Settlers evacuate Ulpana peacefully

BEIT EL, West Bank, June 26 (UPI) -- Settlers from the Ulpana neighborhood in the West Bank settlement of Beit El began evacuating to modular homes Tuesday.

The families agreed to leave the outpost peacefully after a High Court of Justice ruling called on the families to evacuate by July 1, saying the five apartment buildings and three caravans were built on private Palestinian land, making them illegal.

Sixteen families began the move Tuesday; 17 more will leave Thursday, The Jerusalem Post said.

Defense Ministry officials were on hand to assist, the paper said, noting prior to the evacuation settlers held a prayer service.

The families agreed to leave their homes peacefully in an agreement reached last week that included assurances the government would build 300 new homes in Beit El and refrain from supporting future high court petitions to demolish Jewish homes in the West Bank, the paper said.

Israeli soldiers serving in the area were placed on high alert to prevent extremists from carrying out so-called "price tag" attacks in response, Ynetnews.com said.

The euphemism "price tag" has been applied to random vandalism and violence conducted by extremists protesting the government's policy, directed against Palestinian properties in the West Bank and members of Israel's security forces.