Shvut Rachel

Panorama of Shvut Rachel as seen from Shilo

Shvut Rachel (Hebrew: שבות רחל) is a former Israeli settlement in the West Bank, retroactively designated a neighborhood of the settlement of Shilo, in the West Bank. Shvut Rachel sits between the Palestinian villages of Turmus Ayya,[1] Qaryut and Jalud, part of whose lands were expropriated for building Shvut Rachel. Nearby Israeli settlements include Shilo, Giv'at Har'el, Esh Kodesh, Keeda, and Adei Ad. The village, administrated by the Matte Binyamin Regional Council, has a population of 100 families. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[2] The Sasson Report in 2005 noted that the settlement extends over Palestinian land, part of which is owned by Fawzi Haj Ibrahim Mohammad from Jalud, turned over to the settlement after the Israeli authorities declared it state land.[3]

History

The village was founded in November 1991[4] in memory of the victims of a terrorist attack on a civilian bus; Rachela Druk of Shilo, a mother of 7, and Yitzhak Rofe, the bus driver - who were on their way to a demonstration in Tel Aviv. On the night of the funerals, a group of students from the yeshiva in Shilo as well as two young couples, including a pregnant woman who gave birth a week later, established Shvut Rachel. The settlers moved on to the land without government permission.[5]

According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated land from two Palestinian villages for the establishment of Shvut Rachel: 372 dunams of land from Turmus Ayya,[1] and 963 dunams from Qaryut/Jalud.[6]

In February 2012 the Israeli government approved the construction of new housing units in Shvut Rachel. This action was condemned by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, Catherine Ashton.[7]

Homes in Shvut Rachel

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Israel, on the other hand, differentiates between "legal" and "illegal" settlements, and Shvut Rachel was illegal even by Israeli standards until February 2012. According to Peace Now, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories legalized the outpost by redesignating it as a neighborhood of Shilo.[8]

Midreshet Binat

Binat is a midrasha located in Shvut Rachel. Headed by Rabbi Ronen Tamir, it was founded in 2000 as an additional branch of the nearby yeshiva in Shilo. It includes a regular seminary program, a one-month program in September for college students, and a joint program with Bayit VeGan Teachers College. It is associated with the Talpiot College of Education.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Turmus’ayya Town Profile, ARIJ, p. 17
  2. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. ^ Naomi Zeveloff,'Of Olives, Politics and Palestinians:One Man's Harvest Is Another's Freedom Struggle,' The Forward 16 November 2014.
  4. ^ Jerusalem Post: US joins PA, UN in slamming outpost plans. February 23, 2012.
  5. ^ Karin Laub (March 1, 2012). "Israel legalizes unsanctioned settler enclave". Associated Press. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  6. ^ Qaryut Village Profile (including Jalud Locality), ARIJ, p. 17
  7. ^ "Statement by the Spokesperson of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Israeli Settlement Approvals of 22 February". Targeted News Service. February 23, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  8. ^ "Watchdog says Israel 'legalises' another settler outpost". Agence France-Presse. July 16, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
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32°3′16″N 35°18′42″E / 32.05444°N 35.31167°E / 32.05444; 35.31167