Dayan Denounces Plans to Relocate Elon Moreh Settlers to New Site

Former Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan denounced the plans to relocate the Elon Moreh settlers at Djebil Kebir. He called the move “a calamity” costing the government millions of Pounds because the new site has neither strategic nor security value and is isolated in the midst of a densely populated Arab area of the West Bank.

Dayan offered his views yesterday at a plenary session of the Knesset’s House Committee. He is expected to raise the issue again before the full Knesset next Monday. He approached the committee for the right to speak after its presidium overruled his request last Monday on grounds that the issue had already been dealt with by the Knesset. Last week, coalition forces turned back four no-confidence motions by opposition factions aimed at forcing the immediate evacuation of Elon Moreh.

Dayan, an independent MK, supported the government at the time but made it clear that he was opposed to both Elon Moreh and Djebil Kebir. He demanded the right to state his views. The House Committee, after a stormy session, voted 10-7 yesterday to hear him. Dayan was backed by opposition MKs, including members of the Labor Alignment and Shai and by David Glass, a doveish member of the National Religious Party.

“A settlement at Djebil Kebir will become a calamity for generations,” Dayan said. “The whole idea of putting Jews in Djebil Kebir is clownish and the government is throwing millions and millions of Pounds down the drain. How can it squander so much money uselessly at a time like this?” he asked.

Dayan’s views were in-direct opposition to those of Knesset Speaker Yitzbak Shamir, a member of the House Committee’s presidium. Shamir is expected, to be named Israel’s next Foreign Minister, filling the post that has been vacant since Dayan resigned last Oct. 24.