Official Jewish Population Stats in Yesha (West Bank)

 

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The numbers which appear below in the Official Population Statistics of Judea and Samaria (Yesha), AKA the West Bank, are not readily accessible to the general public. They come directly from the Population Registry of Israel's Interior Ministry and are painstakingly gathered and formulated by the office of Knesset Member Yaakov “Ketzaleh” Katz.

The growing number of Jews in Judea and Samaria is getting the attention of influential people. Despite headlines of world leaders planning a Palestinian State on Jew-free turf, a slow and quiet Jewish population explosion there has already rendered these designs wholly unrealistic.

As of June 30, 2012, there are over 350,000 Jews living in Judea and Samaria (not including the more than 300,000 in the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem which are also technically the West Bank).


Yes, Hillary Rodham. Just look at the official stats below.

 

As per the stats below, the facts on the ground are compelling: it's over; there will never be a Palestinian State in the middle of the Jewish Homeland in the area known as the West Bank. It's only a matter of time before the facts begin to register with people of influence.

In Israel, the smarter, more perceptive political leaders are recognizing this reality. And so it is with former Meretz Party Leader Yossi Sarid who headed the movement to erase the Jewish presence from Judea and Samaria.

Click here to read how Yossi Sarid has thrown in the towel, recognizing that the numbers below are irreversible .

The ramifications are huge. All of us need to change the parameters of how we view Israel and its conflict with the local Arab population. In any arrangement and any initiative, one thing is certain: The Jews of Judea and Samaria are here to stay.

[Scroll down for the Jewish Population Stats of Judea and Samaria]

 

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Jewish Population Stats for Judea and Samaria

as of June 30, 2012

Population Registry of the Interior Ministry

Judea and Samaria Jewish Population: 350,143

as of June 30, 2012

[Not including more than 300,000 Jews in eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem]

On Dec. 31, 2000, there were 190,206 Jews in Yesha

On June 30, 2009, there were 301,754 Jews in Yesha
On June 30, 2010, there were 320,073 Jews in Yesha
On June 30, 2011, there were 334,564 Jews in Yesha
On June 30, 2012, there were 350,143 Jews in Yesha

The Jewish population increased in this region in the last year by 4.65%.

Below are the stats for each town in Judea and Samaria. The population of some small villages are recorded in the registry as part of larger neighboring towns as in the case with Shiloh and its neighboring villages.

                                               

Northern Samaria
Chinanit 990
Chermesh 228
Mevo Dotan 365
Rechan 197
Shaked 693
Total 2,473

Ariel-Elkana Bloc (Trans Samaria H’way)
Revava 1,552
Oranit 7,378
Alfei Menashe 7,947
Elkana 3,739
Ariel  18,638
Barkan 1,586
Elei Zahav 1,088
Etz Efraim 885
Peduel 1,409
Kiryat Netafim 683
Shaarei Tikva 4,872
Total 49,777

Maaleh Adumim Bloc
Maaleh Adumim 38,647
Kfar Adumim 3,334
Mitzpeh Yericho 1,975
Keidar 1,148
Total 45,104

Eastern Etziyon Bloc
Maaleh Amos 452
Nokdim 1,306
Tekoa 2,470
Metzad-Asfar 444
Total 4,672

Samaria Bloc
Itamar 986
Elon Moreh 1,605
Bracha 1,817
Yitzhar 1,201
Migdalim 150
Shavei Shomron 821
Avnei Hefetz 1,638
Yakir 1,671
Kfar Tapuach 1,195
Maaleh Shomron 834
Nofim 496
Salit 558
Immanuel 3,492
Einav 722
Tzofim 1,426
Kedummim 4,081
Karnei Shomron 7,137
Total 29,830

Beitar Illit
Beitar Illit 43,257
Total 43,257

Kiryat Sefer Bloc
Hashmoniam 3,008
Kiryat Sefer (Modiin Illit) 55,672
Matitiyahu 497
Total 59,177

Jordan Valley Bloc
Avnet  80
Almog 210
Argeman 165
Bet HaArava 108
Bekaot 207
Gittit 330
Galgal 165
Vered Yericho 249
Hemdat 161
Hamra 157
Yetav 276
Yafit 175
Mehola 454
Mechora 154
Maaleh Efraim 1,591
Mitzpeh Shalem 204
Mesua 189
Maskiot  86
Niran  76
Naama 136
Netiv HaGedud 179
Fetzael 273
Kalia 363
Roi 155
Rotem  101
Shadmot Mehola 576
Tomer 305
Total 7,125

[Gush] Etziyon Bloc
Elon Shevut 3,501
Elazar 2,245
Efrata 9,143
Bat Ayin 1,195
Har Gilo 787
Karmei Tzur 859
Kfar Etziyon 650
Migdal Oz 423
Neve Daniel 2,278
Rosh Tzurim 862
Total 27,763

Hevron Hills Bloc
Adura 291
Eshkolot 672
Hevron 599
Haggai 564
Tene 719
Carmel 468
Maon 487
Metzudat Yehuda 434
Negohot 260
Susia 945
Otniel 731
Pnei Hever 396
Kiryat Arba 7,180
Shima 386
Telem 255
Total 14,387

Binyamin Bloc
Bet El 5,984
Bet Aryeh 4,286
Bet Horon 1,201
Geva (Adam) 4,548
Givon Hahadasha 1,332
Givat Zeev 13,955
Dolev 1,370
Har Adar 3,935
Halamish 1,197
Talmon 3,370
Kochav HaShahar 1,953
Kochav Yaakov 6,895
Kfar HaOranim 2,408
Mevo Horon 1,844
Maaleh Levona 635
Maaleh Michmash 1,499
Nachliel 525
Nili 976
Naaleh 1,056
Ofrah 3,199
Ateret 520
Almon (Anatot) 1,170
Psagot 1,894
Rimonim 626
Shiloh 2,771
Eli 3,249
Total 72,398

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Israel Folk Music Concert in Bet El

For those of you not intimately familiar with the Israeli folk tunes scene, one of THE most popular bands which came on the scene in the 1960's and continues until today in a different line up is The Parverim.

The Parverim on stage in Bet El

I would compare them to Simon and Garfunkel in their popularity and voice harmony.

The Parverim came to Bet El last night and the Be'er Sheva Philharmonic Symphony joined in for a spectacular performance.

Enjoy some of the highlights!

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A Less-Known Reason for Tu B'Av Rejoicing

If you ask a secular Israel on the street what is Tu B’av (a mini-holiday which falls on Aug 3, 2012), he will inevitably answer, “The Holiday of Love.” And, in fact, there is an aspect of love in the holiday, because it was today that the tribe of Binyamin, some 2900 years ago, was allowed entry back into the Jewish People in an unusual, mass-engagement ceremony.  

The bachelors of Binyamin hid in the vineyards of the town of Shiloh, and as the young maidens of Israel came out to dance in the vineyards, each man came out of hiding and selected for himself a bride.  

Because of this historic event, which saved the tribe of Binyamin from extinction, Israelis today call this holiday the holiday of love.

The Talmud in the tractate of Taanit page 30 folio B, tells of seven historic events which occurred on Tu B’av, and each one is reason enough to establish Tu B’av as a day of rejoicing. I will explore one of the less known reasons.

The Talmud calls this day “Tever Magal” which means the day of “breaking the axe.” What axes is the Talmud talking about and why is breaking them a reason for celebration? Let’s try and answer this by understanding the historical background

When the Jewish People returned to build the second temple under the leadership of Ezra and Nechemia, they needed a steady supply of wood to burn the fire on the mizbeach (alter) which consumed the burned parts of the temple sacrifices. But there was a dire lack of trees in Israel since the goyim had cut down all the forests.

It became a major issue to find wood for the alter, and the elders of Israel decided to turn donations of wood (nidvat etzim) into a central and important offering brought with the same pomp and circumstance as the Bikurim fruits offering.

In the temple, they accepted wood offerings until the 15^th of Av, and then they wouldn’t accept anymore wood for the mizbeach (alter) until the following year. Why did they stop chopping down trees for wood on the alter on Tu B’av?

