2 new outposts built
Settlers establish two new West Bank outposts in protest of the pullout plan, pledge to build more outposts soon. “Connecting to the Land of Israel is the genuine answer to disengagement,” settlers say
TEL AVIV – Settlers established two new West Bank outposts Sunday evening, only days after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged to remove existing unauthorized outposts in his meeting with U.S. President George Bush.
One outpost was established in Hebron, while the other one was set up near the northern West Bank settlement of Elon Moreh.
About 200 settlers, most of them teenagers, arrived at the Giborim (Heros) outpost in Hebron and began constructing a structure on the site. Police and army forces were dispatched to the area and declare the gathering an illegal event.
Notably, the new outpost has been evacuated 20 times in the past.
According to the settlers, who are planning to establish more outposts soon, “connecting to the Land of Israel is the genuine answer to disengagement.”
Committee largely powerless
A report released in the beginning of March slammed the practice of outpost establishment and said the setting up of unauthorized outposts entailed circumventing procedures, violating laws, and making false presentations before government authorities.
Following the report’s publication, the government approved its findings and accepted Prime Minister Sharon’s proposal to set up a ministerial committee to look into the matter.
The initial draft was changed by the government, however, leaving the committee largely powerless and unable to order the dismantlement of existing outposts.
Harsh reaction from the Left
The damning outpost report has already been forgotten, Yachad Knesset Member Yossi Sarid said in response to the two new outposts.
“Since we’ve been moving towards disengagement, the only thing that happens is more outposts and more settlements,” he said.
Peace Now Director-General Yariv Oppenheimer also slammed the establishment of the new outposts and said the settlers are discovering they still in control on the ground.
“It’s not surprising that the government’s inaction on the outpost question allows the settlers to take over more hills,” he said.
