Chief of Staff Dan Halutz says troops prepared to remove illegal West Bank outpost of Amona next week; at this time, no date for operation to clear Jewish residents from Hebron market
The illegal West Bank outpost of Amona will be cleared next week, IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz informed the Knesset's Security and Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday.
According to Halutz, the evacuation will follow similar procedures to those introduced during the Gaza and northern West Bank disengagement.
At this time, it is unclear when the Hebron market will be cleared of its Jewish residents.
West Bank
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The army chief stressed the army is preparing to operate in accordance with a High Court of Justice decision on the matter that ruled Amona should be cleared by the end of the month and the Hebron market by February 15 at the latest.
In response, Amona residents announced they will petition the High Court Wednesday against the razing of their homes. The residents say they will ask judges to prevent the State from proceeding with the "draconian, irreversible deed" until the matter is clarified and a compromise is formulated.
Last week, after clashes between local Jewish residents and security forces have reached a new peak in Hebron, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert instructed security forces to immediately begin operations to evacuate all Hebron market and Amona settlers by the end of January.
In addition, Olmert asked Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to present him with a plan for full evacuation of all illegal outposts in Judea and Samaria.
"This reality of disruptions of order and undermining the rule of law may filter through from the West Bank to Israel's territories," Olmert said.
'Zero tolerance'
While the modus operandi for next week's evacuation is expected to resemble measures taken by security forces during Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria last summer, IDF and police sources said they intend to use a firmer hand this time around.
About 2,000 police officers, Border Guard troops, and soldiers are set to take part in the operation to evacuate the Hebron market, Amona and other illegal outposts in the area.
"This time, in contradiction to the pullout, we will be determined and have zero tolerance," a police official told Ynet.
"When we talk about the Hebron market, we talk about offenders and about law enforcement. In this sense, this is very different from evacuating Gush Katif residents from their homes," he explained.
Notably, tensions have somewhat eased in Hebron since last Wednesday, after the IDF reported it will no longer impose IDF Central Command Chief Yair Naveh's decree banning non-residents from entering the town.
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