News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Reports that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Yesha leaders have reached an agreement for the non-violent eviction of hundreds of residents from 18 Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria are denied by the Yesha Council.

According to a report in Haaretz, Barak has agreed to approve building and infrastructure permits frozen by the government in response to US pressure to drive Jews out of Yesha, as compensation for the non-violent abandonment of certain Jewish towns. In addition, victims of the eviction would be permitted to move to other Jewish communities in the area.

Sources in Barak's office said the Yesha Council "knows" that the Supreme Court is expected to order IDF soldiers to tear down the communities, and that the deal is thus intended to prevent violence between residents and eviction forces.