Netanyahu authorizes immediate construction of 300 new housing units in the West Bank settlement.
Settlers and security forces clashed in the West Bank settlement of Beit El as authorities demolished two illegally built structures as per a High Court ruling earlier on Wednesday.
Hundreds of settlers on the scene were protesting the demolition. During the demonstrations, scuffles broke out between settlers and police.
Some settlers began hurling stones at officers while others set fire to objects nearby. The Border Police and riot police were in Beit El to provide reinforcements on site.
Ten demonstrators were lightly injured in the clashes and ten were arrested, however more arrests were expected to follow.
In order to prevent an escalation in rioting, police set up barricades and checkpoints on roadways leading to and from Beit El. Security forces were not permitting any vehicles to enter the settlement during the demolition.
After the High Court of Justice ruling to demolish the structures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the immediate building of 300 new housing units in Beit El during consultations at his office.