Tu B’av falls towards the end of the summer months when the sun begins to lose its strength. Wood chopped down at a time that the sun isn’t strong enough would remain moist and attract worms, thereby disqualifying it from being used on the alter. So, the Rabbis sought a cut-off date as summer nears its end after which they didn’t want to risk accepting wood which might have worms in it. They chose the 15^th of Av as the cut-off date.

Since the axes used for this task were stored away on Tu B’av, the day took on the name as “breaking the ax day,” which can really mean placing them in storage. The completion of the mitzvah of preparing wood for the alter for the entire year was, in itself, a reason for joy. But there’s more to the joy.

The enemies of Israel in the time of the Second Temple sought ways to disrupt the Temple service. They issued a decree forbidding Jews to bring wood for the Temple alter and established roadblocks outside of Jerusalem to catch those who dared defy the decree.

What did the Jews do to keep the Temple service going? How could they possibly get wood through the roadblocks?

The Talmud tells that Jewish ingenuity kicked in as the Jewish pilgrims made ladders out of the wood and told the roadblock guards that they were on their way to collect chicks out from birds nests near Jerusalem, a common task at the time. Once they passed the roadblock, they dismantled the ladders and brought the wood to the Temple.

These Jews risked their lives defying the decree. Part of the joy of Tu B’av is a salute to these heroes whose Jewish ingenuity combined with readiness to sacrifice enabled the Temple service to continue.

Let’s review the two reasons for joy on Tu B’av that we stated:

1)      It is the last day of the important mitzvah of bringing wood for the alter, and we always rejoice upon completion o f a mitzvah.

2)      We salute and praise those Jews who endangered themselves to supply wood for the alter.

Rabbi Mordchai Eliyahu, of blessed memory, would emphasize another joyous aspect of the day we “break the ax.” Since the arduous task of cutting down trees and chopping the wood ended on Tu B’av, much time freed up from this day onward for Torah study. We increase our study both in quantity and quality on Tu B’av. Thus, the joy on this day is the joy of increased Torah study.

The study of Torah is the replaces the wood on the alter, as our Rabbis said: One who engages in Torah study on the long winter nights with candlelight, is as though the temple is rebuilt in his days, and the wood on the alter rages in flames providing light for him to continue his study.

The above is my son Tovia's Bar Mitzvah Speech which was delivered last night at his Bar Mitzvah celebration in Bet El. The two of us studied together about Tu B'av to enable him to write his speech. Below are some pics and highlights from the "Thank you's" part of the speech.

Tovia leading the Maariv prayer service for the first time in his life. The proud father (me) looks on.

Highlights from end of speech:

Now I reach the cherry on top of the whipped cream that everyone likes. The Thank you’s.
First of all, thank you to G-d for all the good which surrounds me, my family, my friends, my grandparents and parents.

And to you my good friends, thank you for participating in my simcha!

Bar Mitzvah boy Tovia on top of the pyramid

To my family – I remind you that I am the youngest Bar Mitzvah of this generation. I am the youngest grandchild on both sides. So take advantage of this event, and remember it for the rest of your life, because in it we are sealing off the generation.

I hope that your gifts to me reflect this added importance.

To my Uncles and Aunts, you are the greatest. You have watched me grow from the side. From now on, I am responsible for my own deeds.

As I reflect on my own extensive experience as an uncle to many nephews and nieces, I can say that being an uncle is not always an easy task. Uncles and Aunts have a lot of work, and for this I thank you.

To my brothers and sisters, thank you for all you have given me and done for me. Your brotherly love will stay with me for my entire life. Thank for being by my side, for supporting me, and for criticizing me, both constructive and non-constructive criticism.

And last but not least my parents who have brought me to this stage in my life. To Ima who carried me for nine months in her stomach, and to Abba who helped her and prayed for my success. For the giving of all these years, and the education. Thank you.

Thank you for the times you said “no,” and thank you even more for the times you said, “yes.” Thank you for the merit to grow up in your home.

