Peretz orders IDF to evacuate settlers who took over Hebron house
Hebron Jewish Settlement Committee in response: Do not to make a decision that means Jews will be expelled from their home for political-racial reasons
Defense Minister Amir Peretz instructed the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday to evacuate the Jewish settlers who took over a house in Hebron about two and a half weeks ago.
The timetable for the implementation of the order has yet to be set.
The decision is based on a clause according to which the settlers must have the defense minister’s authorization to stay in the disputed house, which they do not have.
Members of the Hebron Jewish Settlement Committee said in response to Peretz's decision, "We know that there is no reasonable basis for evacuating the house. We call on the defense minister not to make a decision that means Jews will be expelled from their home for political-racial reasons."
'Indecent political and arbitrary attempt'
"The defense minister's attempt to harass the Jewish settlement in Hebron is an indecent political and arbitrary attempt," said Knesset Member Gideon Sa'ar, chairman of the Likud faction, in response to Amir Peretz's decision to evacuate the disputed house in Hebron.
"Peretz's attempt to damage the Jewish settlement in Hebron before its expected evacuation will fail," Sa'ar added.
On March 20 hundreds of yeshiva students entered a house in the final stages of construction near the road between Kiryat Arba and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
The settlers claimed that they had documents proving ownership of the house, but a local Palestinian said he was the owner.
Amnon Meranda contributed to the report
