Disengagement Law in Shomron On Its Way Out

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – The Knesset voted on Wednesday to give preliminary approval to repeal of part of the 2005 Disengagement Law which led to the evacuation of four towns in the Shomron along with all the Israeli communities and military posts in the Gaza Strip.

While the measure will have no effect in Gaza, where the evacuated areas were taken over by Palestinians under Hamas rule, it does aim to enable Israelis to return to those places in the Shomron, in particular the outpost of Homesh and a yeshiva that has been built there. Activists have tried repeatedly to reestablish the site since 2005, but security forces have dismantled their temporary structures and evicted them.

The bill, approved by a vote of 62-36, was introduced by MK Yuli Edelstein and Minister Orit Strock at the urging of Shomron Regional Council chairman Yossi Dagan, who was himself an evacuee from one of the towns in northern Shomron in 2005.

Edelstein told Arutz Sheva following the vote: “The terrorism in Yehuda and Shomron concerns us, especially the terrorism in northern Shomron. This doesn’t surprise me. The most logical explanation is that where there is no civilian population, over time it will become very difficult to maintain effective control over that area.”‘

He added: “While we are dealing with important things, an even more important process is taking place right under our noses. The Palestinians, with the encouragement and support of the European Union, are eating away at Area C and establishing facts on the ground. Once they manage to establish a fact – it is very difficult to change it. Look at what has been happening for years with Khan al-Ahmar.

“We need to go back there and lead the construction in all the regions of the homeland and provide the infrastructure for the residents who determine with their bodies and homes the borders of the State of Israel,” Edelstein said.

The bill will be referred to committee for review and then returned to the plenum for final voting.