Israeli forces will take a hard line with defiers of a West Bank pullout, the Ha'aretz daily said Monday.

Military sources said there are approximately 2,100 illegal infiltrators in Sa-Nur and Homesh, the two remaining settlements in the West Bank slated for evacuation starting from Wednesday.

The protestors spread spikes on the road leading to the communications position in the area in a bid to puncture the tyres of military vehicles summoned to the site.

As the army sent massive forces under heavy guard to northern West Bank ahead of expected resistance to evacuations Tuesday, police arrested 87 right-wing activists en route to the settlements of Sa-Nur and Homesh.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Central Command has in the last two weeks confiscated 40 weapons from military deserters in the area.

The decision to round up arms from soldiers on unauthorized leave was made after IDF deserter Eden Natan-Zada opened fire at a bus in the Arab Galilee town of Shfaram two weeks ago, killing four and wounding 12.

Military officers said Sunday that Israeli troops will brace for a fierce confrontation with settlers during their scheduled evacuation of two West Bank settlements on Wednesday.

The officers believed the struggle would be violent and even escalates to the use of firearms.

Source: Xinhua