Standoff as Israeli troops target settlement

By ATEF SA'AD in NABLUS

Israeli troops and police scuffled with hundreds of Jewish settlers near Nablus yesterday as they made good on a Government promise to dismantle some 20 rogue hilltop settlements.

At the same time, Palestinian militants set off explosives planted in the road in Jenin as Israeli tanks rumbled back into the West Bank town, two days after troops pulled out in response to relative calm.

The tanks returned fire with Machineguns, but neither side reported injuries.

It was not immediately clear why Israeli forces re-entered the city. A spokesman said the Army did not discuss deployment of troops.

Palestinians said that after entering the city, troops distributed flyers urging residents not to co-operate with militants.

"The Israeli Army does not intend to harm civilians. It is doing its best to arrest terrorists and those who help them," the statement said.

The redeployment in Jenin and the removal of the settlement outpost Havat Gilad came as US envoy William Burns started a tour of the region in a bid to stop the violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Palestinians have demanded that Israel pull out of West Bank cities and stop settlement activity before talks resume, while Israel has insisted that the Palestinian Authority rein in militants.

Hundreds of police and soldiers faced off against the Jewish settlers, some of whom had rifles slung over their shoulders, as they followed Defence Ministry orders to dismantle the Havat Gilad outpost.

Several settlers climbed on to the roof of one structure to prevent its being demolished by a bulldozer, but police pulled them down. Others lay on the ground, refusing to move, and were dragged off the hilltop.

Thirty people, including soldiers and police, were injured in the scuffles that showed signs of continuing throughout the night. An Israel radio reporter estimated that 1000 settlers were at the site.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon criticised the settlers for attacking security forces. "Israel is a law-abiding nation and any attack on its Army, police or security forces is an attack on the Government and should be strongly denounced," he said in a statement.

Israel disputes the international community's view that settlement activity is illegal.

- REUTERS

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