Israel evicts Palestinians from West Bank camp

ZAIM, Palestine

Israeli border police evict a Palestinian activist from Jerusalem. AP photo

Israeli police evicted dozens of Palestinian activists early yesterday from a first-of-its-kind protest camp they set up in a West Bank area slated for Israeli settlement.

Hundreds of Israeli police entered the campsite in the controversial E1 area on the outskirts of Jerusalem and quickly bundled around 200 Palestinian activists at the Bab al-Shams (Gate of the Sun in Arabic) camp into buses and drove them from the site. The camp has been set up on Jan. 11 in the E1 area between Israeli annexed east Jerusalem and the Maaleh Adumim settlement. Israel recently moved forward with plans to build in the area, drawing international criticism for the move.

Speaking to Israeli army radio, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat praised the protest, saying, “Palestinians are trying to protect the land of their state and they have done something peaceful.”