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Last update - 20:48 13/05/2009
Court to state: Explain failure to evacuate 6 West Bank outposts
By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: West Bank, Israel News 

The High Court on Wednesday ordered the state to explain within 90 days why it had not evacuated six illegal West Bank outposts that were slated for evacuation in 2004.

The head of the left-wing Israeli organization Peace Now, Yariv Oppenheimer, said the High Court had given the government a "yellow card," as well as an opportunity to prove it was serious in its intention to evacuate the outposts.

"If the High Court does not obligate the state by order to evacuate illegal outposts, the state will not evacuate them willingly," he said.
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The outposts in question are Givat Assaf, Ma'aleh Rehavam, Givat Haroeh, Mitzpeh Yitzhar and Mitzpeh Lachish. In 2006, Peace Now petitioned the court to force the Israel Defense Forces to carry out orders given in 2004 by the then defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, which enabled the evacuation of the six sites.

Mofaz's successor in the post, Amir Peretz, extended the validity of the orders to last a further two years shortly after the petition was submitted.

Peace Now petitioned the court again at the end of 2007, when it had become clear that the defense establishment had no intention of carrying out the orders. Following that petition, Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced in 2008 he was extending the orders' validity for a further year. He said this was in order to reach an agreement with settler leaders.

Prosecutors announced during a High Court hearing Wednesday that the orders would be extended for yet another year.

Justices Dorit Beinisch, Ayala Procaccia and Elyakim Rubinstein issued a conditional order, however, requesting the state to update the court on the results of its talks with the settlers within 90 days, and to explain why the outposts have not been evacuated.

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      1.   Easy 21:05  |  Axel 13/05/09
      2.   A nation divided against itself cannot stand 22:08  |  Gregor 13/05/09
      3.   What Kind Of Democracy has Toothless Courts? 22:22  |  chet 13/05/09
      4.   No such thing as contempt of court in Israel? 02:07  |  jim the mechanic 14/05/09
      5.   comedy or tragedy 02:32  |  Bazmann 14/05/09
      6.   #3 chet 03:26  |  Jim 14/05/09
      7.   What a ridiculous court--this would never fly in the U.S. 04:01  |  IW 14/05/09
      8.   But, but, you said..... 04:21  |  Lou Medel 14/05/09
      9.   To Jim in Tennessee. You said it right my brother. 04:23  |  Lou Medel 14/05/09
      10.   Outpost is Vital..... 04:58  |  The Archives 14/05/09
      11.   Indifference 22:02  |  Vladek 14/05/09
      12.   Explain why? Easy! 03:54  |  jj 15/05/09
      13.   #7 Man, that`s ignorance, IW 03:21  |  Johnboy 17/05/09
      14.   the archives 10 06:44  |  potobac 17/05/09
      15.   issue of #10 09:46  |  --- 18/05/09
      16.   90 days, and they`ve been there since 2004!! 20:09  |  Silvienne 19/05/09
      17.   To #15... 22:38  |  Silvienne 19/05/09
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