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Peace Now complaint results in criminal investigation against settler movement

Builder of illegal housing in West Bank settlements and outposts (including on private, Palestinian-owned land) is target of investigation

Aerial photo of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona. In 2006, Israel demolished nine buildings built by Amana on private Palestinian property at the site. That law enforcement action was also the result of legal action by Peace Now.


Peace Now VIDEOFLASH: Peace Now demonstrates against new West Bank outpost.

Last Wednesday, as settlers illegally attempted to establish a new settlement at a location that they've dubbed "Eitam Hill" south of Bethlehem, Peace Now activists planned to protest at the site in order to draw public attention to the settler's dangerous gambit.

Click here for a video of Peace Now activists' efforts to reach the site. Israeli police have stopped the settlers from establishment of this outpost, for now.

Following a Peace Now complaint over disregard of the law by the construction company Amana, which builds illegal housing in West Bank settlements and outposts (including on private, Palestinian-owned land), Israel's police opened a criminal investigation.

In November 2005, Peace Now submitted a formal complaint to Israel's Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, noting that Amana's illegal construction and marketing of buildings in outposts was being flaunted on their website. Peace Now called on the Attorney General to stop the illegal activity and to investigate the offenders.

This week, Deputy Attorney General Shai Nizan responded to Peace Now's complaint. Nizan writes that a criminal investigation against Amana - opened shortly after Peace Now's complaint - is now underway.

Amana is a key body used by the Settlers' Council to expand the reach of settlements. Many well-known public figures and settler leaders are involved in the company.

Peace Now opposes the expansion of settlements because they undermine Israeli security, drain financial resources, and jeopardize the viability of a two-state solution.

Learn more about this case:

  • Read Peace Now's formal complaint.
  • Read Deputy Attorney General Shai Nizan's letter to Peace Now. (Please note that this PDF document is only available in Hebrew)
  • Check out media coverage of this story in Ynet and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Watch an Israeli television news report about this story (in Hebrew).