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How To Emerge From the Tisha B’av Fast Day

By Rabbi Zalman B. Melamed

Rosh Yeshiva of the Bet El Yeshiva Center

A talk to students in the Bet El Yeshiva Center at the end of the Tisha B’av Fast

Every year when the Tisha B’av Fast Day ends and mashiach (the messiah) doesn’t come, a feeling of intense mourning settles in with no consolation in sight.

But, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook of blessed memory, Israel’s first Chief Rabbi and the father of religious-Zionist thought, shows us a way to consolation: Tisha B’av is a day of mourning and great sorrow over the destruction, but we know also that on Tisha B’av, the mashiach is born.

Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook, founder of religious-Zionist thought in Israel

On the one hand, we are mourning and pained over the continuing state of destruction, as it says, “Anyone who during his days the Temple is not rebuilt, it’s as though the Temple was destroyed in his days.” The continuation of the state of destruction means that the sins of past generations haven’t been rectified, or at least not fully amended.

On the other hand, we can definitely be consoled by the droplets of consolation, as Hashem shows us the first illuminations of the light of mashiach.

Many generations of Jews saw no change for the good whatsoever. Troubles were followed by more troubles, trials were followed by tribulations, and there were no beginning signs of redemption from suffering.

However, in recent generations, the process of deliverance from our troubles has begun. From a spiritual standpoint, the sparks of rebirth began 400 years ago with the Arizal and Rabbi Yosef Karo.

Then, some 150 years ago, an awakening of aliya (moving) of Jews to the Land of Israel began. Not an aliya of individuals, but a growing, developmental process of aliya to the point that today there is approximately 50% of world Jewry in Israel – soon a majority of our nation will be in the Land of Israel. While we don’t currently inhabit all parts of our land, we are sovereign over many parts of it. This constitutes droplets of consolation.

But what we need now is not consolation, rather action. We have to take hold of ourselves and know that each one of us has the ability to contribute to the nearing of our nation’s redemption. When a Jew becomes a better person, he is bringing the redemption nearer.

First and foremost, we must increase Torah study. Many of the great sages of the esoteric aspects of the Torah have said that the final redemption will come about in the merit of Torah. Diligence and determination in Torah study, and especially the study of emunah, which is a wrapping around the secrets of the Torah – these are great devices which advance us towards mashiach. 

Students escorting Rabbi Shlomo Fisher after a class at the Bet El Yeshiva

It is incumbent upon us to cultivate people with great spiritual prowess, people with great capabilities of spiritual leadership, who will shine forth great light, and will begin the needed revolution of teshuva en masse.

The revolution of teshuva must start at home with us. To the extent that we will each serve as a personal example with refined character traits, imbued with wisdom and Torah knowledge, then our influence will intensify and we will effect change. This is a role that is incumbent upon each of us. We are the backbone of the nation.

There are many Torah scholars who engage in intense Torah study but are detached from the nation, that is, from a large part of Am Yisrael, who are distant from Torah and mitzvoth, though loyal to the Jewish People.

There are Israelis who are not connected in any way to Torah and mitzvot and could move overseas and get salaries 5 or more times what they are getting in Israel. There are excellent doctors, hi-tech workers, and other professionals who could earn much more in other countries, and live with a much higher standard of living, but despite all, they don’t want to leave Israel because this land is our home. 

Israeli startup entrepreneurs

In other words, deep inside, they have a bond to the nation, not an external connection, rather something very internal that cannot be explained. Many Israelis are loyal to the Jewish State, as government workers in various offices and in the army, who are distant from Torah and mitzvoth. We must bring all parts of the nation together.

We, who are engaged in the study of the Torah of Eretz Yisrael, must accept the role of being a backbone, and uniting the different parts into one. We must cultivate Torah giants in the spirit of Rabbi Kook, strive to reach his heights and uplift the nation.

A person who does not act, who is not agile, resourceful and imbued with spiritual courage, he will not be consoled; rather, he will continue to see our nation’s state of affairs as terrible and difficult.

But, a person who is engaged at all times in progress, who acts and influences, he will see things differently. We must act with all of our spiritual prowess, and find consolation in our positive accomplishments. 

