Israel Matzav

Group seeks autonomy for settlers

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"Our proposition, called the Judean Initiative, is a rejection of the Geneva initiative," said Ben-Ya'acov. "We want to be granted Jewish autonomy in all areas in Judea and Samaria populated by Jews.

"Instead of handing control over to Arab terrorists we propose something identical to the present situation in the Gaza Strip - autonomy without statehood - except we want it for Jews. We would be a vital buffer zone for the State of Israel."

On Monday police raided buildings and institutions connected with Ben-Ya'acov's organization called The Jewish Legion, a paramilitary group that helps the IDF guard settlements in Judea and Samaria.

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In a related incident Yeshivat Hakotel, which is headed by Rabbi Mordechai Elon, the popular and relatively moderate religious Zionist leader, tried to renege on its contract with the Judean Initiative to rent out its hall this Wednesday.

Yeshivat Hakotel's backtracking was seen as an attempt to distance itself from the Judean Initiative. According to Baruch Ben-Yosef, the attorney representing the Judean Initiative, Yeshivat Hakotel would be forced to pay damages of upwards of NIS 60,000.

"We asked the court for a restraining order against the yeshiva," said Ben-Yosef. "We are still waiting to receive an answer."

Ben-Yosef said that if the yeshiva refused to allow access to its hall the conference would take place outside.

Meteorologists are expecting rain on Wednesday.

So long as they don't initiate any violence with the security forces, this looks like a good idea that could embarass the government.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:37 AM