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Illegal construction / Words won't dismantle outposts By Akiva Eldar Tags: West Bank outposts, Yesh Din  Occupants of the illegal outpost of Shvut Ami were evacuated seven times, and returned to resettle the site on each occasion. However, the Yesh Din-Volunteers for Human Rights group refused to surrender to the settler thugs that took over the stone house belonging to Palestinian Bdariyah Aamar. The group sent 15 letters to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the GOC Central Command, the deputy attorney general, Judea and Samaria District police offices and state prosecutors. In addition, scores of telephone calls were made from Attorney Michael Sefarad's office, the group's legal advisor. In October, Aamar adhered to an Israel Defense Forces proposal to seal off the house. Under cover of dark, settlers broke into the house and resettled it. Yesh Din demanded authorities evacuate the outpost and start criminal procedures against the squatters, whose well-known identities were proudly displayed on the Internet. Advertisement Last week, Sefarad's office received a letter from the state prosecutor, informing him that 14 of the squatters will be indicted, of which eight will be charged with criminal trespassing. It is in this light that Barak's decision to press criminal charges against settlers must be viewed. Had it not been for the determination of human rights activists, reaching out a helping hand to defenseless Palestinian civilians, Shvut Ami would have joined a list of over 100 other extant illegal outposts, most of which were also constructed on privately-owned land. Following the Sasson report, a recent amendment has enabled authorities to file charges against settlers who do as they please and build without permits. But the main reason settlers were not charged was not for lack of ability, but for lack of will. It begins with a dearth of inspectors, many of whom live in the settlements. State prosecutors are swamped with work. Finally, many judges sympathize more with the squatters than with their victims. The test the defense minister now faces is whether he is determined enough to carry out the procedures and fulfill Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's promise to "change the construction policy in the settlements." In any case, Yesh Din has vowed to follow the issue closely. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Pre-Iowa Israel Factor The panel certain that Clinton is the better Democratic candidate for Israel. The Jewish connection Jeremy Goldberg works to connect Barack Obama with Jewish voters.   1.   EVACUATE ARAB SQUATERS IN HOLYLAND,REBUILD JEWISH CITIES)))) 12:53  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 03/01/08   2.   STOP THE FOOLISH GAMES! REBUILD JEWISH CITIES IN HOLYLAND))) 12:54  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 03/01/08   3.   While Arabs Plan Terror and Quassams Rockets to Bush Visit 16:14  |  Joseph E . 03/01/08   4.   I Was Born On Biblical Hills Sunshine ôë ´ë ôë 17:09  |  Joseph E . 03/01/08   5.   Why Prepare More Missile Launching Sites for Hamas? 21:37  |  Ghost of Gush Katif 03/01/08

Today Online Sneh: J'lem has no knowledge of Hezbollah holding troop remains Responses: 213 Jerusalem seeks Bush's okay for IDF free hand in W. Bank Responses: 191 Amira Hass: Israel's West Bank presence is violent and arrogant Responses: 162 Israel Factor panel knows Clinton, wants Clinton win in Iowa Responses: 43 IDF fire kills eight in Gaza; Katyusha hits Ashkelon Responses: 244 More Headlines 23:35 IDF finds two rockets in process of assembly in Nablus 23:40 Bush: Settlement expansion 'impediment' to peace 23:39 High Court rejects petition against cuts to Gaza Strip fuel supply 20:32 Eight Gazans killed by IDF fire; Katyusha hits north Ashkelon 22:09 Campaigner works to connect Obama with Jewish voters 18:17 Sneh: Israel not aware of Hezbollah claims to hold soldiers' remains 21:39 Agriculture Min. orders mass culling of fowl after bird flu discovery 19:33 PM tells Jordan King that Israel won't build new settlements 23:58 Six-year-old succumbs to wounds sustained in Ma'aleh Adumim fire Previous Editions Select Day 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec

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