A group of young children parade in a circle, waving Israeli flags against the clear blue sky. They are directed by several youth leaders who are trying to keep the kids in line. It is a few days before Israel's Independence Day and Migron is preparing for the upcoming festive ceremony held for the entire community.
Some of the mothers come out to watch their children perform. Among them stands Aviela Deitch, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who has been living for the past year in Migron, a tiny community of 49 families, located 14 miles north of Jerusalem. She lives in a small mobile home, with her husband and six children in a community considered "illegal" and "unauthorized," and even marked as a "wildcat outpost" by those who oppose its existence, and is subsequently described as such in much of the international press.
For Aviela, the terminology does not matter.
"We chose to live here because we wanted our children to know the responsibility of building a community in a place that has wonderful people," she explained.
"There is a certain quality of life in Migron and a very strong sense of community. The youth are bright and polite and their parents are involved. Our children attend great schools in nearby communities, while the younger ones go to Migron's community daycare and kindergarten. There is almost a zero- percent crime rate."
Established in 1999, Migron is made up of mostly young professional people who served in the IDF and national service and graduated from universities, with many now working in the fields of social work, special education, rehabilitation, elderly care, computer programming and mechanical engineering.
Until 2006, residents in Migron lived quietly, certain that their children would continue to flourish in a safe and happy environment embodied by the values of their community.
"I couldn't imagine raising my kids anywhere else," says Itay Harel, one of Migron's founders, who established the community 13 years ago.
But when the Israeli anti-settlement movement Peace Now, which aims to eliminate any Jewish presence in the West Bank (also known by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria), for a Palestinian state, claimed that Migron was settled on privately owned Palestinian land an unexpected battle began.
"Who are these organizations to dictate to us where our homes should be?" asks Harel. "We received the proper authorization to establish this community over a decade ago."
Migron residents claim that the Palestinians who "owned" the land were not even aware of this until Peace Now instigated the petition on behalf of the Palestinian land owners.
In an unprecedented ruling in August 2011, Israel's Supreme Court ruled in favor of Peace Now's attorney and ordered the government to evict the settlers. The evacuation and dismantling of Migron is scheduled to take place this summer in August.
However Itay Harel, one of Migron's founders, says that the land was barren when he first arrived. "No Arabs were even living in this area. There was nothing here when we came to set up this community, which was one reason why we chose to build here in the first place," he says, pointing out the rocky landscape.
Harel runs a horseback-riding therapy clinic with his wife for youth at risk. "Our clinic currently caters to 80 children from across the country, many of whom come from broken homes and could not fit in a traditional school system, have abused drugs and alcohol, as well as the physically-challenged. They are given necessary life-tools and skills through the therapeutic experience of learning to ride and maneuver horses."
An idealistic 38-year-old husband and father who studied social work at Hebrew University, Harel speaks at length about the Migron community with warmth. "I helped found Migron with the idea that it would serve as pillar for troubled youth."
The Israeli government also found Migron to be a necessary strategic development, as it stands upon a hill overlooking a busy main road in the valley that was the site of Palestinian shootings that left countless Israelis dead during the Second Intifada (2000-2005). Furthermore, the Israeli government set up the electrical lines, running water and the infrastructure for a functioning sewage and telephone system while also providing mobile homes for families, still in use today.
Come this August, Harel does not want to think about losing the home and the community that he has worked over a decade to build. "We've worked so hard this past year to get the government to postpone the court's decision. Every week I've visited the Knesset to try and ensure that Migron would continue."
Migron residents feel that the battle is not only with the government and courts but also with the press, both in Israel and internationally. Many feel they have been portrayed unfairly in the media.
"At the end of the day, I do my grocery shopping with Palestinians, I live alongside of them, and I never have any problems. No one wants a fight here," says Deitch. "But that's not what you usually read about us in the news."
"Sometimes reporters come with pre-conceived notions about our community and it's difficult to change that. I've found that my words have been altered completely in some news pieces and that's also frustrating.
"I have only one message to the world. I want to live in Migron so that I can raise my kids in this wonderful community. This is my home and I should have every right to do so," finishes Deitch.
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A shame that Ms Silverman didn't visit the Palestinian villages and compare the shortages of just about everything including water compared with Migron. Also a shame that she doesn't report on the extremely poor Palestinian villagers in the S. Hebron hills, whose homes, schools and solar power supplied by overseas agencies, may be demolished by the IDF in the next weeks.
If i come on to somebody else's private property, pitch tents in the garden & open up a rehab clinic for alcoholics in the Garage & turn the shed into a booth that serves soup to hungry people, guess what? That does not give the settlement any legitimacy, legally or morally.
It doesn't matter if no-one was around & it doesn't matter if you think the place is wonderful or how polite your kids are, they have still illegally settled on Palestinian land & set up an Israeli community, a violation with no respect or consideration for the Palestinians demising plight.
And simply saying "Who has the right to dictate to us where we build our homes." while illegally settling on what little territory the Palestinians have left, while the indigenous people are being wiped off the map, just shows that these settlers either have no consideration for the rights of others, or are just plain ignorant of their own history.
--The Jews are on no one's private land
--Israel intends to keep 3-4% of the West Bank in any future peace agreement. That leaves lots of property for the Palestinians.
--The Arabs/Palestinians have 99% of the Middle East. That such a fuss is made about every square inch of the remaining territory is astounding.
