West Bank families awarded restitution

HEBRON, West Bank, June 7 (UPI) -- Fifty Palestinian families will receive a total of $63,000 in Israeli government compensation for damages wrought by West Bank Jewish settlers, sources say.

Ynetnews.com, without naming sources, reported Sunday that the country's Defense Ministry has approved the restitution payments to the Hebron families, whose property was damaged by settlers last year during protests sparked by the forced evacuation of a disputed house.

In the disturbance, settlers torched Palestinian vehicles and a number of homes, part of a stated policy to "exact a price" for every West Bank evacuation forced by the state, Ynetnews.com said.

The decision to award the compensation was reportedly made by a special committee created by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to evaluate such Palestinian claims.