BS”D

Thursday, 10th of Sivan 5772, 31/5/2012

Press release – This morning: Women in Green and the Netzer Gar’in have filed an appeal against the uprooting of trees in Netzer

The Women in Green organization and the Netzer Gar’in filed a written appeal and a request for a temporary injunction against the Commissioner of Governmental and Abandoned Property in order to prevent the uprooting of the planted trees in Netzer, Gush Etzion, located between Elazar and Alon Shvut. As may be recalled, yesterday (Wednesday), we were officially informed that the Civil Administration intends to uproot all of the hundreds of Jewish trees that have been planted in the Netzer hills throughout recent years.

In the petition, the appellants claim they did not receive an eviction order. All they received was a notification that was passed to them נט פיםמק via Head of Gush Etzion Regional Council, Mr. Davidi Perl.

In addition, the appeal states that a year and a half ago a document had been signed stating that we are not claiming ownership over the land or the planted trees. This document was transferred to the Administration by Shaul Goldstein, former Head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council.

Also, all the planting were performed on state lands and not on private Arab properties. The plantings were carried out for one purpose only – to prevent the Arab takeover of the same lands.

As is known, the Palestinian Authority has declared Agricultural war throughout the “C” territories and backed by tremendous international funding, has been taking over thousands of acres of state and survey lands, with the intention of stifling the Jewish communities.

Quote from the appeal:

“Our actions so far speak for themselves and indicate our good faith and pure intentions to preserve state and national lands for Am Yisra’el, the People of Israel, something the respondent was supposed to perform.

Furthermore it should be noted that the area is adjacent to the Alon Shvut and Elazar communities, in a location that will be used for the Jewish expansion in the future anyway (if the Arabs do not take over it following the implementation, heaven forbid, of the eviction order), as well as the fact that we are willing to clear it in the eventuality that the respondent decides to make use of the land for construction etc.

In light of the above, there is no real reason or point in evicting and uprooting the trees from the ground and it is governmental arbitrariness devoid of any purpose.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the uprooting of the trees will create a security risk and will encourage an increased Arab takeover. Many times Arabs accompanied by international anarchist activists create provocations and attack the Jewish travelers in the region. Uprooting the trees will only increase the tensions and create a security risk. If the respondent will insist on the implementation of the eviction we will claim undisputed processing and possession for nearly 10 years, and we will request to register the land in the name of the Gush Etzion Regional Council.

In conclusion, we request the intervention of the distinguished committee, in order to cancel the eviction order.”

Attached is the appeal.

Last night Women in Green and Netzer activists informed the residents of the Judea region by phone message of the administration’s intentions and added: “There is a concern that Ehud Barak and the Civil Administration’s trend of uprooting the trees, due to international pressure, is meant to prevent a Jewish continuum between the communities by abandoning the lands and hills to the hands of the Arabs.

We will be continuing our activities in the Netzer hills.
A week ago we were requested to put the planed plantings on hold due to negotiations being held to cancel the uprooting decree. We agreed. But since we were informed today that the Administration insists on carrying out the uprooting – we will all come B”H this Friday to the plantings being held at Netzer at 9:00 am next to the lower pergola. Aloh Na’aleh Ve’Ya’rashnu Otah. We shall rise forth and inherit Her (the Land of Israel).”

For details please contact:
Yehudit Katsover 050-7161818
Nadia Matar 050-5500834

Below is a link to a clip about the Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day, celebrations in Netzer with the participation of Nobel Prize Laureate Yisrael Auman, Head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council Davidi Perl and hundreds of supporters:

Attached is a picture of one of the many fields in Netzer

Link to video channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/NashimbeYarok

netzer-2012.doc