Now let's return to the discussion at hand.
Was the hilltop upon which Amona is situated, populated and inhabited by Arabs prior to the Jews settling the hilltop or was it an empty hilltop with no Arabs living or claiming to live there?
It is difficult to overestimate the tremendous role this lot of abandoned Arab property has played in the settlement of hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants who have reached Israel since the proclamation of the state in May 1948. Forty-seven new rural settlements established on the sites of abandoned Arab villages had by October 1949 already absorbed 25,255 new immigrants. By the spring of 1950 over 1 million dunams had been leased by the custodian to Jewish settlements and individual farmers for the raising of grain crops.
Large tracts of land belonging to Arab absentees have also been leased to Jewish settlers, old and new, for the raising of vegetables. In the south alone, 15,000 dunams of vineyards and fruit trees have been leased to cooperative settlements; a similar area has been rented by the Yemenites Association, the Farmers Association, and the Soldiers Settlement and Rehabilitation Board. This has saved the Jewish Agency and the government millions of dollars. While the average cost of establishing an immigrant family in a new settlement was from $7,500 to $9,000, the cost in abandoned Arab villages did not exceed $1,500 ($750 for building repairs and $750 for livestock and equipment).
Abandoned Arab dwellings in towns have also not remained empty. By the end of July 1948, 170,000 people, notably new immigrants and ex-soldiers, in addition to about 40,000 former tenants, both Jewish and Arab, had been housed in premises under the custodian's control; and 7,000 shops, workshops and stores were sublet to new arrivals. The existence of these Arab houses-vacant and ready for occupation-has, to a large extent, solved the greatest immediate problem which faced the Israeli authorities in the absorption of immigrants. It also considerably relieved the financial burden of absorption.[28
Fast Fwd: A Jubilee ago, 50 years ago, in June 1967, Israel was attacked by her enemies surrounded on all sides and they fought and miraculously won. They recaptured East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria our ancient and Biblical Homeland.
Yet the rules that allowed Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to be resettled by Jews in 1948, somehow didn't apply to the resettlement of Jews in Judea and Samaria. After 1967, it becomes an illegal act to settle these hilltops. Thank you Defense Minister Lieberman for highlighting the inconsistencies of Israel Law within the green line and outside of the green line. We want you to take this battle to the end. It is not just about Amona. It is about each and every hilltop and each and every home that did not get a proper permit which is slated for destruction because it is situation on Land that Israel reclaimed in the 6 Day War. .
There is an unfair double standard regarding Jewish Settlement in Judea and Samaria.
Why are we shocked when the Nations of the World apply a double standard on Israel?
Let us discuss what happened in 1776 The American Revolution:
Many years ago, Native Indians settled North America including what is now known as the United States of America. Columbus came from Europe and then boatloads followed. Pioneers came and settled and inhabited the New Country. The 13 colonies were established under British rule.
Then the British mistreated the Colonists with intolerable acts. There was taxation without representation. (Not nearly as horrific as the intolerable acts perpetrated against the defenseless youth of Amona). So the Colonists fought back and won a just war against the British.
Does America need to demolish new homes built by the Colonists on property once owned by Britain or Native Americans? Obviously this is a rhetorical question and the answer is obvious.
Back to the subject at hand....
Lieberman's current leadership has not changed the ongoing harassment of the hilltop youth. The latest outrage is this 15 year old kid, a minor, who is not allowed to live at home with his parents in the Shomron. Basically they are throwing him to the streets and distancing him from his parents. Now there is a bench campaign organized by advocates sweeping the country, with signs all over the country, that is raising consciousness about the homelessness of this 15 year old kid entitled "This Bench Belongs to the Minor from Yitzhar" http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/this-bench-belongs-to-the-minor-from-yitzhar/2016/06/22/
People are beginning to distrust Lieberman like they did Yaalon. He is pandering to Obama reassuring the Administration of his commitment to a 2 State Solution knowing fully well that Judea and Samaria should be under Jewish Sovereignty and not the Sovereignty of a Palestinian leader who is blood libeling Israel accusing them of poisoning Palestinians. Lieberman is just another politician, on Netanyahu's team who continues in their intolerable treatment and harassment against the hilltop youth.
Perhaps this bench campaign makes Lieberman look bad. His tough stand reputation is undergoing an about face as is typical once a right winger accepts a political leadership position.
Along comes Arutz7 and reports that Lieberman is going to help save Amona. Everyone will now be grateful to Lieberman for not allowing Amona to be demolished and once again Lieberman can be counted as a Nationalist... a nice save face for Lieberman....
Posted on Arutz7:
Solution for Amona found?
Nationalist MKs looking into use of absentee property laws to prevent demolition of Samarian community.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/214170#.V3HTcfkrJdg
On Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben Dahan visited Amona along with a number of Jewish Home activists.
According to the Ben Dahan, the Defense Minister was actively looking for a solution which would obviate the need for an evacuation.
"Defense Minister Liberman has issued a directive to the relevant officials to make every possible effort to prevent the evacuation of Amona."
"I'm certain," Ben Dahan continued, "that the Prime Minister has also issued a clear directive to the same effect to prevent Amona's evacuation. I'm making every effort to ensure that that happens [a solution for Amona]."
My message to Lieberman... Thank you for your efforts but you can't get off the hook so easy....Here again are my recommendations:
- APOLOGIZE to the community and victims of the brutal Amona attack of 2006, and especially to the HILLTOP YOUTH. Admit that the Government of Israel under Olmert was wrong.
- Compensate for pain and suffering.
- Aid Jewish Settlement and growth in Amona
- Dismantle the Nationalist Crimes Unit
- Do away with Jewish Administrative detention and conduct a fair investigation of Shabak and the Judicial System that have slandered and prosecuted and incarcerated and tortured Jewish Hilltop youth. ( Administrative Detention for both Jew and Arab alike must have a firm and reasonable justification. Otherwise Administrative Detention violates basic human rights.)
- Advocate annexing Amona and the rest of Judea and Samaria to Israel.
