Israeli police raze settlement of Amona
AMONA, West Bank — Security forces hauled away defiant Israeli settlers Wednesday amid a final showdown at a hardscrabble Israeli settlement that the supreme court has deemed illegal because it was built on privately owned Palestinian land.
The razing of Amona and the eviction of its 40 families underscored the political challenges for Israeli leaders who count on the support of settlers and plan to further expand the Israeli footprint in the West Bank. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said at least 15 police officers had been slightly injured in scuffles with settlers and their supporters
Last month, after the Israeli court’s eviction order was postponed, the government announced that it had reached an agreement with the settlers — a hefty payout and promises of another spot on the same hillside in exchange for a peaceful move. But, as the days wore on, residents of Amona saw no new community being built for them, and Israeli human rights groups filed additional legal petitions on behalf of private Palestinians who claim to own that land, too.
The agreement broke down and on Tuesday, the army gave the settlers 48 hours to leave peacefully.
The story of Amona has presented a huge challenge for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition, which won its election victory partly with support from the settlers. It also comes as the Israeli government hails the arrival in the White House of President Donald Trump, who they hope will end decades of U.S. criticism of settlement construction. Last week, Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced that 2,500 new homes would be built in the West Bank. On Tuesday, in anticipation of the Amona confrontation, they promised thousands more.
But political promises did little to douse the anger of hundreds of young activists. Israeli police spokesman Rosenfeld said about 3,000 police and soldiers were involved in the evacuation.