Amid criticism from right, Netanyahu defends decision to remove Hebron settlers

Hagit Ofran of Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now said the Palestinian owners are denying any purchase and will file legal documents to prove it.

On Thursday, a widely-circulated video showed dozens of Israeli settlers forcing open two Palestinian homes in Hebron, drawing the ire of many Palestinians.

An Israeli soldier removes the Israeli flag from a house as Israeli troops forcibly remove Jewish settlers from homes, in the West Bank city of Hebron January 22, 2016. More than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military forces or settlers in the same time period, at least 30 of whom were under the age of 18.

Israeli authorities have implemented a number of restrictions on Palestinian communities in the West Bank since violence increased in October, including road closures, sealing off movement in and out of villages and towns, and arrest campaigns.

Netanyahu, who heads a coalition with only a one-seat majority in parliament, faces pressure from his government, especially from the religious nationalists in his cabinet.

Though Israeli border police removed the settlers from the homes on Friday, Netanyahu on Sunday confirmed that they would be allowed to move into the structures once paperwork for their purported “secret purchase” was complete.

Haaretz cited Netanyahu saying that “The government supports the settlements, especially in days like these, when they are under terror attacks”, adding that “at the same time, we are a lawful country and must respect the rule of the law”.

“In the case of the homes in Hebron, the law was brazenly broken”. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, who authorized the removal and like Netanyahu is a member of the Likud party, said the settlers had not received IDF authorization to enter the buildings and were there illegally.

She has also called on Israel to halt what she called “extrajudicial executions” in response to attacks by knife-wielding Palestinians.

Many of the Palestinians killed have been attackers, while others have been shot dead by Israeli security forces during clashes.

A poll conducted by Israel Channel 2 found that 68 percent of Israelis are unhappy with the prime minister’s way of dealing with the Palestinian attacks.