Olmert prepares to take on settlers? Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ordered security officials to immediately act to clear the Hebron market of illegal Jewish settlers who are currently residing there.
In addition, Olmert instructed Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to present a plan for removing all illegal outposts across the West Bank.
"This reality of disruptions of order and undermining the rule of law could trickle in from Judea and Samaria into the Green Line. We're fighting for the rule of law and it's an essential objective," the acting prime minister said.
Security forces operating in Hebron (Photo: AP)
During a meeting attended by Mofaz, Olmert handed the security forces a series of instructions to "deal with the law breakers."
Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said during the meeting that the behavior toward the lawbreakers has been forgiving up until now – and this is costing the country now.
“This is not another disengagement, but a violation of law and order,” he said.
“There are people who are speaking of annihilating the State of Israel and establishing the state of Judea.”
Justice and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said, “This is a battle over the sovereignty in the West Bank. It is an ideological dispute over the country’s right to enforce its laws.”
Baruch Marzel,
Chairman of the National Jewish Front party, said in response to Olmert's instructions to quell the unrest in Hebron that, "Olmert should be evacuated from power."
"Olmert is provocateur who is inciting for Jewish blood to be spilled in Hebron. The public would do well to throw him away from power as soon as possible," he added.
| Jewish Settlement |
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| Settlers, security forces clash in Hebron / Efrat Weiss |
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Hundreds of settlers hurl stones at houses of Palestinians, hit officer who arrives to evacuate them; earlier, army prevents 200 settlers from breaking into city's ancient quarter |
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Meanwhile, the High Court has ruled that edicts calling for the clearing of the Amona
outpost in the West Bank will come into effect within a week. The State has announced its intention to clear the outpost by the end of the month.
Yesha Council 'ready for struggle'
David Rotem, a lawyer representing the residents of Amona, said that they intended on using the coming week to petition the High Court against the planned evacuation.
The Yesha Council said in response to the looming evacuation: "Despite our attempts to reach agreements... the High Court has brought into effect edicts for the destruction of homes in Amona, which will cause a further tear in Israeli society. All this is happening while tens of thousands of edicts for the destruction of structures in the Israeli Arab sector and the Palestinian territories are not enforced. We are continuing to prepare for a bitter struggle to delay the destruction of Amona."
In July, the High Court released an interim edict forbidding anyone from residing in nine illegal buildings constructed in Amona, though by that time the buildings were populated.
Further construction in the area was also forbidden.
Ronny Sofer contributed to the report
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