Evicted West Bank Settlers Stage Hunger Strike

Amona settlers during the evacuation by Israeli police. Image by Getty Images

By Naomi Zeveloff March 6, 2017

Amona settlers are hunger striking to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver on his promise to build a new West Bank settlement.

Amona, a hilltop outpost of 40 families, was evacuated in late January after the High Court ruled that it had been built on private Palestinian land.

Amid outcry from his right wing base, Netanyahu promised to build a new neighborhood to house the Amona families — the first new Jewish settlement in the West Bank in 25 years.

But heeding the Trump administration’s warning against new settlements, Netanyahu said that he might have to retract his promise to the Amona evacuees. Later he assured them that he meant to keep his promise.

Amona residents announced their hunger strike last week outside of the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem.

“The Prime Minister should be the first of all people in Israel to keep his word and meet his commitments, and in this regard he should be a role model for the youth of Israel. Even Donald Trump – as a businessman – understands that agreements must be honored,” said Avichai Boaron, a spokesman for the settlers, according to the pro-settler news site Arutz Sheva.

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected]

Naomi Zeveloff is the former Middle East correspondent of the Forward, primarily covering Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

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