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Vice Premier Haim Ramon (FLASH90)
Last update - 16:09 05/01/2008
Ramon: Crackdown on outposts likely to start after Bush visit
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies

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Ramon did not give details on which of the outposts, erected without government approval, might be dismantled.

But he indicated a crackdown would focus on outposts that fall outside Israel's West Bank barrier, which Palestinians suspect is meant to demarcate a future border.

"Certainly those illegal outposts located east of the fence" would be on the removal roster, Ramon said.

The U.S. is pressing Israel to evacuate illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Bush on Thursday called Israeli settlement expansion an "impediment" to the success of revived peace efforts and urged the Jerusalem to follow through on its pledge to dismantle unauthorized settler outposts.

Speaking less than a week before his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank, Bush voiced optimism at the prospects for securing an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of 2008, a goal set at last November's Annapolis conference that has been viewed with some skepticism.

Bush said he would use his trip to keep up pressure on both sides, including making clear to Israelis his concern about continued settlement activity.

"I will talk about Israeli settlement expansion, about how that is, that can be, you know, an impediment to success," in an interview at the White House with Reuters. "The unauthorized outposts for example need to be dismantled, like the Israelis said they would do."

Israel has been filing indictments over the past two months against right-wing activists and settlers for occupying an illegal outpost, following orders from Defense Minister Ehud Barak to security forces to file police complaints against the activists.

Barak on several occasions has expressed frustration at the helplessness the state evinces in the face of those who establish the illegal outposts.

In his opinion, the prosecution ought to demand prison terms for the serial offenders among outpost dwellers.

He maintains that this is an effective means of combating the phenomenon, even before the government acts to remove outposts, as per the promise made to the U.S. several years ago and again at the Annapolis Conference in November.

So far some 70 complaints have been filed, which have led to about 20 indictments against young people and teenagers who moved in batches to the outpost Shvut Ami, near the Kedumim settlement in the West Bank.

Shvut Ami has in recent months become a new symbol of the fight over the outposts and, in the eyes of the security forces, an extreme example of the settlers' ability to harass them.

The outpost is located on private Palestinian land, a few hundred meters south of Kedumim, on the other side of the Kedumim-Alfei Menashe road. Activists occupied it a dozen times, and were removed by the Border Police, army and police. Attempts to occupy it continue, despite the fact that an IDF brigade is headquartered less than a kilometer away.

Barak, who kept hearing about this matter in the weekly situation assessments in his office about the territories, directed the army and the police to file complaints for entering a closed military zone, against those manning the outpost.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials have said the state would allow construction within built up areas of existing legal settlements in the West Bank, but would not expand beyond those areas.

Last month, an official said Israel defined a settlement freeze as a commitment not to build any new settlements and not to confiscate any additional Palestinian lands for settlement use.

