Violence erupts as Israel evicts settlers in Amona

Protesters scuffled with Israeli police carrying out a court order to evict settlers from an illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, hours after the government announced more construction in larger settlements.

Some 330 Israeli settlers live in Amona, the largest ofscores of outposts built in the West Bank without officialauthorization. The Supreme Court ruled in November, after alengthy legal battle, that settlers had to leave Amona becausetheir homes were built on privately owned Palestinian land.

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With no weapons visible, but wearing backpacks, hundreds ofpolice walked past burning tires and pushed back against dozensof nationalist Israeli youths who flocked to Amona in support ofthe settlers.

Several protesters were detained by police during thescuffles and there were a few instances of stone-throwing. Apolice spokesmen said at least 15officers were injured slightlyby rocks and caustic liquid thrown at them.

'We have lost the battle overAmona.' JewishHome leaderNaftaliBennett

"A Jew doesn't evict a Jew!" the youngsters chanted.

The Amona settlers themselves stayed largely put insidetheir homes after erecting makeshift barriers in front of theirdoors and vowing passive resistance to eviction.

"We won't leave our homes on our own. Pull us out, and we'llgo," one settler told reporters. "It is a black day forZionism."

On a nearby hilltop, Issa Zayed, a Palestinian who said hewas one of the owners of the land on which Amona was built,watched the scene through binoculars. "With God's help, it willbe evacuated and our land will return to us," he said.

Police said the evictions will continue into the night.About 50 families, some 250 people, live in Amona, which isthe largest of about 100 unauthorized outposts erected in the West Bank. A police spokesman said about 1,500 activists were in the area on Wednesday.

Tensions within coalition

Earlier, Israel announced plans for 3,000 more settlementhomes in the West Bank, the third such declaration in 11 dayssince U.S. President Donald Trump took office. Trump, aRepublican, has signalled he could be more accommodating towardsuch projects than his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.

An announcement a week ago by Israel that it would buildsome 2,500 more dwellings in the West Bank, territory capturedin a 1967 Middle East war and where Palestinians now seekstatehood, drew rebukes from the Palestinians and the EuropeanUnion. It followed approval a few days before of over 560 newhomes in East Jerusalem, also taken by Israel in 1967.

"The decision will place obstacles in the path of anyeffort to start a peace process that will lead to security andpeace," said Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinians want the West Bank and Gaza Strip for anindependent state, with its capital in East Jerusalem. Israelitroops and settlers withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

In 2006 Amona saw a violent partial eviction, with nineshacks torn down by authorities. Police were confronted bythousands of settlers and more than 200 people were injured.

Most countries consider all Israeli settlements to beillegal. Israel disagrees, citing historical and political linksto the land which the Palestinians also assert as well assecurity interests.

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The Amona issue had caused tensions within Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu's coalition government. But they eased afterhe got behind a law proposed by the Jewish Home party, afar-right political ally, to retroactively legalise dozens ofoutposts. This would not apply to Amona because of the existingcourt decision.

"We have lost the battle over Amona but we are winning thecampaign for the Land of Israel," cabinet minister and JewishHome leader Naftali Bennett tweeted after the evacuation began.

The legislation is expected to be passed in parliament nextweek. It is opposed, however, by Israel's attorney-general andlegal experts predict it eventually would be overturned incourt.