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Hebrew Source: http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/shiur.asp?id=6164&cat=408&q=תשעה,באב,

Arafat’s Death: The Missing Link

Yasser Arafat, also known as Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini, posthumously made headlines earlier this month after his widow, Suha, produced a bag of her late husband’s belongings on which were found traces of radioactive polonium, a deadly poison.

Officially, we were told in October 2004 that Arafat had a bad flu after he vomited during a meeting. His situation deteriorated and Israel allowed him to be flown to the Percy Military Hospital in a Paris suburb. According to the Associated Press, doctors announced a month later at his November death that he suffered from a blood condition known as disseminated intravascular coagulation, "although it is inconclusive what brought about the condition.”

But now, seven and a half years later, Suha’s findings have led to demands that his remains be examined to determine if it was the Zionist regime that poisoned him.

"Suha, the Zionists killed me."

Poisoning? How about AIDS?

Haaretz newspaper reported that both Israeli and foreign professors who examined the French hospital's medical report said that Arafat bore all the symptoms of AIDS. But no further evidence of AIDS was offered.

The Missing Link

My very close friend “D” is a service provider near the King David Hotel with many clients who are overseas nationals. “D” is a very friendly person, and people who get to know him tend to bond quickly beyond their business dealings.

Lo and behold, the French Consulate in Jerusalem is located right across the street from the King David Hotel, and a veteran French worker at the consulate is a longtime client of “D”.

The French Consulate in Jerusalem

The consulate worker visited my friend for a business matter and as the two sat, the Frenchman opened up to D saying he had something on his mind.

“At the time of Arafat's death, I was asked at the consulate to single-handedly process all the paper work for his transfer to the Paris hospital. I saw medical reports which included the department he was being transferred to in the hospital.”

He paused for what seemed to “D” like a long time, as though he was having difficultly continuing.

“Arafat was transferred to the AIDS ward in Paris. That’s what the reports said. No one ever reported it.”

Arafat, you actually do make me sick. How old was the boy you got AIDS from?

The Frenchman went on to explain that one of the reasons the family chose France as a destination is because of rigid laws there which keep cause of death guarded in secrecy even posthumously.

So there you have it. It appears that not the Zionist regime, but rather Arafat’s own degenerate and debauched escapades terminated his terrorist career.

Suha, I am so sorry to spoil the party.

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Bet El’s Ulpana Hill: Outrage Alongside a Sane Plan of Action

I am outraged to the core by the recent Israeli Supreme Court decision to demolish the homes of thirty Jewish families in Bet El’s Ulpana Neighborhood which were built on land purchased from an Arab.

I hunger fasted for the four days leading up to the June 6^th Knesset vote on the Arrangements Bill which had it passed, would have resolved the issue in a just way through legislation.

The facts and background of this case are presented in detail in a separate article being published alongside this one entitled: Bet El’s UlpanaNeighborhood: The Background and Facts.

Why I believe the Supreme Court Decision is Not Just

1)      The Supreme Court is rushing to demolish these 30 apartment units before the Jerusalem District Court has determined who the real owners are. You heard correctly. In the ongoing Civilian Case #36209-09-11, the lower court may yet determine that Bet El Institutions are the rightful owners. It will likely take some two years for the lower court to review the evidence and issue its ruling.

2)      In 2000, Bet El Institutions, under the leadership of Rabbi Zalman Melamed and Yaakov “Ketzaleh” Katz negotiated with the Arab land owner alongside their respective attorneys, and paid Ibrahim Judah Mustafa Hasan a large sum of money to legally purchase the 7.4 acres (30 dunams) in accordance with Israeli law. Even if Bet El erred (which the lower court has not yet determined) and purchased the land from the wrong man, once the apartment buildings are built, it is commonplace in legal proceedings to compensate the rightful owner, and not demolish the homes.

3)      The case for compensation instead of demolition is strengthened when considering that the Arabs who later claimed to be the owners stood silent for 7 complete years while Bet El built and populated the Ulpana neighborhood on “their” land. They took no legal action even though the construction is in clear view with the naked eye from their homes in the neighboring Arab village.

4)      The case for compensation is strengthened when considering that a law exists in pre-1967 Israel which forbids destruction of buildings in such a scenario and dictates that the court should determine who should compensate and who should be compensated. While a  Knesset bill is required to extend the that law to Judea and Samaria, the law’s very existence is testimony to its being the just solution.

5)      The case for compensation is further strengthened when considering that the Arabs who claim the land will never derive benefit from it. I would have more sympathy for the Supreme Court ruling if the Arabs who filed suit had intentions to build a bowling alley there, establish a Halal meat stand, or build a Kassam rocket factory. But, the land will sit barren as it has been for centuries, by order of the IDF since it would be a security breach to allow the Arabs access to the middle of a Jewish town.

6)      I am further outraged by the fact that the Israeli Supreme Court justices have usurped exaggerated power over the elected officials of the State of Israel who asked the court to reconsider their position. The court responded saying, “No, we will not allow you to rethink your position. You, the government, said to demolish the homes, and we, the court, have determined that to be your final position even though you think otherwise.” US Legal Expert Robert Bork has called the Israeli Supreme Court “the greatest threat to democracy in Israel,” because of its activist policy of usurping power over the executive branch.

7)      I am outraged that the State Prosecution misrepresented the government position in its presentation to the court. I am disappointed that Prime Minister Netanyahu did not have the strength to call the prosecution to task or simply replace them.

8)     Many lands were distributed by King Abdallah of Jordan to Arabs whom he rewarded for their loyalty. These lands were not purchased and often never used. Such is the case with the 7.4 acres of the Ulpana Hill. It is rocky terrain and was never used. Would it not be just for these lands which were distributed for free by the Jordanian (and earlier by the Turkish) ruler to revert back to being state-owned lands under Israeli rule?

9)     Bet El Mayor Moshe Rosenbaum said that his personal friend, the Mayor of Abu Gosh (an Israeli Arab town near Jerusalem) told him that there is not one legally-built home amongst his entire constituency. So Mr. Rosenbaum suggests that if the court wishes to demolish illegally-built homes, why not start in chronological order with the thousands of Arab homes that were determined illegal years ago. Why start with these five Jewish apartment buildings in Bet El?

The Plan to Save the Ulpana Homes

I am outraged, but I am not broken. We are amidst a major struggle and we have good chances of winning. Here is the game plan.

Knesset member Ketzaleh is spearheading the efforts to convince government ministers to, at the very least, refrain from demolishing the homes, even if they expel the Jewish residents. "Even in the 1492 expulsion of Jews from Spain, they didn't destory the Jewish buildings. You can go there today and see Jewish structures," Ketzaleh has told government officials.  This compromise which partially honors the court ruling has good chances of being adopted by the government.

Thus, the key is with the Netanyahu government. Netanyahu himself said several times that the court decision to demolish the Bet El homes is “a decree that the public cannot accept.”

There exist precedents of Supreme Court rulings that the executive branch, with its broad scope and power as elected representatives of the people, has refused to abide by. For example, the court has ruled many times to allow Jews to pray freely on the Temple. To this day, the Israel Police forbid Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount because they say it would cause Arab rioting.

Netanyahu needs our help. If they sense enough pressure, Netanyahu and his ministers can adopt a compromise course of action.

Here is how to do it: 

1)      Donate. The single most important way to participate in the struggle is to donate. Bet El Institutions is alone in waging the legal battle, in paying for all the publicity associated with the campaign, in bussing protestors to various venues, and all other aspects of the struggle. The fees for the campaign are great to the point that we have spread out expenses via loans to be paid back over the next twelve months. There are several initiatives to stop the demolition which are not being publicized. These are also very costly.

Please make a one-time or recurring contribution. Many small donations add up. You become a part of the struggle.
Donate here: BetElInstitutions.com

2)      Write emails. Write emails to the following government ministers demanding justice for the residents of the Ulpana Hill. Let them feel that there are masses of people who are outraged by this development:

a.       Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu

b.      For other ministers, go to this page:
Write to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon, Minister of Culture and Sport LImor Livnat, Minister of Communications Moshe Kahlon, Minister of Education Gidon Saar, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz

3)      Protest. If you are in Israel, join the protest tents in Bet El and block the demolition through non-violent civil disobedience. If Netanyahu needs to see masses of protestors, he is more likely to refrain from demolishing the homes.

4)   Spiritual Activism. Don’t forget to open your hearts to Hashem in prayer to strengthen the Jewish People in Israel in general, and to save the Ulpana homes in Bet El in particular. If you study in Yeshiva, dedicate learning time to saving the homes in Bet El. Our cries can change the ruling in the Supreme of all Supreme Courts.

Don't rely on others. Make even a small monthly donation, write a few emails, come to the protest tents, and pray. Together we shall succeed.

In the big picture, we are winning. Even if G-d forbid they demolish the homes, there are many good things that will yet come out of it.

More on that in a later post.

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Bet El’s Ulpana Neighborhood: The Background & Facts

This article is a presentation of the background facts regarding the slated demolition of five apartment buildings (30 units) in the Ulpana Hill Neighborhood of Bet El.

The author’s own analysis of the decision is presented in a separate article being published alongside this one entitled: Bet El’s Ulpana Hill: Outrage Alongside a Sane Plan of Action

Jews Return to Bet El

The return of the Jewish People to Samaria (the biblical heartland of Israel also known as the West Bank) began in 1976, nine years after the 6-Day War. Ancient Jewish towns were rebuilt after a 1900-year exile. It was the epitome of the Zionist dream, and many observers declared it the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Land for the historical undertaking was acquired in different ways. For example, some Jewish towns were built on state-owned land, while other desolate hills were expropriated by the government for security reasons and partially used for civilian residences adjacent to IDF bases. In yet other instances, land was purchased by local Jewish residents from their Arab neighbors.

Bet El Purchases Land To Add On to Ulpana Neighborhood

In 2000, Bet El Institutions, under the direction of Rabbi Zalman Melamed and Yaakov “Ketzaleh” Katz sought to purchase 30 dunams (7.4 acres) of land on a barren, rugged slope adjacent to the modern town of Bet El. This property, also known as Block 5 Plot 34, was recorded in the land registry as belonging to Ibrahim Mustafa Hasan Hasan from the neighboring Arab village Dura El Kara.

Bet El Institutions found the land owner, who now goes by the name Ibrahim Juda Mustafa Hasan. Bet El verified through several channels that he was indeed the land owner; Bet El holds a letter from the Dura El Kara Village Council stating that Ibrahim Juda Mustafa Hasan is Ibrahim Mustafa Hasan Hasan.

Bet El Founder Ketzaleh raised a large sum of money and on June 29, 2000, the contract was signed. The money was handed to Ibrahim, and the documents were notarized all in accordance with Israeli law and practice. No one today disputes this fact.

Ibrahim Hasan –Let Live or Die

When Bet El came to record its name as owners of the 7.4 acres in the Land Registry, senior civil servants in the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria as well as an officer in the IDF (names withheld) strongly urged Bet El to postpone the action. They said that Arab groups would issue a death warrant for Ibrahim the land seller, while delaying the process would increase his chances of survival.

Bet El had no interest is seeing Ibrahim hanging from a telephone pole as can happen in such circumstances. “But how can we build on the property without first recording ownership in the registry,” the Bet El developers asked. The Civil Administration replied that it would not interfere since it knows that Bet El legally purchased the property. Construction of the Jewish residential buildings started immediately in the year 2000.

The verbal exchange about postponing the recorded change of ownership was not committed to writing.

European-Funded Group Claims Another Arab Owns the Land

Seven years later in 2007, the Yesh Din organization (funded by the European Union, the governments of Germany, Norway, Holland, Ireland, and Great Britain, and philanthropist George Soros), under the direction of its attorney Michael Sfard claimed that “Ibrahim Mustafa Hasan Hasan” whose name appears in the land registry as owner of plot 5/34 is in fact another man named Ibrahim Mustafa Hasan who passed away in 1976, from the same Arab village next to Bet El.

