Police have arrested 13 mainly young squatter in the past four days in clashes which followed the issue of eviction notices giving them just days to leave. The notices were the first move against the squatters who have occupied the premises for over three years. Dozens of riot police moved into the market place and forced their way onto rooftops ordering the squatters to leave.

David Wilder, spokesman for the squatters said that the area had been completely calm yesterday morning until the cops arrived. He added, "The police have lost their marbles. They are acting illegally and they have entered private properties without the proper authority."

Mr Wilder said he still hoped that the evictions from the market would be avoided but warned that there would be resistance. "Everything up to now will be child's play by comparison", he said. "They won't be kissing and hugging the people trying to move them as they did in Gush Katif."

Assuming that the squatters are evicted is appears unlikely that the premises will be handed back to the legitimate tenants. The civil administration served notice of they are ending the protected tenancy agreement under which the stores were leased to the previous Palestinian tenants.

On Sunday, the squatters, some masked up, broke into a group of closed market stalls and trashed the stock. They also set fire to one shop before hurling stones which smashed the windows of two houses in which Palestinian families are living. However, it seems unlikely that their violent outburst will prevent them being removed from these illegal settlements on Palestinian land and good riddance too as they were giving squatters a bad name.