WORLD : Jewish Settlers Ignore Deadline

A group of Jewish settlers who moved into the Old City’s Christian quarter ignored a court-ordered deadline to leave today, arguing that the law gives them 21 days to appeal.

As the 9 a.m. deadline passed, a dozen paramilitary police lazed in the sunshine outside the four stone buildings where the 150 Jews have settled amid Palestinian Christians. They took no action to remove the settlers.

The settlers wore the skullcaps of religious Jews, and some carried pistols or automatic weapons. Many of the men had walkie-talkies to inform each other of any trouble.

David Ben-Ami, a spokesman for the settlers’ group, said that since the case is a civil case and not a criminal one, the Jews will not have to leave the building today despite the order by a District Court judge.

“It’s a civil eviction,” he said. “You have 21 days to do anything.”