Barak refuses plea to push off Hebron building evacuation

By YAAKOV KATZ, TOVAH LAZAROFF
Defense Minister Ehud Barak refused a plea by settlers and right wing politician to postpone the evacuation of the disputed Hebron building until after the elections. On Thursday MK Otniel Schneller (Kadima), MK Uri Ariel (NU-NRP) and settler Hanan Porat met with Barak and asked him not move against the home at this time. But Barak refused to budge on the matter. Since the High Court of Justice said last week that the state could evacuate the nine families who live in the building, right wing activists have rallied to the structure located on the edge of the city near the Kiryat Arba settlement. No known date has been set for the evacuation, but settlers anticipate that the IDF could move against them as early as next week.