Evyatar
אביתר | |
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![]() Aerial photograph of Evyatar in June 2021 | |
Coordinates: 32°07′10.9″N 35°16′30.4″E / 32.119694°N 35.275111°E |
Evyatar (Hebrew: אביתר, romanized: Evyatar or Eviatar) is an Israeli outpost in the West Bank located in a Palestinian rural area on Mount Sabih, in lands of the Palestinian town of Beita, south of Nablus.[1][2] the settlement was in April 2013, and it was named after Evyatar Borovsky who was murdered in a terror attack.[3]
The outpost has been destroyed several times by Israeli officials[4] and it was built again rapidly in a few days in May 2021, before the Israeli military stopped the activities. Israeli soldiers helped to build the outpost, although they were not authorized to do so.[5] As of May 2022, the buildings are still standing but the settlers have not been allowed to return.[6] It has been described as "the most famous outpost established in recent years".[6]
The building of the outpost, and the subsequent legal process intended to make it permanent, sparked regular Palestinian protests; as of May 2022, 8 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers during the protests.[6]
According to Nathaniel Berman, Evyatar is "emblematic of the process whereby settlers are able to seize land with the express purpose of disrupting Palestinian life and are able to secure state ratification of their actions. This is a regime which lends fodder to some of the worst charges laid against Israel in recent years, including apartheid."[7]
According to Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, "The government has committed to the Avitar plan. The correct Zionist answer to the terrible attacks is construction, construction, construction. The eyes of the people of Israel are on settlement."[8]
Israeli outposts in the West Bank, like Evyatar, are considered illegal both under international law as well as under Israeli law.[9]
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