They're Going In... Neve Dekalim

There are over a thousand people in the Neve Dekalim shul [synagogue] and the police have started trying to drag them out. There has been no violence, only locking hands and legs to slow down the drag-out.

At 3:20 PM, the local police commander announced by megaphone, "Your stay here is illegal. In ten minutes, we will enter and remove you. Buses will take you to Merkaz Shapira and Jerusalem."

The large forces began to enter from two, possibly three, different sides some 15 minutes later. The intense prayers continued inside all the while. In the boys' synagogue - the Sephardic one - several of them linked arms and legs in a last attempt to make their eviction difficult.

The soldiers then pushed their way in and began trying to evict them. It proved very difficult, and the scene was filled with chants of "A Jew doesn't evict a Jew," and, "Refuse Orders!", as well as pushing, pulling, screaming and violence. After a half hour, only 15-20 people had been removed.

Among the settlement leaders on the scene are Yesha Council leader Bentzy Lieberman, Amanah settlement organization head Ze'ev Chever (Zambish), Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rabbi Avinoam Horowitz and many others.

Earlier, Lieberman said the youths would not leave on their own, but that they would definitely not employ violence against those who come to remove them.