In rare move, Israeli ultra-Orthodox establish West Bank outpost

A group of 15 ultra-Orthodox families announced today they have established an illegal outpost in the southern West Bank within walking distance from the ultra-Orthodox settlement of Metzad. The group includes families with children and also yeshiva students.

The great majority of West Bank wildcat outposts were established in the past two decades by settlers and right-wing activists identifying themselves with the national religious stream, namely Orthodox Jews. The group that established the new outpost — named Derech Emunah — are ultra-Orthodox Jews. The group said they had set up some 15 wooden structures on the site, including homes for the families to live in, a makeshift synagogue and a makeshift yeshiva.