the subject.

We all hear the news and feel the way the wind is blowing from the the Obama government/US, and the atmosphere that is being created in the media, by the Minister of Defense and the reactions of the Prime Minister.

This week, notices were posted in Ramat Gilad, of an order to set limits, which extended the previous order (read: order to destroy the buildings).

On Tuesday, a stop work order was issued in Alonei Shilo, to stop the work on the new line of electricity which was being laid between Emanuel and Karnei Shomron (via Alonei Shilo). (This order was cancelled about an hour later due to our vigorous actions.)

It appears that they are trying to take a hard line against the settlements in any way they can, to show the world some action.

Two weeks ago, we instituted a forum of the Mayors of the Western Shomron settlements, in which the participants include the Mayors of Elkana, Moetza Ezorit Shomron, Emanuel, Kedumim and Karnei Shomron. I was asked to head this Forum. This forum represents settlements which include over 60,000 people. The land in these settlements includes thousands of dunams and industrial areas which employ thousands of workers - Jewish and Arab, many of which play a big part in Israeli exports. This is despite the size of the Palestinian population in the area.

VIPs from all the various parts of the political rainbow have already been invited to visit the Western Shomron Bloc. The Chairman of the Knesset, Ruby Rivlin has already selected a date for his visit. Others include the Chairman of the Coalition, MK Zeev Elkin, as well as Ministers from various other parties (Shas, Yisrael Beitenu, Likud, Ichud HaLeumi and HaBayit Hayehudi).

The purpose of these visits is to have them see from close up, the needs, the problems and the alternative solutions to the building freeze and to the topic of the "outposts".

On the topic of the order limiting Ramat Gilad, we have taken a number of actions:

1. A letter was sent to the Aluf Pikud (Command General - sorry, I don't know the translations of the ranks... Leah) who signed the order, in which we are appealing the validity and legality of the order.
2. A meeting was held with the residents of Ramat Gilad in which they were updated with all the information available to us.
3. Meetings were held with the Minister for Strategic Issues, Boogy Yaalon and the Chairman of the Coalition, Zeev Elkin as well as other MKs. Each of them promised that no action would be taken without prior discussion.
4. In the meeting which was held with the Prime Minister's office, it was clarified that no action would be taken without discussion.

None of this guarantees that there will not be a distraction, we will discuss on one hand while on the other, they will come to destroy the buildings in Ramat Gilad - a neighborhood of Karnei Shomron. We hope we will succeed in avoiding a confrontation, destruction and expulsion by talking and presenting the facts to negate the false (lying) arguments.

I call on all of the public to be aware, and if God forbid it becomes clear that this is indeed a distraction tactic, to join in the struggle for Ramat Gilad - the most important strategic asset of Karnei Shomron. Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to contact the MKs and Ministers of the government, to express your shock, that at a time that missiles are still falling on the cities around Gaza, the government is demanding to destroy an entire neighborhood of Karnei Shomron.

It is important that everyone remember that this action is threatening a neighborhood that is inseparable from Karnei Shomron. In light of the importance of this, we expect that everyone will do their best, and come personally to express their opposition to this threat to Karnei Shomron. The more people that join in this struggle, the higher the chance that the struggle will be successful from a political standpoint.

Sincerely,

Herzl Ben-Ari, Mayor

The latest information is that the Israeli government apparently acting to impress the American government is intending to dismantle Ramat Gilad at 7 AM (Israel time) Monday, June 1.

I would note that in response to terror Israelis build.

UPDATE: Much more at the Muqata.