Israel evacuates 200 settlers from illegal settlement in West Bank

Iraeli security forces on Thursday evacuated about 200 settlers from the site of the former illegal settlement of the Sa-Nur in the northern West Bank, a military spokesperson said in a statement.

Since Sa-Nur was evacuated as part of the 2005 Disengagement plan from Gaza, former Sa-Nur residents have made several attempts to rebuild their settlement.

Overnight Tuesday, hundreds of activists, including former residents and a far-right parliament member, reentered the site, squatting in the ruins of historic stone British fortress.

They confronted with paramilitary Border Police officers who arrived at the scene, demanding the government to establish a special committee to discuss the return of settlers to Jewish settlements in the northern West Bank.

Meanwhile, Israeli security forces completed Wednesday the demolition of two buildings in the Beit El Settlement, five days after the demolition were suppose to take place according to a Supreme Court order.

Israel's top court decided the so-called Dreinoff buildings should be demolished because they were built on private Palestinian land.

However, hundreds of right-wing activists arrived at the scene, barricading themselves in the buildings and clashing with security forces.

The eviction was completed only after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that 300 new housing units will be built at the site.

Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and has controlled it ever since.

The settlements are built on lands the Palestinians see as their future state, and are considered illegal under international law. Endit