Israeli Supreme Court orders evacuation of West Bank outpost

Israel’s Supreme Court today ordered the immediate evacuation of an illegal West Bank settlement outpost, clearing the way for thousands of troops to move against hundreds of Jewish settlers.

Under the court order, nine homes built illegally on private Palestinian land are to be demolished, and hundreds of settlers to be removed from the area.

Israel Yitzhak, the Israeli police commander in the West Bank, told Israel Radio he had been notified of the court’s decision, and that the evacuation would go ahead.

Yitzhak said he hoped the settlers will not “provoke” and said police responses would be based on settlers’ behaviour.

“I hope they do not force us to use the means at our disposal,” he said. “I hope they will allow us to act. If they resist, we will use force.”

Earlier today, a high court judge had delayed the evacuation, to allow a further discussion of the issue among a larger panel of judges.