Israeli police complete evacuation in Hebron house

Israeli police have completed the eviction of dozens of Jewish settlers from a Palestinian house in the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday morning, Israel's Ha'aretz reported.

The forcible operation was completed in about two and a half hours after the police entered the house following a standoff that began Saturday night between settlers and right-wing protestors, said the report.

All three families that illegally moved into the three-story building in early April were first evicted and the police then searched the building for remaining infiltrators who had holed themselves up inside the premises.

Besides the families, about 40 to 50 Jewish youths came to reinforce the standoff.

As policemen attempted to enter the house, youths holed up inside, pouring paint on them from above.

During Saturday night clashes between police and dozens of protestors, 13 soldiers and police were wounded, with seven of them hospitalized, while six protestors were also wounded and five activists were arrested.

Earlier in April, the three families, including six adults and 16 children, moved into the building, claiming that they rented it from a company.

Sunday's eviction was completed one day ahead of a court order deadline.

Last Friday, the High Court of Justice gave order to security forces to evacuate the building until May. 8.

Hebron has been a volatile city where 500 Jewish settlers live among 160,000 Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua