A settler community on a military base in the West Bank city of Hebron is "in line with the army's needs," the Israel Defense Forces contends.

The IDF says the settlers are living on the Plugat Hamitkanim base temporarily, but the community has been there for 16 years.

The base is next to Beit Hadassah and is used by the infantry company that defends the region, as well as several settler families who live in mobile homes.

	Advertisement

Peace Now has complained to GOC Central Command Yair Naveh, saying that civilians should not be allowed to live on an IDF base and that there is no justification for them to do so.

The Central Command has told Peace Now that the base was captured in 1983 "for security needs and not for settlement needs."

"Nonetheless," the army said, "in 1991 the Justice Ministry handed down an opinion determining that the military commander can allow Israeli inhabitants, including civilians, to enter the territory, for temporary residence, if and to the extent that it is in line with military needs there."

State unsure on occupied Hebron building

The state has not yet formulated its official stance on the occupation of a Hebron building by hundreds of Jewish settlers Monday evening. The defense establishment is still waiting to hear its legal advisers' positions before taking action.

Israel Defense Forces sources told Haaretz on Wednesday that this could take up to 14 days.

The legal advisers are checking claims by the settlers that they legally bought the building. Meanwhile, the dozens of occupants are being guarded by IDF troops, who have begun preparing for a prolonged stay on the premises.

Defense Ministry officials admitted the issue was more complicated than they had initially assumed.

"We are still waiting for the legal advisers' position, and we hope it will arrive soon," they said.

Security officials told Haaretz Tuesday that Defense Minister Amir Peretz was leaning toward evicting all the settlers from the building.

They said Peretz had been waiting for the official legal position, due Wednesday afternoon.