Israel orders evacuation of E1 protest camp Israeli prime minister has ordered security forces to evacuate a tent village on a mountaintop east of Jerusalem built by activists in protest against plans to build settlements on a controversial piece of occupied Palestinian land. The encampment, called Bab al-Shams (Gate of the Sun), was put up on Friday on a piece of West Bank territory known as E1, where Israel announced plans to build 3,000 new housing units last year, bringing an angry international response. IN Arab-Israel conflict By Saturday afternoon the protesters - Israeli and Palestinian - had elected a mayor and built a medical centre for the encampment of about a dozen tents on the rocky hillside, where activists waved flags and chanted as a nearby Bedouin farmer tended his sheep. Later, Israel's government press office said that on Saturday evening it would request thatthe High Court of Justice rescind an injunction it had issued delaying the evacuation of hundreds of people camped at the site. In the meantime, Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of access roads to the area in order to prevent gatherings. "At this stage, the area has been declared a closed military zone," Israel's government said. Protesters slept in the tents in frigid weather overnight, with more reaching the village on foot on Saturday via the area's valleys and hills to avoid Israeli police jeeps blocking roads leading to the site. Security guards mounted on donkeys patrolled Bab al-Shams on foot, as dozens of protesters chanted "Jerusalem is Palestinian," "revolution, revolution, intifada" and other slogans. "It's sending a message to the occupation that they are not the only ones that can make facts on the ground," said Abdullah Abu Hilal, one of the protesters, who came by car and foot to the hilltop. We can do it too. Palestinian officials said that Israeli forces prevented three members of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Saeb Erekat, Hanan Ashrawi and Ahmad Majdalani from reaching Bab al-Shams. "I think this is an enormous event," Ms Ashrawi said later. It's claiming our rights in a positive way and standing up to Israeli plans to steal Palestinian land and build settlements for Jewish Israelis only. Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, said that 100 to 120 protesters camped on the hilltop on Friday morning. He said they were handed a notice warning them they were trespassing and would have to leave. If the Israelis build a settlement here they will kill the two state-solution Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative The protesters estimated the initial size of the encampment at 250. They said that more had planned to join them on Saturday, but were turned back by police. "We are not asking for anyone's permission to stay here," said Abir Kopty, a spokeswoman for the activists. This is our land and we have the right to stay here. Some of the activists were staying in the village in shifts. Mohamed Silawe, a student from Nablus, left the village on Saturday so that he could attend classes on Sunday, but said he would be back on Thursday, at the end of the week. Benjamin Netanyahu's government announced plans to build in E1 in November, shortly after the UN voted to award Palestine non-member observer state status, in an act widely seen as retaliation for the Palestinians" move. Israel's decision enraged the Palestinians and brought sharp criticism from several governments as construction in the area would encircle Arab east Jerusalem with Jewish settlements and damage prospects of creating a geographically contiguous Palestinian state. "We are here to protest illegal Israeli acts and to take the last possible initiative for peace," Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, a political party, who was at the village on Saturday, said. If the Israelis build a settlement here they will kill the two state-solution and kill the whole idea of peace.