3 Sep 2012

Settlers evicted from outpost on West Bank

5:15 am on 3 September 2012

Israeli settlers began leaving an outpost in the West Bank on Sunday after being given eviction notices by police.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the hilltop settlement of Migron, home to about 50 families, must be evacuated by Tuesday because it is unauthorised.

Some of the settlers were reported to have barricaded themselves inside a building in the outpost.

The BBC reports police dragged a number of youths away, but most residents left voluntarily. Eight people - who were not Migron residents - were arrested.

The evictions came two days before a deadline set by the Supreme Court. The court also rejected a deal between the government and the settlers to delay the evacuation until 2015 to allow the settlers to rebuild their homes at the compromise site.

About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are deadlocked over the settlements issue.