David Grossman, Amos Oz and AB Yehoshua are leading a campaign to stop the eviction of Palestinian villagers in the West Bank.

The three Israeli authors, together with 21 other writers, have signed a petition against the Israeli government’s decision to build a military base at the site where 1,000 Palestinian villagers currently live.

Since the evacuation orders were issued in 1999, four of the 12 villages under threat have been saved. The other eight could still be demolished.

The letter, written by Mr Grossman, said that the Palestinians in question are, "in constant fear, helplessly facing a ruthless power that does everything to displace them from the home they have inhabited for centuries.

"In a reality of ongoing occupation, of solid cynicism and meanness, each and every one of us bears the moral obligation to try and relieve the suffering, do something to bend back the occupation's giant, cruel hand."

Representing some of the villagers, Israeli lawyer Shlomo Lecker said: "I have three huge files of documents of land ownership in this area… It is not disputed that this is privately owned land."

Last year in the Supreme Court, the Israeli Ministry of Defence accused the villagers of building without permission.