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ANALYSIS / Settlers can't stop evacuation of Hebron house By Amos Harel Tags: settlers, West Bank, Hebron  The Hebron affair refuses to die. The violence may have decreased Wednesday, but the operation by the police and military to evacuate the House of Contention was postponed at the last minute because of another attempt to solve the crisis through an agreement. The chances of reaching a compromise do not look good, but the appeal by the Yesha Council of settlers to Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday may gain the settlers another weekend in the house before evacuation. The relative easing of the situation did not happen by accident. As soon as the leaders of the settlers in Hebron understood that the public was turning against them, they tried to limit the wild behavior of the Jewish youths. Advertisement The intensive media coverage of the rioting on Tuesday led, as expected, to aggressive articles in the newspapers and even roused the politicians from their slumber. President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dedicated part of their speeches at the annual memorial ceremony for Paula and David Ben-Gurion to the violence in Hebron. Instead of violence and provocations based on religious motives - and these may yet return in the settler youths' nighttime marches through Palestinian neighborhoods - the settlers have switched tactics. They are taking over other houses under contention in the town center, which the settlers left as part of their agreement with the authorities in 2006, alongside their negotiations with Barak. Here the Yesha Council reenters the picture. The council's influence in the settlements has dropped drastically since it failed in its stand against the disengagement three years ago. Barak will sit with the leaders of the Yesha Council on Thursday to prove his intentions are honest and that he does not rule out an agreement over the evacuation. But Barak's aides expressed serious doubts yesterday that the council was able to enforce an agreement on the people inside the house, and in particular on the youths in Hebron. In the meantime, they will drag their feet for another day or two. The longer the negotiations drag out, the less likely the evacuation will take place before the weekend. The final date has not been set, but the Israel Defense Forces has expressed doubts about starting the evacuation early Friday morning lest the evacuation carry over into the Sabbath and set off a new fight, this time over desecrating the Sabbath. It seems the residents of the House of Contention and their supporters are using the time they have gained to reinforce their fortifications. The press reports emphasize caches of rocks to be thrown and possibly even chemicals. But previous confrontations have taught us that the defenders have generally avoided using exceptional means. What will happen in Hebron it seems is what happened in Amona and in previous clashes: face-to-face battles with hands and sticks in a small and crowded space with no chance to maneuver. It will end with injuries on both sides, but it is hard to see how the settlers will be able to physically stop the evacuation once the Border Police are given the order. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Settler rampage Video shows settler shooting Palestinian in the stomach from point-blank range. Living side by side An historic Chicago synagogue neighbors Barack Obama's house.   1.   True Amos Harel, but 06:25  |  Mark Lincoln 04/12/08   2.   Two Recent Polls: Israelis Support Hebron Jews` Rights 06:37  |  Yishai Kohen 04/12/08   3.   Kadima govt. "victories" over settlers are only temporary. 06:41  |  Chaim 04/12/08   4.   Livni the defeatist will lose the elections, Jews will win. 06:53  |  John Biber 04/12/08   5.   Mark #1... now it`s beyond settler intransigence... 07:08  |  Esther 04/12/08   6.   Yishai #2... you are making a travesty of Ben Gurion...! 07:19  |  Esther 04/12/08   7.   Hebron as Jerusalem as every hill in Samaria and every valley ... 07:20  |  Jean Van Daem 04/12/08   8.   Yishai #2... it`s interesting.... 07:43  |  Esther 04/12/08   9.   Esther #6: Ben-Gurion Couldn`t Have Been Clearer 07:47  |  Yishai Kohen 04/12/08   10.   #5 Sure, Esther, but the bigger the stakes.... 07:57  |  Johnboy 04/12/08   11.   Article Misses the Point 08:10  |  Ben Israel 04/12/08   12.   An answer to YeSHa 08:24  |  Golani 04/12/08   13.   Hebron always for the Jews 08:32  |  Sydney 04/12/08   14.   To Golani 08:45  |  Sydney 04/12/08   15.   Congratulations to HAARETZ ...... 10:08  |  Josephus 04/12/08   16.   here`s what likely to happen 10:23  |  rm 04/12/08   17.   Settlers 10:40  |  Sydney 04/12/08   18.   To Golani # 12 - If ever there were to be a War...... 11:09  |  Natasha 04/12/08   19.   Easy Battles 11:58  |  Joe 04/12/08   20.   Justice 13:37  |  JoJo 04/12/08

Read & React Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade Responses: 130 Settlers rampage in Palestinian areas after Hebron eviction Responses: 160 Editorial: Jewish terrorists are holding hostage Israel's future Responses: 50 Ari Shavit: Pakistan is as dangerous as Iran Responses: 28 Shlomo Avineri: The State of Israel as the kingdom of evil Responses: 16 More Headlines 02:03 Israel braces for settler violence following Hebron evacuation 01:59 ANALYSIS / No other word than 'pogrom' for settler acts in Hebron 23:27 Abbas aide: Settler attacks could scupper peace process 02:05 Obama's Palestinian friend 17:39 State Prosecutor closes Bank Leumi probe against Olmert 16:05 Report: Syria won't renew peace talks until Israel clarifies Golan plans 07:50 At synagogue overlooking Obama's house, blacks and Jews live side by side 22:55 High voter turnout for Labor's second primary this week 22:11 Top rightist MKs won`t head new national-religious party Habayit Hayehudi 20:36 Mumbai Jewish community on edge after attacks in India 17:28 WATCH: Will Bar Refaeli be the next James Bond girl? 19:39 Ex-N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer debuts as columnist for online magazine 'Slate' 21:32 UN forum: Israel systematically violating Palestinian human rights 21:23 IN PICTURES / The evacuation of 'House of Contention' in Hebron 00:22 Gilad Shalit's parents reportedly contact PIs to acquire information Previous Editions Select Day 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov

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