Israeli settler group crowdfunds to build new outpost in Hebron
Israeli settlers have launched a crowdfunding campaign to build a new settlement in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
The campaign aimed to raise one million shekels ($284,490) in 24 hours, but failed to do so. By Friday afternoon, a day after it was launched, 695,612 shekels had been donated.
On its web page, the campaign said that it had received an official Israeli permit to build the new settlement.
Thank you for saving the nation of Israel and the land of Israel. God bless you. A million Jews will settle in Hebron in the upcoming years''
- donor
It thanked a group called “Hebron Friends Fund” who said it would double the final sum donated.
“You donate, and Jewish communities abroad will duplicate your donation,” said the campaign.
A video under the title “Together we build our fathers' city,” ran on the campaign’s web page. It encouraged donors in Israel and abroad to give money to build settlement units in Hebron.
In the video, leaders of the Israeli settler community speak about the importance of Hebron to “Jewish people”.
The video urged donors that “this is your time to build Hebron” and “return back to build now!”
A donor who gave 800 shekels ($227) wrote: “Thank you for saving the nation of Israel and the land of Israel. God bless you. A million Jews will settle in Hebron in the upcoming years.”
The webpage did not give details of when and where this new settlement will be built.
Hebron city is part of the illegally occupied West Bank according to UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
Almost 800 Israeli settlers currently live in the heart of Hebron under heavy military guard among a Palestinian population of about 200,000 people.
In October, the Israeli Civil Administration's Subcommittee for Licensing approved construction permits for 31 settler housing units on Shuhada Street, a main road that leads to the Ibrahimi Mosque and market in the old town of Hebron.
The construction of these 31 units would increase settler numbers in Hebron city by 20 percent.
It is unclear if the current campaign is related to the building plans of these settler units.
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