Israeli troops in the two West Bank settlements of Sa Nur and Homesh, the last remaining settlements slated for evacuation, encountered fierce battles with anti-pullout protesters on Tuesday.
Soldiers wearing riot-gear in were hoisted atop an old British citadel in Sa Nur inside transport containers, attempting to remove the remaining die-hard settlers that had taken hold of the structure.
Security forces eventually used tear gas to distance the protesters, many of whom weilded iron rods, long wooden poles and sheilds, attempting to destabilize the containers as they rose to the citadel's rooftop. One female soldier was reportedly stabbed by a protester, suffering light wounds, according to YNet.
Once the protests had stabilized, troops stood by while the remaining 40 or so settlers prayed before being arrested.
Despite the unrest, Israeli authories said that resistance to evacuation measures at the idealogical West Bank settlements was less than expected.
"Several hoodlums are attempting to create drama," Israeli Police Chief Moshe Karadi said. "We should be thinking about how their parents sent them here." he added.
Earlier in the day, around 8,000 Israeli troops broke through the gates of the two settlements and faced burning tires and other obstacles such as spikes and oil placed on roads to hinder military vehicle advancement.
Around 2,000 protesters entered the settlements in attempt to thwart the evacuation process, according to Haaretz daily.
Some protesters in the settlements, known for their extremism, threw garbage and shouted at the soldiers. On Monday night female settlers reportedly set fire to a military transport vehicle.
However, some 35 families in Homesh reportedly left voluntarily on Monday night, before security forces arrived.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