The residents of Migron are the victims in this and it is sad. If this narrative is indicative of the situation, they appear to be communicating well with the local Palestinian population which makes it even more ironic
We have run into this problem more than a few times in Canada where land that has been developed for many decades is determined to be owned by natives. The results are that either a rent is paid to the real owners, the land is purchased from the real owners or everyone moves.
Sadly, in this situation, everyone moves appears to be the only option as you can be sure that the Palestinian owners will be not be allowed to sell this land or cut any sort of deal. That is a huge shame.
If all refugees return to a Palestine, there could be at least 6 million people. In other words, there is not lots of property. Their fuss is as real as Israel's concerns regarding land for future populations. Why the Palestinians don't get on with it is what concerns me.
One of the residents mentioned in the article commented on this thread and explained how the land is available. It wouldn't be the first time the SC has bent over backwards to appease.
The woman featured in the article, who lives there, posted on this thread and stated that the land is free and clear. A man in the piece said when they arrived they didn't see one Arab. In any case, it wouldn't be the first time the S. Court went out of its way to appease the opposing side.
Well done, Israeli courts. People of migron, you had your day in court, you lost, go live somewhere else.
But the issue of what happens to which settlements cannot be dealt with until there is some prospect for lasting peace. Right now, most Israelis are cynical about Palestinian statehood delivering any real peace. Just as they were cynical about what the Arab Spring would morph into.
I hope we're both wrong.
The government petition, which asked the court to delay the scheduled evacuation of 30 homes in the Jewish settlement of Beit El, followed hard on the heels of an almost identical case in which the government told the court that it could not meet another repeatedly postponed deadline. That order was to demolish the illegal West Bank outpost of Migron.
In both cases, the court found that the structures were built on privately owned Palestinian land. In the Migron case, the Supreme Court rejected the government’s request — but still granted the government until August 1 to evacuate.
Related
“We are getting used to it,” said Dror Etkes, an anti-settlement activist. “The government waits until the last minute and then says that it can’t meet the deadline and needs more time. It’s unacceptable.”
But it is not only on settlement-related rulings that the government is failing to obey the Supreme Court. Other cases include a 2002 order for three municipalities to add Arabic to municipal signs, which Nazareth Illit, has failed to do.
In most Democracies, the word of the Supreme Court is holier than the Bible and must be implemented instantly.
In Israel, Netanyahu says he'll "submit the Court's opinion to his Government for consideration".
Hilarious.
There is no peace on horizon but there are quite a few Jewish victims of it.
It just goes against my sense of what can lead to peace - peaceful interaction between people.
I feel terrible for these people and wish they did not have to move.
This is the first time that the Supreme Court has ordered the evacuation of an outpost. So far the Court has refrained from issuing rulings, instead deliberately waiting for the State to evacuate the illegal outposts.
Supreme Court President Beinish wrote: "This court made every effort to find restraint and patience despite the blatant violations, due to the need to resolve issues peacefully among those involved. We also have a desire to avoid any political dispute between the petitioners and those involved who are vying for public opinion. .. however it is our job and it is our duty as judges to rule (decisions) "
Peace Now: the settlers must take responsibility for economic and social situation in the country, save the costs of evacuation, and immediately evacuate the outpost in a calm and orderly manner.
This case proves that the Israeli Supreme Court is forced to be the one that upholds the rule of law in the West Bank. It is now up to the government to deal with the problem that it itself created and prove that Israel is a democracy and not an anarchy – and to respect and ratify the decision.
What, they asked the palestinians? Thought not.
Settlements in themselves are not so problematic, what creates the problems is the way they behave - attacking their non-jewish neighbours and when there is retaliation , the IDF - not the police - swoop in and of course only take the side of the settlers, essentially making Palestinians prisoners or second class citizens in their own land.
The settlements are a red herring, absolutely correct. But your statements that the IDF (and it usually is border patrol or police and not front line units) always take the side of the settlers is pretty incorrect. I just got back from the west bank and I can tell you all about it if you'd like. And the implication that this makes the palestinians second class citizens in their own land is just infantile.
Though your ilk should be happy to note that the new commander of IDF central command (which has responsibility over the West Bank) is a renown leftist and opponent of the settlements.
In the west bank, an israel settler may vote in Israel elections which determine who the civilian leadership of the IDF will be - whether they be the Golani brigade or the border patrol. Palestinians do not have this right. The palestinians are ruled over by a military force who have ZERO accountability to them but are FULLY accountable to the settlers. Ergo the Palestinians are second class citizens in their own land - indeed the Israels presume to deny them ANY class of citizenship - of ANY land.
I will be happy to note that the new leader is a reknown "leftist" if that means he will treat the millions of Palestinian people with some modicum of humanity - something your "ilk" seem resolutely opposed to for some reason.
Me too.
Been to Hebron ?
Police, IDF, Border Patrol, call them what you like.
They are ALWAYS standing on the side of the Settlers.
Every one of them lived there before the Zi$$nist came.
You can even organize your own little safari there. Feels like holiday all year long.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4243882,00.html
As have Arabs, Christians, Crusaders, etc.
And the people you are referring to we're Israelites.
Not really the same as the Jews of today in Israel.
Or do these people have a 2000 year old property deed ?
The bible or Torah or whatever is not a viable one. Sorry.
Most Palestinian Elders who had to flee during the creation of the state of Israel still have their Keys AND Land deeds.
What a justification to go ahead and settle on someone else's land! I mean, a lot of Israel are barren and used. Can Palestinians go there and settle?