BICOM

Israel Police have formed a new task force ahead of a number of demolitions in West Bank outposts that are expected to take place by the end of this year, according to a report in Haaretz.

In discussions held by senior police officials in recent months, a decision was made to form an internal task force to coordinate demolitions, the deployment of forces, means of action and crowd control, among other things.

Israel Police’s new force will include special police units, Border Police and civilian contractors. It will be headed up by Brigadier-General Yoram Ohayon, commander of the Yarkon District. The main organisation charged to deal with settlement evictions is the IDF, with the Israel Police serving as a body to support in the evacuation and demolition of outposts, and therefore preparing itself in this role.

Last week, the High Court gave the government until 1 July to demolish five homes, built on privately owned Palestinian land, in the Ulpana neighborhood, in the Beit El settlement in the West Bank. By 1 August, the West Bank outpost of Migron is also set to be demolished. Migron residents intend to leave according to an agreement reached with the government, but Israel’s security forces are not taking any risks, and are preparing for an evacuation by force.

In addition, the state is meant to demolish the Givat Assaf outpost by 1 July, and the Amona oupost by the end of the year. However, decision makers in Jerusalem note that political pressures may delay the implementation of the court orders.