This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7762469.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stakes raised in Hebron stand-off | Stakes raised in Hebron stand-off |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron have been involved in further clashes with Israeli security forces and local Palestinians. | Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron have been involved in further clashes with Israeli security forces and local Palestinians. |
| Tensions rose after Israel declared a large building occupied by settlers to be a "closed military area". | Tensions rose after Israel declared a large building occupied by settlers to be a "closed military area". |
| Israeli forces then barred Jews from entering Hebron's Palestinian section. | Israeli forces then barred Jews from entering Hebron's Palestinian section. |
| Israeli politicians say the building will be forcibly evacuated if no agreement can be reached with the settlers. | Israeli politicians say the building will be forcibly evacuated if no agreement can be reached with the settlers. |
| Haaretz, the Israeli daily, reports that Defence Minister Ehud Barak is due to meet the settlers on Thursday, in a last-ditch effort to salvage a peaceful outcome. | Haaretz, the Israeli daily, reports that Defence Minister Ehud Barak is due to meet the settlers on Thursday, in a last-ditch effort to salvage a peaceful outcome. |
| Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said on Wednesday: "It is clear to all of us, including the settlers, that this issue would be best solved in agreement. However, if need be, the security system will use force." | Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said on Wednesday: "It is clear to all of us, including the settlers, that this issue would be best solved in agreement. However, if need be, the security system will use force." |
| 'House of contention' | 'House of contention' |
| President Shimon Peres also weighed in, accusing the settlers of damaging the country. "Whoever throws a stone at a soldier attacks the state, and we cannot allow that." | President Shimon Peres also weighed in, accusing the settlers of damaging the country. "Whoever throws a stone at a soldier attacks the state, and we cannot allow that." |
| However, settlers insist that they will not go voluntarily. "We will refuse any compromise," said US-born settler David Wilder. "This expulsion is illegal." | However, settlers insist that they will not go voluntarily. "We will refuse any compromise," said US-born settler David Wilder. "This expulsion is illegal." |
| The violence began two days ago amid rumours that settlers were about to be evicted from the four-storey house. | The violence began two days ago amid rumours that settlers were about to be evicted from the four-storey house. |
| Jewish supporters have joined the settlers as they refuse to leave the house, in defiance of a court order. | Jewish supporters have joined the settlers as they refuse to leave the house, in defiance of a court order. |
| Hundreds of settlers and supporters continue to blockade the building, throwing stones at Palestinians and the police. | Hundreds of settlers and supporters continue to blockade the building, throwing stones at Palestinians and the police. |
| CITY OF HEBRON Divided into H1 and H2 under 1997 agreement115,000 Palestinians lives in H1 under Palestinian security controlH2 is under Israeli security control and is home to several hundred settlers and 35,000 PalestiniansTomb of Patriarchs and traditional Palestinian town centre is in H2 Palestinian life: Splits and barriersMixed emotions on Hebron tourFact meets fiction in Hebron film Reports say some Palestinians have retaliated by throwing stones at the settlers and that a number of Palestinians and Israelis have been arrested. | |
| Several people are reported to have been injured. | Several people are reported to have been injured. |
| About 600 Jewish settlers live in the mainly Palestinian city, with several thousand more in surrounding settlements. | About 600 Jewish settlers live in the mainly Palestinian city, with several thousand more in surrounding settlements. |
| Ownership of the building, known as the "house of peace", is in dispute. | Ownership of the building, known as the "house of peace", is in dispute. |
| It has recently been dubbed the "house of contention" in the Israeli press. | It has recently been dubbed the "house of contention" in the Israeli press. |
| The Israeli military says Jewish settlers in other parts of the West Bank have also blocked roads and thrown stones at Palestinian cars. | The Israeli military says Jewish settlers in other parts of the West Bank have also blocked roads and thrown stones at Palestinian cars. |
| Several hundred hard-line religious settlers live in the centre of Hebron under heavy military guard amid some 150,000 Palestinians. | Several hundred hard-line religious settlers live in the centre of Hebron under heavy military guard amid some 150,000 Palestinians. |
| The settlers say that they bought the house in question in a legal transaction from its Palestinian owner for nearly $1m (£660,000), but he says he pulled out of the deal. | The settlers say that they bought the house in question in a legal transaction from its Palestinian owner for nearly $1m (£660,000), but he says he pulled out of the deal. |
| Israel's supreme court ordered the eviction in November but settlers have refused to leave. | Israel's supreme court ordered the eviction in November but settlers have refused to leave. |
| They have been involved in several clashes since the order was issued, and have desecrated a mosque and a Muslim cemetery. | They have been involved in several clashes since the order was issued, and have desecrated a mosque and a Muslim cemetery. |
| Hebron is holy to both Jews and Muslims as the site of the cave that Abraham bought as a burial site for his wife Sarah. | Hebron is holy to both Jews and Muslims as the site of the cave that Abraham bought as a burial site for his wife Sarah. |
| All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. | All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. |