Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., March 04, 2008 Adar1 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:41 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

An illegal outpost in the West Bank. (Nir Kafri) Last update - 10:48 03/10/2006 Peace Now: Building in illegal outposts stepped-up during war By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service According to Israel Radio, the Peace Now organization reports that building in illegal outposts in the West Bank was accelerated during the war in Lebanon. 31 outposts have seen expansion and infrastructure works and 12 outposts have even seen the construction of permanent buildings, according to Peace Now's bi-annual report. Peace Now leaders now demand the Defense Minister Amir Peretz live up to his promise to evacuate illegal outposts. Advertisement Peretz had promised to tackle the problem of illegal outposts in the summer of 2006. Israel Defense Forces and the police had already prepared for the evacuation by force of five outposts which had been labeled as "particularly problematic," Israel Radio reported. The plans were put on hold when war broke out in the north. The report by Peace Now, whose representatives have been tracking and documenting developments in the outposts, indicates that the opposite has occurred - the outposts are growing, expanding and becoming established. Peace now reported expansion works in 31 outposts where new mobile homes, roads and infrastructure were being laid out. The organization further reported the construction of permanent buildings in 12 outposts, including those in Bnei Kedem, Neveh Erez, Palgei Mayim, and near Itamar. Peace Now CEO Yariv Oppenheimer said that while all attention was focused on the war in the north, outpost building was accelerated. "The settlers benefited from the war in the north - first, they were awarded the postponement in evacuation and convergence plans, and second, they were just able to bring in more mobile homes, pave roads, set out additional new roads, and expand the outposts," Oppenheimer said. "We hope that the government will get its act together and return to the original plans to evacuate all outposts and not let the settlers continue 'partying.'" The report revealed that more than 3,500 housing units are currently being built in West Bank settlements, compared to 4,144 units that were being built at the same time last year. In addition, the construction of two roads - the Tekoa-Jerusalem road and the Ma'aleh Adumim-Jericho road (in the section east of Kfar Adumim) - has recently been resumed. Administrative work towards the evacuation of outposts continues in the security establishment. On the ground, more than 40 structures have received destruction orders, but settlers who have already received evacuation orders, often more than once, remain in the outposts and continue expanding them. Not long ago, the GOC Central Command signed an order expanding the jurisdiction of four settlements: Givat Ze'ev, Oranit, Beitar Ilit and Maskiot. The construction is taking place mainly in the settlement blocs of Beitar Ilit, Ma'aleh Adumim, Modi'in Ilit and Alfei Menashe. Foreign Minster Tzipi Livni in a holiday interview has stressed the importance of an immediate evacuation of outposts. Peretz made similar statements when he entered the office of defense minister. There is no preparation on the ground for an upcoming evacuation. Such an order, which would likely cause friction between security forces and the settlers, is awaiting a decision from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the line of fire Rights Group: Over 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants. Uncle Sam blames you U.S. blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel, Gaza.   1.   Who cares about this foreign controlled Organization 03:51  |  Sam Weinstein 03/10/06   2.   BRAVO SETTLERS , BUILD LIFE, EXPAND , GROW, G`D BLESS 04:27  |  Joseph E . 03/10/06   3.   building 04:45  |  colin elkon 03/10/06   4.   JEWS can`t build? Non-Jews can? That`s RASICM !!!! 04:52  |  amir 03/10/06   5.   constructions 04:54  |  joji c 03/10/06   6.   constructions 04:54  |  joji c 03/10/06   7.   Build Build Build 05:11  |  B 03/10/06   8.   IS THER NO USEFUL WORK THESE IDIOTS COULD DO? 05:31  |  paul harris 03/10/06   9.   Threat to Israel has not changed Peace Now 05:43  |  T M 03/10/06   10.   # 7 B .Karaa ta oti im ha triple B be shem B 05:54  |  Joseph E . 03/10/06   11.   WE WILL ALWAYS BUILD IN ***OUR*** LAND 06:13  |  Yishai Kohen 03/10/06   12.   settlements are good wars are bad 06:28  |  Saul Tobin 03/10/06   13.   What about Illegal Beduin settlement in the Negev? 06:45  |  R.H. 03/10/06   14.   Wall Protection For Palestine From The Big Nuclear Blast 06:49  |  Dave 03/10/06   15.   Towards a Unified State 06:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/06   16.   Peace How ? 07:05  |  Dree Mers 03/10/06   17.   Saul Tobin #12 & his "BRAVE" words 07:29  |  Ari ben Yisrael 03/10/06   18.   Peace Now does not even come close to bringing peace. 08:21  |  Beni 03/10/06   19.   @10. ata iakhol lehishtamesh besafa ehat? 08:30  |  vladimir 03/10/06   20.   Israel is ALL about land theft 08:43  |  Clickfool 03/10/06   21.   PEACE NOW=KAHANE OF THE LEFT 08:49  |  JOE 03/10/06   22.   green line 09:03  |  tb 03/10/06   23.   Good News For A Change! 09:03  |  Ben Israel 03/10/06   24.   The only `land theft` is Arabs trying to steal Jewish land 09:12  |  Dani 03/10/06   25.   #20 STOLEN NBRAIN IS AT THE CORE OF CLICKFOOLS PROBLEM 09:20  |  PAUL HARRIS 03/10/06   26.   For Dani, on land theft 09:28  |  Clickfool 03/10/06   27.   I have been reading what appears an endless number of posts to 09:31  |  Ilana 03/10/06   28.   Don`t hold your breath 09:37  |  sh 03/10/06   29.   Israelis, serious question 09:40  |  Maral 03/10/06   30.   Tush, tush "Ilana" 09:45  |  Clickfool 03/10/06   31.   For Clicjfool, on land theft 09:47  |  Dani 03/10/06   32.   Building in Palestine 09:48  |  Michael II 03/10/06   33.   Peace Now Show for Rice 09:54  |  Aharon Rosenbaum 03/10/06   34.   Maral`s question 09:59  |  loza 03/10/06   35.   How many Americans on Palestinian land? 10:03  |  Marilyn 03/10/06   36.   Maral -- a serious answer 10:05  |  searcher 03/10/06   37.   the worship of the covetous 10:33  |  some old yid 03/10/06   38.   To Ari # 17 10:41  |  Choni 03/10/06   39.   Loza and searcher 10:46  |  Maral 03/10/06   40.   Marla 10:47  |  Shlomzion 03/10/06   41.   To #20 Clickfool 10:59  |  Yossi 03/10/06   42.   To Searcher 36 11:11  |  Tzil 03/10/06   43.   Ben Israel 11:11  |  Walid 03/10/06   44.   marilyn from australia 11:15  |  scribe 03/10/06   45.   The Hilltop Gang never miss an opportunity... 11:19  |  Jeff 03/10/06   46.   Settlements 11:20  |  Paul Usiskin 03/10/06   47.   There`s something really unconceivable (in a normal country). 11:23  |  zmogus 03/10/06   48.   Shlomzion, thx for responding... 11:23  |  Maral 03/10/06   49.   re. Marilyn 11:24  |  Efox 03/10/06   50.   Arabs were Nomads 11:29  |  Efox 03/10/06   51.   Israeli rule of law failing more and more 11:29  |  Ernst 03/10/06   52.   Selective quotes based on probable lies 11:31  |  Shlomo 03/10/06   53.   #44 Scribe 11:33  |  Marie 03/10/06   54.   Efox, you are a racist 11:42  |  Maral 03/10/06   55.   Yossi 11:44  |  Walid 03/10/06   56.   Sam Weinstein 11:49  |  abc 03/10/06   57.   Efox 11:59  |  Walid 03/10/06   58.   MARIE (&Marylin) Is native title the same as giving land back? 12:03  |  PETER SM 03/10/06   59.   Threats to Israels existence are highly exaggerated 12:04  |  John 03/10/06   60.   #50 Efox off again 12:16  |  Jimmy 03/10/06   61.   #52 Schlomo 12:18  |  Boycott 03/10/06   62.   PETER SM 12:22  |  Marie 03/10/06   63.   #41 Yossi 12:25  |  A. Baal 03/10/06   64.   To John #59: A strange logic 12:27  |  Jonathan S 03/10/06   65.   No, Marla, while I think I do understand your concerns, I have 12:33  |  Shlomzion 03/10/06   66.   #1, Sam Weinstein. "Control from abroad" 12:39  |  zmogus 03/10/06   67.   zeev is no stranger at using people 12:41  |  shylock 03/10/06   68.   Land-theft and Brain-washing 13:16  |  Tzil 03/10/06   69.   Sounds extreme, but close to truth. 13:24  |  Shlomo 03/10/06   70.   #8. IS THER NO USEFUL WORK THESE IDIOTS COULD DO? All Morons.No! 13:30  |  Moses 03/10/06   71.   ARAB ones too, or do Leftists look only at JEWISH places? 13:32  |  Yaakov K. 03/10/06   72.   Sure they can build! 13:36  |