Settler activists praise slain Israeli for work setting up illegal West Bank outposts

Settler activists eulogize Benayahu Mellet who was killed in a violent incident in the West Bank this morning, lauding his efforts and saying that he was continually working to expand Jewish settlements in the area.

Meir Ettinger, a convicted settler extremist, says that Mellett was the “living spirit” and the founder of the “Struggle for Every Dunam” organization.

“He was never satisfied with recognized roads and fences, and strived continuously to conquer the region,” writes Ettinger on Twitter.

“Benayahu always insisted on not making a distinction between areas C and B [of the West Bank]” Ettinger continued in reference to Mellet’s efforts to exert control over territory in the West Bank.

Under the Oslo Accords, Israelis are prohibited from living in Area B, although there are currently at least 21 illegal settlement outposts in Area B which the Israeli authorities have failed to dismantle, Peace Now has said.

Elisha Yered, a key illegal outpost organizer, says Mellet established the Struggle for Every Dunam organization which he used to advance the creation of illegal settlement outposts in Areas C and B.

“Benayahu understood that it is forbidden to distinguish between areas, C and B and worked to establish settlement outposts in these territories,” writes Yered.

He also credits Mellett with warning of what settlement activists allege is a plan by the Palestinian Authority to take over large areas of Area C, and working to thwart that plan by establishing Jewish settlements in the region where he was active.

“In direct continuation of his will we in the Forum have begun to prepare quickly for settlement cadres to establish more settlements in the region in which Benyahu planned Jewish settlements during his life,”  adds Yered.