Large outpost won’t be evacuated, for now

The High Court of Justice on Sunday granted an extension on a standing demolition order against a large illegal outpost in the West Bank, giving the state until July 15 to clear the site.

The Amona outpost, outside Ofra in the central West Bank, was slated to be demolished by the end of April, after several delays. The site is home to several dozen families.

The state had sought an extension, saying the January elections changed the political landscape and the circumstances of the evacuation.

Asher Grunis, the president of the court, said the state should see the acceptance of its request as an exception rather than standard practice.

Two years ago, the court issued an interim decree ordering the state to account for its failure to enforce demolition orders for homes at Amona that were built on private Palestinian land.

The current outpost was set up on the site of a previous outpost by the same name, which was evacuated in 2006.

The hilltop saw some of the heaviest resistance by residents and right-wing activists against army forces sent to remove them.

Some 200 people were injured in violent clashes with security forces, turning the site into a symbol of resistance among some settlers.

Philip Podolsky contributed to this report