Israeli police evict 150 Palestinians from E1 Area

A large police force early Sunday evicted some 150 Palestinians who established a “settlement” Friday in the E1 Area between Jerusalem and the town of Maaleh Adummim. They were removed from the area and bussed to the West Bank. Their tents remain in place until it is determined whether they are standing on state or privately-owned land. Saturday night, on orders from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the state prosecution petitioned the High Court to annul an earlier temporary injunction and set forth Israeli arguments against the Palestinian step as a danger to public order. The Palestinians claim the Israeli presence in the E1 Area splits the West Bank in two parts. Israel disputes this claim and has declared it a part of Jerusalem, its capital. It has now been cordoned off as a military zone.