Zarog and his sukkah; Photo credit: Tzvi Sukkot
Sunday, October 13, 2019, 9:56 Yitzhar resident Neriya Zarog, who has been served with an administrative distancing order signed by the GOC of the Central Command, Major-General Nadav Padan, has stated that he will not leave his home on Givat Kumi Ori and will not obey the order.
In a video clip publicized by Zarog on the eve of the Sukkot holiday, he has asserted that he will stay in Yitzhar with his wife and two children: “We just left the arba’at haminim sale in Yitzhar, and as we said, we do not intend to follow this order. We intend to stay here, with HaShem yitbarach, with the commandments, and with the Land of Israel. Have a happy holiday, everyone.”
Neriya Zarog; Video credit: Free use
In a related matter, over the past few days GSS, border police and police forces have repeatedly raided Givat Kumi Ori, but have not succeeded in detaining Zarog.
Zarog has received support from rabbis and other public figures, some of whom have visited him at his home over the past few days to strengthen his stance. Zarog built a sukkah near his home, at which he expects to host guests and visitors over the Sukkot holiday.
Honenu, which has been assisting Zarog, strongly criticized the order: “The order served to Neriya Zarog is a judicial and ethical disgrace. The GSS and the IDF are using procedures dating from the time of the British Mandate to harass Jews striving for the sake of the Land of Israel who have committed no crime. Without a trial and without a judge. We hope that with the closing of the year its adversities will pass, and that the decision makers will put an end to this prolonged scandal.”