Jewish Settlers Agree To Stay Protests Of West Bank Deals Israeli Soldiers Haul Hundreds Of Demonstrators Off Of Hilltop
Jewish settlers protesting plans to expand Palestinian autonomy agreed to a three-day pause in their demonstrations as soldiers hauled hundreds more settlers off a West Bank hilltop Thursday.
The agreement came in response to an appeal by Israeli President Ezer Weizman, who expressed concern over a “widening rift” among Israelis.
Thursday was the fourth day of face-offs between Israelis in the occupied West Bank. Soldiers, some in tears, carried men, women and children protesters off Artis Hill, beside the West Bank settlement of Beit El, 12 miles north of Jerusalem.
A second evacuation was in progress Thursday afternoon on another hill near the Kedumim settlement when the agreement was announced. After hearing the news, soldiers and settlers sang Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikva,” together.
Deputy Foreign Minister Eli Dayan offered to open a dialogue with the settlers, Israel radio said.
Settler spokesman Yehiel Leiter said the settlers were willing to negotiate. The settlers are insisting that the autonomy accord under negotiation with the PLO, which would include an Israeli troop pullout from West Bank towns, be put to a national referendum. About 140,000 Israelis live in the West Bank among 1 million Palestinians.
Thursday morning, settlers clapped, danced and sang nationalistic songs as troops arrived on Artis Hill.
Police minister Moshe Shahal dismissed the protesters as “an extremist faction that breaks the law.”
The autonomy talks hit a new snag Thursday, when Palestinian negotiators said talks on sharing water resources in the West Bank had reached a dead end and walked out of the discussions. But Israeli officials said the talks in general were on track and would continue.
The negotiators have been meeting all week in the Red Sea resort of Eilat to work out an agreement on withdrawing Israeli troops and holding Palestinian elections. The deal would be the second stage of Palestinian autonomy. The Gaza Strip and Jericho obtained self-rule in May 1994.
Israel seized the Gaza Strip and West Bank during the 1967 ArabIsraeli war and has ignored U.N. resolutions demanding it withdraw. The Palestine Liberation Organization expects the peace accord to culminate in an independent Palestine in the territories, with east Jerusalem as its capital.