Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron rioted for several hours. Reports say several Palestinians were injured. Violence broke out on Tuesday after rumours spread that Israeli forces were about to evict the settlers from a disputed building in the mainly Palestinian city.
Settlers and their supporters threw stones at Palestinians and Israeli police, damaging homes and cars. Similar incidents were reported in several other parts of the West Bank.
HEBRON FACTS
Divided into H1 and H2 under 1997 agreement115,000 Palestinians live in H1 under Palestinian security controlH2 is under Israeli security control and is home to several hundred settlers and 35,000 PalestiniansTomb of Patriarchs and traditional Palestinian town centre is in H2
The eviction was ordered by the Israeli supreme court in November.
The settlers have been involved in several clashes since the eviction order was issued, and have desecrated a mosque and a Muslim graveyard.
In northern West Bank, near Nablus, dozens of settlers clashed with Palestinians and border police, and blocked roads in a show of support for the settlers in the centre of Hebron. There were several arrests.
Several hundred hard-line religious settlers live in the centre of Hebron under heavy military guard amid some 150,000 Palestinians.
Hebron is holy to both Jews and Muslims as the site of the cave that Abraham bought as a burial site for his wife Sarah.
The settlers say that they bought the house in a legal transaction from its Palestinian owner for nearly US $1m. He says he pulled out of the deal.
The Israeli high court is yet to rule on who owns the disputed building, but says it must be vacated while the decision is made.
All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law though Israel disputes this.
(Agencies)
Settlers and their supporters threw stones at Palestinians and Israeli police, damaging homes and cars. Similar incidents were reported in several other parts of the West Bank.
HEBRON FACTS
Divided into H1 and H2 under 1997 agreement115,000 Palestinians live in H1 under Palestinian security controlH2 is under Israeli security control and is home to several hundred settlers and 35,000 PalestiniansTomb of Patriarchs and traditional Palestinian town centre is in H2
The eviction was ordered by the Israeli supreme court in November.
The settlers have been involved in several clashes since the eviction order was issued, and have desecrated a mosque and a Muslim graveyard.
In northern West Bank, near Nablus, dozens of settlers clashed with Palestinians and border police, and blocked roads in a show of support for the settlers in the centre of Hebron. There were several arrests.
Several hundred hard-line religious settlers live in the centre of Hebron under heavy military guard amid some 150,000 Palestinians.
Hebron is holy to both Jews and Muslims as the site of the cave that Abraham bought as a burial site for his wife Sarah.
The settlers say that they bought the house in a legal transaction from its Palestinian owner for nearly US $1m. He says he pulled out of the deal.
The Israeli high court is yet to rule on who owns the disputed building, but says it must be vacated while the decision is made.
All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law though Israel disputes this.
(Agencies)
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