CLASHES AS ISRAELIS REMOVE OWN ILLEGAL VILLAGES |以巴爭議土地逾300猶太人遭驅離 爆發衝突

Meanwhile, protesters scuffled with israeli police carrying out a court order to evict settlers from an illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank on Feb. 1. Around 330 Israeli settlers live in Amona, the largest of many villages built in the West Bank without official authorization. The Supreme Court ruled in November, after a lengthy legal battle, that settlers had to leave Amona because their homes were built on privately-owned Palestinian land. The battle over Amona has dragged on for eight years, during which time the community has expanded to 200 children and a primary school. Originally the government had hoped for peaceful protest. ==AVIGDOR LIEBERMANIsraeli Defence Minister== In a democratic state, it's the basic right of the settlers to protest and I hope that the protest will remain within the framework of a legal protest. However, although residents stayed inside until forceably removed, protestors from elsewhere clashed with police. Hundreds of police walked past burning tires and pushed back against dozens of nationalist Israeli youths who traveled to Amona in support of the settlers. Several protesters were detained by police during the scuffles. ==MICKY ROSENFELD Israeli police spokesperson== Until now, the Israeli police have evacuated more than 20 buildings in and around the Amona area. More than 3,000 police officers are involved in the operation, both including border police and riot police. 14 police officers have been injured from stones and liquids that have been thrown at them. And we're continuing to work carefully and cautiously in order to prevent any further injuries. No doubt the operation will continue. The removal continued throughout the night and into the morning of Feb. 2 Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. In the five decades since, it has built about 120 settlements, which most of the world deems illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR