Israel's Peretz orders evacuation of disputed Hebron building

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to evacuate a disputed building occupied by Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported Wednesday.

Peretz issued the instruction to the IDF late Tuesday.

According to the report, the Defense Ministry did not set a timetable for the evacuation, but it appeared that Peretz expected the process to be completed within two weeks. The IDF is currently making preparations for the operation.

Meanwhile, the coordinator of operations in the West Bank, Major General Yosef Mishlev, is expected to issue an evacuation order to the settlers on Wednesday.

Peretz's decision came after receiving an opinion of Attorney- General Menahem Mazuz who believed that the occupation of the structure by settlers was illegal and authorized the evacuation.

Although the decision for evacuation officially falls under the defense minister's portfolio, Peretz will likely need to coordinate the evacuation process with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The settlers moved into the house in an Arab neighborhood of Hebron on March 19, claiming to have purchased it from its Palestinians owners.

Hebron, a frequent flashpoint for tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, is home to about 500 Jewish settlers living in heavily-guarded enclaves among some 160,000 Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua