Religious Zionist youths block intersection near Supreme Court

A group of youths associated with the Religious Zionist movement blocked a major intersection near the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning in protest against the ordered evacuation of five buildings in the Givat Ulpana neighborhood of the West Bank settlement of Beit El.

Carrying signs that read “Jews don’t expel Jews” and “Muhammad is dead” and chanting slogans against the Netanyahu government, the youths caused heavy traffic congestion all the way to the entrance to the city.

While it looked at first as though the protesters were going to be dispersed by police, they ultimately were allowed to block the roads.

The Knesset is set to vote Wednesday on a controversial bill that would regularize unapproved settlements and in effect save the Givat Ulpana buildings from destruction. Prime Minister Netanyahu opposes the bill and has instead proposed an alternative plan to build additional housing units in Beit El proper in exchange for the five buildings slated to be removed.

The buildings in Givat Ulpana are slated for destruction on July 1 by order of the High Court, after it was determined they were build on private Palestinian land.