CONTENTIOUS

Israel Kicks Out Settlers From Homes on Palestinian Land

As part of court ruling in favor of Palestinian property rights.

Israeli police on Tuesday removed settlers and protesters from settlements built on privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank, literally yanking some people from buildings and carrying them out. The move came after Israel’s supreme court ordered the demolition of nine buildings in a settlement of about 3,000 people, ruling that the homes were illegally built on land owned by Palestine. The ruling in favor of Palestinian property rights comes as Israel plans to expand construction of such settlements, a move U.S. President Donald Trump has cautioned against. While there were no reports of violence, Israeli police forcibly removed some pro-settlement activists who put up a fight and refused to evacuate. Israeli right-wing groups have condemned the eviction, arguing the homes were built legally. Israel plans to build 6,000 more homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, though Trump in February urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “hold back” on the settlements. Israel’s parliament retroactively legalized about 4,000 settler homes built on private Palestinian land three weeks ago; the homes vacated Tuesday were part of a separate court ruling.