Israel orders settlers out of Hebron house

The Israeli military yesterday ordered a group of settlers to evacuate a contested house in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, less than a week after they moved into the property.
"After examining all the evidence that was handed over and after considering all the circumstances of the incident, it was decided to return to the situation which existed before," said the military order, which was sent to the lawyer representing the settlers.
"In other words: the state that existed before the settlers entered the house."
The order, which gives the settlers until 1200 GMT on April 3 to evacuate the building of their own free will, said the decision was based on "considerations of public order."
"If you do not comply, the authorities will take action to immediately clear the structure," it said.
Last week, dozens of Israeli settlers moved into the second floor of a building, which they dubbed Beit Machpelah, in an overnight operation on March 28.
They said the property had been legally purchased, but relatives of the Palestinian owners, who live on the first floor, dispute the claim.
Guy Inbar, spokesman for the Civil Administration which manages all civilian affairs in parts of the West Bank under full Israeli military and security control, said all such purchases need official approval -- which they did not obtain.
"The purchase of a building by an Israeli from a Palestinian needs to be approved by the Civil Administration," he told AFP.