(10 Nov 1999) VOICED BY: Richard Vaughan

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's Cabinet on Wednesday approved a troop withdrawal from 5 percent of the West Bank, hours after Israeli troops dismantled an illagel Jewish settlement.

In a show of government resolve, Israeli settlers, some kicking and others weeping, were forcibly evacuated from Havat Maon, a West Bank encampment that had come tosymbolize resistance to Prime Minister Ehud Barak's land-for-peace deals with the Palestinians.

Fueled by rumours of the pre-dawn swoop, the settlers had worked through the night, placing branches, wrecked cars and other obstacles across the road leading up to their hilltop encampment.


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The rogue settlement at Havat Maon in the West Bank had symbolised resistance to the land for peace deal with the Palestinians.

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Hundreds of unarmed soldiers and police officers began to evacuate the illegal encampment.

Settlers climbed on rooftops and flung themselves to the ground, making it harder for them to be forcibly moved from the barren hilltop to waiting buses.

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After about five hours, the evacuation was complete.

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Although the Israeli government made no friends at Havat Maon, it did gain support from a traditional enemy.

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SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I believe what happened this morning was a step which we hope will be the beginning of steps like this to end these obstacles in front of the peace process; I mean the settlements"
SUPER CAPTION: Faisel Husseini, Palestinian Minister for Jerusalem

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Meanwhile in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Barak convened his Cabinet for a special meeting to approve the latest Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank.

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The Israeli government also explained the morning's events.

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SOUNDBITE: (English)
"That is the only one (Havat Maon) that hasn't been dismantled by the settlers themselves and that was the only way to implement the government decision. "
SUPER CAPTION: Yossi Beilin, Israeli Justice Minister

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Two key settler leaders, arrested earlier at Havat Maon, arrived in defiant mood at the magistrate's court in Jerusalem.

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Back at the illegal encampment, bulldozers finished the job.

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But these evictions, and the approved Israeli troop pullback, should further improve the atmosphere as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators try and reach a final peace agreement.

1.45 VISION ENDS

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