West Bank settlers hurl stones in clashes with army

AJJA, West Bank – Israelis living in the hardline northern West Bank settlement of Sanur, which is due to be evacuated this week, hurled stones and slashed tyres of military vehicles yesterday, witnesses said.

Dozens of the settlers ventured a short distance out of the settlement, close to the Palestinian village of Ajja, where they mounted bulldozers expected to be used in the evacuation operation. Security forces ordered them to return to the settlement and could be seen hauling some of the settlers away, witnesses said.Israeli military sources confirmed only what they called “public order troubles” caused by settlers near Sanur.One Israeli soldier was taken to hospital after being beaten by settlers from the neighbouring enclave of Homesh, also doomed to be dismantled under Israel’s disengagement plan, military sources said.The Israeli cabinet gave the final seal of approval Sunday for the evacuation of Homesh and Sanur, as well as Ganim and Kadim further north, which have already been completely emptied of settlers.Hundreds of right-wing activists have flocked to Sanur and Homesh in recent days to bolster resistance to the pullout, which will be the first time Israel has ever left parts of the occupied West Bank.- Nampa-AFPSecurity forces ordered them to return to the settlement and could be seen hauling some of the settlers away, witnesses said.Israeli military sources confirmed only what they called “public order troubles” caused by settlers near Sanur.One Israeli soldier was taken to hospital after being beaten by settlers from the neighbouring enclave of Homesh, also doomed to be dismantled under Israel’s disengagement plan, military sources said.The Israeli cabinet gave the final seal of approval Sunday for the evacuation of Homesh and Sanur, as well as Ganim and Kadim further north, which have already been completely emptied of settlers.Hundreds of right-wing activists have flocked to Sanur and Homesh in recent days to bolster resistance to the pullout, which will be the first time Israel has ever left parts of the occupied West Bank.- Nampa-AFP