The Israel Defense Forces on Monday refused to allow journalists to enter the ruins of the former West Bank settlement of Homesh, but permitted MKs to tour the site.
MKs Arieh Eldad, Uri Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party), Yuli Edelstein (Likud), and their assistants were given special permission to enter the former settlement. The IDF said Sunday that it would ban the tour due to security concerns, but withdrew the ban Monday morning.
The MKs announced that if the IDF does not allow the media to cover the tour, it would be canceled.
Eldad said that "security concerns are being evoked in vain. It is not logical that the IDF can provide security for the MKs and their assistants, but not for the media representatives that accompany them."
The MKs, members of the Homesh caucus, were planning to be briefed on the security, legal, and zoning status of the area. They were also scheduled to speak with members of the Homesh settlement group who have been staying on site on and off over the past two months along with alternating youth. The aim of the Homesh caucus is to encourage activity in the area and create legitimacy for the resettlement of the West Bank land and the rebuilding of Homesh.
Over the Rosh Hashana holiday some 20 right-wing activists have entered the ruins, despite the defense establishment's warnings of imminent terror attacks in the area. A military source said over the weekend that soldiers and police officers were forced to stay in the site during the holiday in order to protect the activists.
