Israel’s High Court strikes down postponement of Amona evacuation

The government failed in its last-ditch bid to save the unauthorized Israeli outpost of Amona, home to 40 families. The High Court rejected the government’s petition and reaffirmed its initial directive for the outpost top be removed by Dec. 25. Sunday, the Ministerial Legislative Committee approved a bill that if enacted by the Knesset would retroactively legalize some 2,000 homes in Judea and Samaria, many of which were built on privately-owned Palestinian land. This bill, if promulgated, could save Amona. But it lacks Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s support and is opposed by most opposition factions. Under its provisions, Palestinian property owners would be fully compensated for the land and offered alternative sites.