The latest foray by Gush Emunim settlers into Arab-owned land on the West Bank ended peacefully this morning when the squatters, including many women and children, departed voluntarily from the site under the watchful eyes of Israeli soldiers sent to evacuate them. Several hundred Gush from Kadumim, a settlement near Nablus, occupied the adjacent land yesterday and set up makeshift huts.
Their stated purpose was to force the government to order the large-scale expropriation of Arab land on the West Bank to make room for massive Jewish settlement. Women and children were brought in deliberately to deter the use of force against them.
Troops were not sent in until I a.m. local time after the Gush rejected pleas by the Military Governor and the regional army commander to leave. The soldiers surrounded the huts but made no move against the squatters during the night. Women soldiers were on hand to remove the women and children.
Early this morning, the Gush apparently decided that they had made their point and left after a demonstrative singing of Hatikva that brought the soldiers to attention. The youngsters were provided with candy to stuff into the pockets of the soldiers.
The controversial issue of expropriating Arab lands for settlement purposes will be taken up by the Cabinet at its weekly session this Sunday. The Gush is said to have been assured by its supporters in the government that Premier Menachem Begin is sympathetic to the Gush demands and that the Cabinet will act in its favor.
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