Dichter meets with settler leaders to negotiate illegal outpost evacuations

www.haaretz.com ^ | 14:57 31/05/2006 | Amos Harel

[Esther Ruth]

Last update - 14:57 31/05/2006

Dichter meets with settler leaders to negotiate illegal outpost evacuations

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter met with settler leaders and MK Uri Ariel of National Union on Wednesday afternoon in an effort to reach an agreement on the evacuation of 24 illegal outposts in the West Bank.

The government will devote several weeks to negotiations, but is prepared to evacuate the settlements by force should negotiations fail.

The Civil Administration posted demolition orders on 18 buildings in the Maon Farm settlement outpost south of Mount Hebron Tuesday morning.

Civil Administration inspectors came with a large police escort to post the orders, which essentially extend previous orders, thereby enabling the buildings to be demolished following a relatively short legal process. A similar process was conducted at other West Bank outposts two weeks ago after orders from Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Peretz has cited Maon Farm as a prime target for demolition in several public statements, due to repeated attacks by its residents against Palestinian children from the neighboring village who pass by the outpost on their way to school. However, Tuesday's orders apply only to those 18 buildings, and not to other parts of the outpost.

According to military sources, the orders would enable the buildings to be demolished in another three days if the residents did not appeal. But even if they do appeal, the sources said, it will almost certainly be rejected, so the buildings could still be destroyed in the near future.

[Esther Ruth]

excerpt

That would make Maon Farm the scene of the first confrontation between the government and the settlers since the destruction of nine houses in Amona in
February. Clashes are also expected over the army's planned demolition of a few illegal structures in outposts in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.

Peretz ordered senior Israel Defense Forces officers last week to prepare for a relatively speedy evacuation of several outposts, emphasizing those whose residents have engaged in violence against Palestinians. As reported in
Haaretz on Tuesday, in addition to Maon Farm, the outposts include three near Nablus: the Skali Farm near Elon Moreh, Bracha B (also known as Aroussi's Farm), and Hill 725 near Nablus. The army already has begun the necessary legal proceedings for dismantling these outposts, and perhaps another one that is included on the list of 24 outposts that Israel promised the Bush
administration to dismantle.