Related articles:
  • Bush: Settlement expansion 'impediment' to peace
  • Illegal construction / Words won't dismantle outposts
  • Defense Minister to IDF: Place illegal outpost residents on trial
  • Jerusalem seeks Bush okay for IDF free hand in West Bank
  • U.S. renews pressure on Israel to remove W. Bank outposts
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      1.   why would anyone believe 08:48  |  rm 04/01/08
      2.   The propaganda campaign starts 09:15  |  Natallie Durson 04/01/08
      3.   Olmert , Ramon , Barak Manifestly Violate the Law of the Land 09:32  |  Joseph E . 04/01/08
      4.   Sure it is, sure it is...... 09:37  |  Clickfool 04/01/08
      5.   Look at the face of a jubilating idiot,Ramon was also jubiltating 09:50  |  Absolute Sweden 04/01/08
      6.   Crack down on un-recognized outposts but leave legal settlements 09:50  |  Marwan مروان خوري 04/01/08
      7.   Natalie Durson`s Israel-bashing smear campaign to spread the 09:53  |  Marwan مروان خوري 04/01/08
      8.   Outposts or Gaza? 09:58  |  Vitaly 04/01/08
      9.   ramon stop kissing condis posterior 10:14  |  victor hardman 04/01/08
      10.   Qassam and Katusha attacks 10:15  |  Lily 04/01/08
      11.   Israel`s time has run out! 10:15  |  Chanalau, Tova 04/01/08
      12.   Crackdown on what? 10:27  |  Michael 04/01/08
      13.   Ramon: Crackdown on outposts likely to start after Bush visit 10:28  |  Martin List, M.D. 04/01/08
      14.   Law of return? #3 10:31  |  A.M. 04/01/08
      15.   Ramon is a convicted sex felon. 10:53  |  Avraham 04/01/08
      16.   For Marwan, on squats # 6 11:00  |  Clickfool 04/01/08
      17.   dont waste time on outposts 11:24  |  harzion 04/01/08
      18.   we do not take into account of the important fact 11:27  |  harzion 04/01/08
      19.   BUILD JEWISH CITIES IN W.BANK.CLEANSE HOLYLAND FROM TERROR!!! 11:56  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 04/01/08
      20.   All settlements are illegal 12:24  |  Anton 04/01/08
      21.   Crackdown on Political Crackpots..!! 12:36  |  Stephen. 04/01/08
      22.   Crackdown 12:47  |  iletzter 04/01/08
      23.   #20 anton and the unfortunate ignorance 12:49  |  victor hardman 04/01/08
      24.   How can anyone believe Israel 13:07  |  Jacob 04/01/08
      25.   The Iowa effect, or 2008 will become the year of truth for Israel 13:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/01/08
      26.   20Anton,well said,all settlements are illegal because they do not 13:49  |  lakshmi 04/01/08
      27.   Anton: legal or illegal?? 14:01  |  Stan 04/01/08
      28.   Technically they are disputed territory 14:06  |  Terminator 04/01/08
      29.   to Marwan and Illegal outposts 14:14  |  Terminator 04/01/08
      30.   #21 dino the prophet is a lost cause 14:18  |  victor hardman 04/01/08
      31.   #22 where can i buy your book lakschmi? 14:33  |  victor hardman 04/01/08
      32.   Crackdown on Olmerts Government ! 14:39  |  Michael 04/01/08
      33.   MOST Settlements are 100% LEGAL 15:03  |  The Equalizer 04/01/08
      34.   lily 10 15:07  |  realism 04/01/08
      35.   Ramon vs. Lieberman: No contest 15:11  |  Tosefta 04/01/08
      36.   definitions, definitions ... 15:14  |  Axel 04/01/08
      37.   Yipee! Get the Israeli Squatter out. 15:19  |  POP 04/01/08
      38.   I`m a racist clown 15:20  |  Marwan مروان خوري 04/01/08
      39.   Shas, save Israel now and leave gov`t in spite of consequences 15:27  |  Adderabba 04/01/08
      40.   lakshmi and the settlements 15:28  |  jaihind 04/01/08
      41.   lakshmi we should be paying attention to the harijans 15:34  |  jaihind 04/01/08
      42.   Why physically evacuate the settlements 15:34  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/01/08
      43.   I have been patiently waiting to move the United States Embassy. 15:39  |  Johnny Weintraub 04/01/08
      44.   To #16 Where do you get your facts? 15:50  |  Levi 04/01/08
      45.   yossi sarid 15:53  |  zevulun 04/01/08
      46.   west bank crackdown 15:54  |  geroge 04/01/08
      47.   When Ramon set this timing, he obviously didn`t consult with... 15:55  |  zmogus 04/01/08
      48.   Chris Linthwaite Proposal 16:26  |  Ruth 04/01/08
      49.   Yes, Ramon begin expelling Jews thus... 16:29  |  bat yam 04/01/08
      50.   Ramon vs. Lieberman: No contest 16:41  |  Tosefta 04/01/08
      51.   #26 Johnny 16:42  |  ballistic 04/01/08
      52.   #32 Levi wrong yourself 16:56  |  Labhras 04/01/08
      53.   To Martin List, M.D. 16:58  |  Mark B. 04/01/08
      54.   Religious Nationalism in India: Lessons for Israel and the World 17:11  |  Daybreak 04/01/08
      55.   It`s About Enforceable Reciprocity, Not Words 17:17  |  Dave Levy 04/01/08
      56.   What`s a palestinian 17:29  |  peter 04/01/08
      57.   Chris Linthwaite`s Proposal 17:32  |  Ruth 04/01/08
      58.   # 20 Anton - Occupied territory of what state? 17:39  |  17 04/01/08
      59.   Lord Caradon on res 242 17:39  |  peter 04/01/08
      60.   # 21 Swiss...I am chuckling at the prediction 17:40  |  Lynn 04/01/08
      61.   # 16 Clicky ...it is a good thing the Pals 17:47  |  Lynn 04/01/08
      62.   Re Natallie #2 17:57  |  Esther 04/01/08
      63.   "settlements" are in Israel 17:58  |  peter 04/01/08
      64.   #37 Diversions 18:10  |  Outsider 04/01/08
      65.   #38 Ruth/Chris 18:25  |  Boycott 04/01/08
      66.   Chew on this one 18:31  |  Steve 04/01/08
      67.   Barak filing complaints? Will it snow in TA this summer? 18:33  |  Toronto`s Finest 04/01/08
      68.   # 39 Lynn and Hillary, be good "girls" and face reality...:) 18:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/01/08
      69.   #38 Ruth 19:10  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/01/08
      70.   Somebody, help me 19:21  |  17 04/01/08
      71.