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A military spokeswoman told AFP that a combined force of soldiers and police were sent to clear intruders from the Oz Zion outpost which was declared off-limits to civilians after buildings there were repeatedly demolished in the past by authorities and rebuilt by activists.
"The civilians threw rocks at security forces and they responded with riot disposal means," she said.
The military could not confirm casualties or arrests and the border police spokesman made no comment.
The radio said that about 250 activists took part in the clash, in which security forces responded with stun grenades before withdrawing from the site, as the Jewish Sabbath began at sunset.
News website Ynet quoted "sources among the settlers" as saying that the eviction was halted after they pressured ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government to intervene.
Netanyahu will be seeking to maximise support among settlers and their allies in a general election on January 22.
A military source told AFP that the operation would resume after sundown on Saturday when the Sabbath ends.
Israel considers settlement outposts built without government approval to be illegal and often sends security personnel to demolish them. They usually consist of little more than a few trailers.
The international community considers all settlements built in the West Bank -- including east Jerusalem -- to be illegal.
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"The civilians threw rocks at security forces and they responded with riot disposal means," she said.
The military could not confirm casualties or arrests and the border police spokesman made no comment.
The radio said that about 250 activists took part in the clash, in which security forces responded with stun grenades before withdrawing from the site, as the Jewish Sabbath began at sunset.
News website Ynet quoted "sources among the settlers" as saying that the eviction was halted after they pressured ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government to intervene.
Netanyahu will be seeking to maximise support among settlers and their allies in a general election on January 22.
A military source told AFP that the operation would resume after sundown on Saturday when the Sabbath ends.
Israel considers settlement outposts built without government approval to be illegal and often sends security personnel to demolish them. They usually consist of little more than a few trailers.
The international community considers all settlements built in the West Bank -- including east Jerusalem -- to be illegal.
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