Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday ordered the Israeli army to evacuate around 250 Palestinian activists from an “outpost” they erected in the controversial E1 area, a day after Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the outpost could remain for six days while the issue of the removal of the tents was being discussed.
"I immediately called for the area to be closed off so there would not be large gatherings there that could cause friction and breach the public order," he told Army Radio.
Mark Regev, Netanyahu’s spokesman, said, “This is illegal activity on public land, and it will end. “This is a meaningless gimmick. If the Palestinians really wanted to change things they would have negotiated with Israel. This is a meaningless gesture.”
The army has declared the area a closed military zone.
Hundreds of Israeli police and border guards entered the compound and told a crowd of about 100 to leave the 20 large, steel-framed tents erected on Friday.
"Everyone was evacuated carefully and swiftly, without any injuries to officers or protesters," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
Palestinians headed to E1 on Friday and set up more than 20 tents to protest Israel’s decision last month to advance plans to build 3,500 homes in the area which located between Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement.
The Palestinian Authority has said that E1 land is needed so the future Palestinian state will be viable and have territorial continuity.
Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said the village of tents was built to salvage the two-state solution at a time when Israel was trying to “destroy” it.
“Israel must choose between settlements and peace,” Erekat said. “The two can’t go together.”
Israel has announced plans to expand settlements in West Bank areas around Jerusalem, after the vote at the United Nations in favour of granting the Palestinians upgraded non-member observer status.
Netanyahu told Israel army radio Sunday that planning for E-1 is moving ahead and that "there will be construction."