But Sfard wisely took it a step further. He went to the Judea and Samaria Civil Administration and had the registry for plot 5/34 recorded in the name of the descendants of the new Arab.

On October 31, 2008, Michael Sfard with some of the Arab descendants appealed to the Supreme Court claiming that the land is theirs. The court immediately issued an injunction preventing Bet El from further developing the land. The five buildings, part of a neighborhood of 14 buildings, are situated on some four of the 30 dunams purchased. The entire 30 dunams consist of rocky, rugged ground which, according to aerial photos was never used for any purpose (Shlomo Ben Yosef, Aerial Photo Analyst).

When Bet El claimed before the Supreme Court that it purchased the land from the rightful owner, the court (on Sept 15, 2010) ordered the prosecution which represents the government to investigate and formulate an opinion regarding the land.

The government delayed its answer until Sept 29, 2011 at which time the prosecution reported that at a meeting of Prime Minister Netanyahu, other ministers and the attorney general, “the government policy was determined to be that construction on private lands should be demolished, to be differentiated from construction on state-owned lands.”

Supreme Court President Dorit Banish, Justice Salim Joubran (a Christian Arab born in Haifa), and Justice Uzi Fogelman order the state to demolish the homes by May 1, 2012.

Vice Prime Minister Moshe “Boogie” Yaalon said that the prosecution completely misrepresented the government position, and had, in fact, taken a remark of his out of context. While he did say in a deliberation that “construction on private lands should be removed,” he clarified that he was not referring to the case of the Ulpana Hill in Bet El in any way. Yet the prosecution built its entire presentation of government policy to the Supreme court regarding Bet El based on this guideline that any construction on private lands was to be removed.

In addition, a lawyer from the Defense Ministry’s Legal Division reportedly told the prosecution that the government wants to demolish the buildings.

Government ministers were furious at the Prosecution

Government ministers said the prosecution misrepresented their position in recommending to the court in thename of the government to demolish the Jewish apartment buildings.  They felt that the prosecution did not properly represent the mood of the government in this case. After further consultation, the government informed the court on April 27, 2012 that “The Prime Minister and the forum of ministers request to reconsider the ways to implement the policy upon which they decided, and as an extension of that, their precise position about which they notified the court in this appeal.”

On May 7, 2012, the court published its response that it sees no reason to reopen the deliberations despite the government request to do so. In a long explanation which spreads over eight pages, the three justices explained the principle that once the court gives a ruling, that’s it. It can’t be overturned except under extenuating circumstances which the judges determined do not exist here. In their decision, the judges used the Latin expression - functus officio – meaning, the court has rendered its final decision, and it cannot be reopened.

Due Process Being Trumped

Bet El Institutions is suing the new land owners produced by Attorney Sfard and who were listed in the Land Registry in 2007 in the Jerusalem District Court. Bet El is claiming that their ownership is 100% fraudulent. This District Court case (Civilian Case #36209-09-11) represents the first time that the alleged land owners produced by Michael Sfard are being challenged to prove their ownership. The District Court has not yet made any determination on the issue. This is a key point: the Supreme Court openly admits that it did not investigate the ownership issue, but rather relied on the government position in its decision, as presented by the prosecution.

Bet El argued before the Supreme Court that the justices are hurrying to issue demolition orders before ownership has been determined through due process in a lower court. Justice Fogelman responded, “Do you expect us to wait several years for the outcome of that case while these buildings are sitting on land registered in the name of these Arabs?” [Quoted from memory by a Bet El representative present in the courtroom]

Furthermore, the Supreme Court wrote in its May 7,^, 2012 response that Bet El had already presented its claim of ownership to the government and that the government rejected the claim. Again, the court is openly admitting that it is not determining ownership through any judicial process, but rather relying on the Netanyahu government position.

The court extended the deadline giving the government until July 1, 2012 to demolish the five residential buildings on Ulpana Hill.

Bet El’s leaders have formulated a plan of action to thwart the demolition of the 30 apartment units. Click here to read: Bet El’s Ulpana Hill: Outrage Alongside a Sane Plan of Action

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