The Regavim movement and the Gush Etzion Regional Council today (Tuesday) sent a letter to Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and the Commander of the Central Command, Major General Avi Balut, demanding action against illegal structures built on state land along the planned route of the access road to the settlement of 'Bar Kochba' in northern Gush Etzion.
According to Regavim, in light of the importance of the area over the years, it has been the focus of repeated attempts by the Palestinian Authority to take over, through the construction of illegal structures, the paving of roads - and even declaring the place a Palestinian heritage site.
In the summer of 2024, the political-security cabinet announced the series of five settlements in the young settlement, including the settlement of 'Chaletz', located in the north of Gush Etzion in a strategic location that completes a contiguity to Jerusalem and effectively prevents Arab territorial contiguity between the villages of Walaja, Batir, Husan and the city of Bethlehem.
Later, the settlement received the biblical name 'Bar Kochba' due to its proximity to Beitar, the historic city of Bar Kochba, and a new blue line was declared for it, covering an area of approximately 600 dunams.
With the cabinet's decision to establish the settlement, the terrorist organization Hamas called for increased terrorist activities: Harun Nasser ad-Din, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said that the establishment of the new settlement in Gush Etzion expresses "the Israeli desire to accelerate the annexation and expulsion plan of the Palestinians.".
The letter claims that enforcement against illegal structures should be promoted as a priority because they actually prevent the ability to develop the planned settlement.
They also demanded that the Regevs take criminal proceedings against the perpetrators as required by law.
Roy Drucker, Judea and Samaria coordinator at Regavim: "The connection between Etzion and Zion is a Zionist and strategic connection of the highest order. The Palestinian Authority's attempts to establish facts on the ground were met after years of struggle with a determined and dramatic response from the government. Now, the obligation is to complete the process of demolishing the structures that have enjoyed too many years of being ignored and are effectively preventing the establishment and consolidation of the Bar Kochba settlement for the glory of the State of Israel.""
Head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Yaron Rosenthal: "The illegal Arab construction along the roads and settlements in Gush Etzion is a direct threat to the settlement and the security of the residents. The council is acting and will continue to act resolutely to stop any attempt to take over state lands.".
""The establishment of the Bar Kochba settlement is a strategic Zionist move of the highest order, and we expect the security establishment to ensure its development by demolishing the illegal structures that threaten it. Gush Etzion will continue to fight resolutely for the settlement, the law, and the future of the entire region.""
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