Hundreds of Jewish settlers and their supporters have moved into abandoned homes near the West Bank settlement of Barkan, launching a protest campaign against the Israeli army’s planned redeployment in the territories.
Before dawn on Tuesday, the settlers moved into 13 empty buildings on a hilltop overlooking the Trans-Samaria highway, southwest of Nablus.
Israeli security forces stood by as the protesters cleaned up the apartments, hooked them up to electricity and water, and hung Israeli flags.
To make the point that they had no intention of leaving, the settlers reportedly stood guard, brandishing loaded Uzi submachine guns.
Settlers said the buildings were build privately in the early 1980s and that they could not be forced out. Security forces were checking the legality of the claim.
The move came less than two weeks before the July 1 target date Israel and the Palestinians have set for finalizing agreements on the next stage of self-rule, which includes an Israeli army pullback from Arab population centers in the West Bank on the eve of Palestinian elections.
It also took place amid reports that the Israel Defense Force is ready to withdraw troops from four cities in the West Bank.
Senior military sources told the Israeli daily Ha’aretz that the IDF is ready to pull out of Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm and Kalkilya. The sources said difference have arisen with the Palestinians over their demand that the pullback also include Ramallah and Bethlehem.
U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, meeting with Arafat in the West Bank Jericho enclave Saturday, reportedly urged the PLO leader to accept a partial pullout of Israeli troops from the four cities.
During the meeting, which came as part of Christopher’s latest round of Middle East shuttle diplomacy, the secretary reportedly said the Palestinian Authority would get more aid from foreign donor countries if Arafat accepted the idea of a partial pullout.
The settlers, however, are unwilling to countenance even a partial withdrawal.
“Unquestionably, the intention is to make the redeployment as difficult as possible, with the hope that much or all will not take place,” settler leader Yechiel Leiter said.
Leiter said the settlers had no intention of leaving the settlement, newly dubbed “Ma’aleh Yisrael.”
“We have established a new community here in Jewish buildings,” he said, adding that similar efforts would take place throughout the West Bank.
Housing Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, calling the effort a political statement, said he expected that the settlers would be forced to evacuate soon.
Palestinian official Faisal Husseini called the settler action “a provocation.”
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