Natural Sound
More than 100 Jewish settlers broke through Israeli army barricades Monday and waded across a river into Jordan to protest at increasing Palestinian autonomy on the West Bank.
The protest was the latest in a series of incidents by settlers angry at their government's deal with the PLO signed last week in Washington.
The results of that deal began to be seen on the West Bank as Israeli soldiers began dismantling roadblocks in Hebron.
Israeli settlers use a hacksaw to cut through a chain securing a gate on the border between Israel and Jordan.
Moments later the settlers burst through into the no man's land between the two countries.
Waving Israeli flags and holding placards, the settlers waded across the shallow Jordan River.
Senior Israeli officers later arrived and angrily ordered the settlers to return. The settlers responded with chants of: "We shall not be moved".
After an hour on the Jordanian side, the group crossed back.
Two Jordanian army officers looked on but did not interfere.
The P-L-O already rules the city of Jericho, and settlers are concerned about a pledge from Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to consider enlarging the Palestinian-ruled enclave.
Most of the demonstrators live in Jordan Valley settlements and claim they would be in danger if more land in the area came under PLO rule.
On Thursday, Israel and the PLO signed an accord at the White House outlining a withdrawal of Israeli troops from much of the West Bank and providing for Palestinian elections.
The agreement did not address the status of the Jordan Valley.
Early signs of withdrawal came in the West Bank city of Hebron, where Israeli soldiers began removing army checkpoints.
Israel plans to begin pulling out of some West Bank towns and villages as early as next week.
Despite the removal of checkpoints, Hebron is likely to be the last West Bank city Israeli soldiers will leave because of the presence of 450 Jewish families living in the city centre.
According to the Israeli-Palestinian agreement signed last week, Israel will need another six months to pull out of Hebron unlike six other West Bank cities which will be evacuated sooner.
