IDF soldier in Hebron
Photo: Zoom 77
Settlers who invaded Hebron market face evacuation
State tells court Jewish settlers who took over Palestinian stores four years ago to be removed by mid February
Jewish settlers from Hebron, who invaded the town's wholesale market, will be evacuated from there by mid February, State officials said at a High Court hearing Thursday.
The Hebron Municipality filed a petition to the High Court of Justice four years ago, a short while after Jewish settlers took over Palestinian stores in the wholesale market located near a Jewish neighborhood.
The Municipality charged that the IDF did not do anything in order to stop the invasion and return the shops to their Palestinian owners.
State officials have already said in the past that the invaders would be evacuated, but added that the evacuation would be implemented after considering the security situation.
During Thursday's court hearing, State officials said that Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had instructed the IDF to prepare for an operation to evacuate the invaders in mid February.
Simultaneously, representatives of the Jewish settlement in Hebron were told that the invaders should evacuate themselves by mid January.
The invaders had asked the IDF to lease the stores, but were turned down.
