January 12, 2012
Israel demolishes third illegal outpost this week
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Israeli settlers clear the debris of a makeshift structure after Israeli security forces demolished the building at the unauthorised outpost of Mitzpe Avihai on Jan. 12. Photo by REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Israeli security forces demolished an illegal West Bank outpost, the third this week.
Israel Defense Forces troops and Civil Administration inspectors early Thursday morning evacuated and demolished the Mitzpe Avichai outpost near Kiryat Arba. The outpost was home to nine families, including 20 children.
The forces evacuated the families from the outpost at about 3 a.m. and then razed 10 structures, nine living quarters and a synagogue, according to reports. The outpost was established in 2007, in memory of Avichai Levy, who was killed by a Palestinian terrorist; it is the third time that the outpost has been razed.
Earlier this week, security forces demolished the Givat Arye and Gal Yossef outposts, both near Shilo.
All of the evacuations occurred without clashes, according to reports.
Residents of Mitzpe Avichai have vowed to rebuild the outpost.
