Settlers gear for outposts' eviction

Tensions run high as security forces set to evacuate several illegal West Bank outposts

Yair Altman |Published: 12.13.11 , 01:48

Tensions were high among West Bank settlers Monday night, ahead of the possible eviction of several illegal outposts.

Hundreds of police officers and IDF soldiers deployed in the Kedumim area and the sector supervised by the Shomron Spatial Brigade, equipped with bulldozers. Sources told Ynet that the illegal West Bank outpost of Mitzpe Yitzhar is likely to be evacuated overnight.

Related stories:

Hundreds of settlers and right-wing activists have gathered on the premises, as well as at the nearby outpost of Ramat Gilad.

Heads of the settlement movement held intense talks on the issue with various government representatives throughout the day.

(Photo: AFP)

On Sunday, Yesha Council Chairman Danny Dayan learned that Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the eviction of Mitzpe Yitzhar and Ramat Gilad.

MK Yaakov Katz (National Union) appealed to 20 Knesset members from the Right to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the matter, and according to Katz, Netanyahu decided to intervene and ordered to suspend the eviction of Ramat Gilad.

"Just like in Migron, Barak is trying to go behind Netanyahu's back," an associate of MK Katz told Ynet. The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the matter.

Mitzpe Yitzhar is an outpost adjacent to the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar and is home to five families.

Some 150 members of the 'Hilltop Youth' arrived at the outpost on Monday, saying that they will fight any attempt to evacuate the premises.

Yitzhar is considered to be the settler's "hardcore" area and has often been the scene of riots.