Half a day after the demolition of the illegal Palestinian school that was illegally built on the grounds of the Herodion National Park in Gush Etzion, the Palestinians rebuilt the structure in the same location overnight between Sunday and Monday.
The building was rebuilt with the assistance of the Palestinian Authority's "Committee for the Fight against Settlements". The demolition of the school was carried out because the illegal structure was built on purpose inside a National Park that contained ancient structures dating back to the time of King Herod. The construction was led by senior officials of the Palestinian Authority, including Moaid Sha'aban, a convicted terrorist in the past, and currently in the position of minister of the fight against settlements in the PA government.
This is important for everyone to understand. The PA tries to build schools on Area C - where they have no authority - to take possession of the territory. https://t.co/ln1u9Rrzuu
ā Jeuda Asayuel (@JAsayuel) May 7, 2023
Sunday morning at the end of legal proceedings, the Israeli Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria destroyed the school that was built without a permit in Area C under the Oslo Accords. The demolition was carried out within the framework of the court's ruling and the opinion that states that it is an unsafe building. As part of the enforcement procedures against the illegal construction, on April 19, 2017, a mandate ordering the termination of its use was issued to the owner of the building.
Despite the ruling, the use of the school continued and it was even expanded. In a five-year court battle, Israel finally received the legal clearance to destroy the school which was funded in part by the European Union.
This "school" is in area C, which is legally Israeli-controlled territory. There was no permit for this illegal construction, which was built illegally, onto a national park. Demolition was the right move, I hope the EU will start to promote actual education for the Palestinians. https://t.co/yRQUObzToS
ā Jaakko Linnakangas (@Castlefabric) May 7, 2023
As the school remained in use, the Palestinians applied and submitted permit requests to the Planning and Construction Committee in the Civil Administration against the demolition of the building, which in fact froze the enforcement procedures and led to the deletion of the petition while the work on expanding the structure continued against the law.
This "school" was built illegally & on purpose in desolate locale in Area C specifically to violate Oslo Accords. No children live in this area & EU funds could build schools in Area A & B with no problem where 95% of Pals actually live. pic.twitter.com/68KgFr6GLz
ā Aizenberg (@Aizenberg55) May 7, 2023
After the structure was finally destroyed by Israeli authorities, and before it was quickly rebuilt, The Regavim movement which deals with promoting lawful Israeli governance in Judea and Samaria issued a statement. "Following the verdict in our petition against an illegal Palestinian school built in the Herodion Nature Reserve and Heritage Site, this morning, 63 days later and despite the attempts of the Palestinians with the help of the United Nations to delay the implementation, the Civil Administration forces destroyed the place. This building is just one of over 100 illegal school buildings built throughout Judea and Samaria as a method of Palestinian takeover of the open areas. This enforcement is a first step to restore law and order to the area.ā
Despite the early celebrations and what was thought to be a successful campaign by the Regavim Movement, it seems the case is not fully closed and further government involvement is required.
