Israel prepares for conflict over settlers

Israel is bracing itself for a potentially violent confrontation with its right-wing fringe after Jewish settlers openly defied Government orders to halt construction in the occupied West Bank for a third day on Thursday.

Hundreds of women and children blockaded several Israeli settlements, stopping police and government inspectors from searching for unauthorised construction. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met settler leaders to make an impassioned plea for restraint.

During a tense two-hour meeting in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu urged the settlers to stop building and co-operate, saying: ''You have the right to demonstrate. You have the right to protest. You have the right to express an opinion, but it's unacceptable not to respect a decision that was taken by law.''

''Nothing came out of the meeting,'' settler leader Pinhas Wallerstein said later.MORE,http://www.theage.com.au/world/israel-prepares-for-conflict-over-settlers-20091204-kaw8.html   

Israel prepares for conflict over settlers