Around 330 settlers live in Amona, the largest of numerous outposts built without official authorisation on privately-owned Palestinian land.
ADVERTISEMENTIsraeli protesters confront police carrying out a court order to evict settlers from an illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank.
Around 330 settlers live in Amona, the largest of numerous outposts built without official authorisation on privately-owned Palestinian land.
The Supreme Court ruled in November that the Israelis settlers must leave their homes.
Several protesters were detained and at least 10 officers were injured by rocks thrown at them.
Amona’s settlers stayed inside their homes, and erected makeshift barriers, saying they were committed to passive resistance.
Amona had caused tensions within the Israeli government, which eased after the prime minister backed a law proposed by the Jewish Home party to retroactively legalise dozens of outposts, a leader of the far-right group tweeted, “we lost the battle for Amona but we are winning the campaign for the Land of Israel.”
The eviction comes as Israel announced plans for 3,000 more settlement homes in the West Bank. Palestinians have decried the announcement as placing obstacles to peace in the Middle East.
The EU issued a statement saying it disapproved of the move saying:
“Continued settlement expansion, illegal under international law as reaffirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 2334, goes directly against long-standing EU policy and the recommendations of the Quartet Report. A negotiated two-state solution is the only way to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of both parties and to achieve enduring peace.”