Israelis rally to protest removal of illegal West Bank settlement News
Israelis rally to protest removal of illegal West Bank settlement

[JURIST] Some 30,000 Israelis protested in Jerusalem Sunday against the recent demolition of illegally built homes on the West Bank, a move which they fear heralds the beginning of a new wave of government-ordered Jewish settlement evacuations under the administration of Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert [official profile]. The destruction of nine settler buildings at Amona [JURIST report] last Wednesday triggered the most violence between settlers and Israeli troops since last year’s mass withdrawals from Gaza [BBC report]. At least 160 settlers and police were injured, and Israeli police have opened an inquiry into allegations of police brutality. About 240,000 settlers and 2.4 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, though the International Court of Justice [official website] has said that settlements on the occupied territory taken from Jordan in 1967 are illegal. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

"The Beatles" legally dissolved

On December 31, 1970, Paul McCartney filed suit in London to dissolve the Beatles' artistic and commercial partnership. Read a detailed legal analysis of Paul's case against John, George and Ringo.

West Virginia created

On December 31, 1862, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation, creating the State of West Virginia. The Bill split the western section of Virginia from the rest of the state, which had left the Union to join the Confederacy. However, West Virginia was not granted formal statehood until this legislation took effect on June 20, 1863 after a statewide referendum approved the measure. Read a history of the creation of West Virginia.