WEST BANK OF THE JORDAN RIVER: ISRAELI SOLDIERS REMOVE GROUP OF WOULD-BE SETTLERS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH UNAUTHORISED JEWISH SETTLEMENT.

Record ID: 400674

  • Title: WEST BANK OF THE JORDAN RIVER: ISRAELI SOLDIERS REMOVE GROUP OF WOULD-BE SETTLERS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH UNAUTHORISED JEWISH SETTLEMENT.
  • Date: 27th November 1975
  • Summary: 1. LV & SV PAN People carrying belongings to buildings (3 shots) 0.26 2. LV PAN More people walking into buildings with troops watching in foreground 0.32 3. SV & CU Men clearing buildings as man prepares building materials (2 shots) 0.50 4. SV Woman prepares broom 0.53 5. SV Building with flag 0.58 6. Man reads prayers 1.04 7
  • Embargoed: 12th December 1975 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEBASTIA, OCCUPIED WEST BANK OF THE JORDAN RIVER
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVA8JXLTBMHNOEPNQZ1KAQOIT631
  • Story Text: Israeli soldiers on Tuesday (25 November) removed a group of 60 would-be settlers seeking to establish an unauthorised Jewish settlement on the occupied west bank of the Jordan river.

    The squatters, members of the Gush Emunim Movement, arrived in the area of the ancient biblical town of Sebastia near Nablus in about 30 vehicles.

    When soldiers approached them to warn them away, some put up passive resistance but others took to the hills. They were later held by troops and carried to waiting buses.

    Members of the Movement, who claim the right to settle anywhere in the biblical land of Israel, have made several attempts to establish villages on the west bank.

    The Golan Heights settlement of Ramot Magshimim, where three religious students were killed by guerrillas last week, was established by them.

    In Sebastia, it was the third time they tried to establish a settlement at an old disused railway station.

    The Movement intends to make further attempts to settle in other areas in the weeks ahead.

    The first heavy thrust is scheduled to coincide with the eight-day Chanuka festival, the Feast of Lights, which this year starts on 29 November.

    SYNOPSIS: The Gush Emunim, a movement which claims the right to settle anywhere in biblical Israel, made another attempt on Tuesday to occupy the disused railway station at Sebastia on the occupied West Bank of the Jordan river. It was the third time that such an attempt was made in Sebastia by members of the movement and like the previous two, Israeli soldiers were there to prevent them from settlement.

    The would-be squatters arrived in the area in about 30 vehicles. When soldiers approached them with a warning, some took to the hills and were later held by troops and carried to waiting buses. But others stood their ground and put up a passive resistance campaign. So far, members of the movement have made several other attempts to establish villages on the West Bank. The Golan Heights settlement of Ramot Magshimim, where three religious students were killed last week, was established by them. They intend to make further attempts to establish settlements in other areas in the weeks ahead.

    The Gush Emunim members painted slogans on windows and doors stating that the Zionist's answer to false accusations was settlement. The Israeli soldiers called for reinforcements and the settlers were evacuated before dark. This had been the way with all other settlement attempts that were not approved by the government. Members of the group said they intended to step up their settlement campaign during the eight-day Chanuka festival of lights which starts on November 29th.
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