Jewish settlers clashed with border police as two illegally-built vacant apartment blocks in the occupied West Bank were demolished by order of Israel's High Court. However, Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office immediately approved plans to build 300 new homes in the same settlement. In addition, planning approval was granted for the building of 413 homes in the contested East Jerusalem area.

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Settlers scuffle with Israeli security forces as demolition of the Dreinoff buildings gets underway Menahem Kahana/AFP
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A settler is arrested by Israeli security forces as the Dreinoff buildings in Beit El are demolished Menahem Kahana/AFP
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The buildings in the West Bank settlement of Beit El are demolished Baz Ratner/Reuters

Amid the demolition of the two partly-constructed 24-apartment structures known as the Dreinoff buildings in the Jewish settlement of Beit El, protesters gathered at the site, throwing rocks at the police and setting tyres on fire while the police tried to disperse the protesters using water cannons. The confrontation led to a number of arrests and injuries.

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Israeli security forces deploy a water cannon as settlers protest against the demolition Menahem Kahana/AFP
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A Jewish settler scuffles with an Israeli border police officer in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah Amir Cohen/Reuters
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Israeli paramilitary police secure the area during the demolition Baz Ratner/Reuters
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Israeli paramilitary police and Jewish settlers stand near two partially-built dwellings during their demolition Baz Ratner/Reuters
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A young Jewish settler argues with an Israeli police officer near the buildings slated for demolition Baz Ratner/Reuters
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Israeli police detain a Jewish settler protesting against the demolition Gil Yohanan/Reuters
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Members of the Israeli security forces escort a settler in front of the controversial separation barrier Abbas Momani/AFP

The High Court of Justice ordered the buildings' demolition because they were built on private Palestinian land. The settlers, however, insist the buildings are legal.

Tempers are high among some in the settler community as it marks a decade since Israel's "disengagement" from the Gaza Strip. In the summer of 2005 Israel withdrew all its civilians and soldiers from all of the settlements there and also from two in the West Bank. Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians want these territories for a state of their own.

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Abdul Rahman Qasim, the owner of the land where the Dreinoff buildings were constructed, flashes the sign for victory as he watches Israeli bulldozers move in Abbas Momani/AFP

Most countries consider the settlements that Israel has built in occupied land as illegal. The US State Department said it was deeply concerned by the new settlement activity. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon condemned the announcement of the construction of the new units. He urged Israel's government to halt and reverse such decisions "in the interest of peace and a just final status agreement".

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