Heads of West Bank communities said they will prevent Civil Administration officials from entering their communities to enforce a construction freeze.

The statement Monday by the Yesha Council followed an emergency meeting called after inspectors, escorted by soldiers and police, began visiting West Bank settlements to enforce a 10-month settlement construction freeze announced last week by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Orders revoking building permits were issued last Friday and Sunday, and some construction equipment has been confiscated, according to reports.

In their statement, the settler leaders said, "The government's decision is illegitimate, immoral, anti-Zionist and inhumane, and we will continue to develop the land with or without the government."

The statement also said the freeze violates the "basic human rights" of the 300,000 Israelis living in the West Bank.

The council called on local engineers not to cooperate with Civil Administration inspectors.