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Defense Minister Ehud Barak. (Daniel Bar On/Jini)
Last update - 11:21 14/01/2008
Barak and settlers reach deal on outpost evacuations, sources say
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: settlements, Ehud Olmert 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has reached an agreement with leaders of the settlement movement for the peaceful evacuation of 18 outposts in the West Bank, sources close to the minister told Haaretz.

The sources warned that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's "rash" intention to forcefully uproot an outpost near Ramallah may jeopardize the deal. The prime minister's associates said that the accusations against him were "intolerable."

Olmert himself said Sunday that not evacuating outposts was "disgraceful."
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Barak's associates claim the defense minister was angered by an article in Yedioth Ahronoth, last Friday, quoting sources close to Olmert as saying that the prime minister is distrustful of the understanding between Barak and the settlers. The paper said Olmert is determined to evacuate Migron.

"Olmert is acting with the same frivolousness that characterized his behavior in the Second Lebanon War," Barak's aides said, adding that Olmert was "endangering efforts to achieve an evacuation without violence."

The agreement between Barak and the Yesha Council, which represents the settlers in the West Bank, was struck after long months of deliberations. The talks were organized by Barak's adviser on settlements, Eitan Broshi, and the minister's chief of staff, Brigadier General Mike Herzog.

Barak's office says the negotiations involved 26 outposts which were set up since March, 2001. Israel has consented to evacuate them as set out in the United States' road map plan, authored by the administration of President George W. Bush.

Sources close to the defense minister said Barak had on three occasions presented Olmert with a compromise for the consensual eviction of 18 of the outposts. Olmert opted to postpone the deal each time, claiming the timing wasn't right, the sources said.

The settlers from the 18 outposts would, under the agreement, move to existing, neighboring communities. However, Barak's negotiators did not agree to allow the settlers from the various outposts to move to other outposts.

In exchange for moving to preexisting settlements, the settlers stand to receive building concessions. Additionally, Barak offered to grant them permits for infrastructure projects which the government has shelved for some time.

Barak's associates said he thought that an agreement could also be reached on the evacuation of Migron, which is located near Ramallah and is the largest outpost on the list. Barak's people said the settlers realized that evacuation of the contested outpost was inevitable, as it is located on privately owned Palestinian land.

"The settler leaders know that the High Court of Justice will ultimately order the evacuation," sources from Barak's office explained. They added that the minister was aware of reports by the Shin Bet security service's so-called "Jewish department," which deals with Jewish terrorism, and predicted that evacuation of the outpost would be "extremely violent." They said Barak was trying to avoid such bloodshed.

"It seems as though the prime minister is actually seeking a violent confrontation with the settlers for political gain. This sort of frivolity could end in violence," Barak's aides warned.

Olmert's office rejected the allegations: "After four years of little progress on the unauthorized outposts, it can hardly be argued that the prime minister is acting frivolously," they said in response. "Such a statement cannot be tolerated." They added that Olmert's comments at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, to the effect that refraining from evacuating outposts is disgraceful, should not be seen as criticism aimed at Barak, "who assumed office only last June."

As for the prime minister's attitude toward the result of Barak's negotiations with the settlers, one source from Olmert's office said that it "does not meet any of the standards of real agreements." The official went on to say that the settlers' leaders are seeking to arrange a deal involving something the settlers do not legally own.

Other sources from Olmert's office said that President Bush's visit last week in Israel served to spotlight the illegal outposts. "Olmert has given the negotiations plenty of time to progress. But there's a limit," one of the prime minister's associates said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Ahmed Qurei, head of the Palestinian Authority's negotiating team, are scheduled to meet Monday in Jerusalem to discuss for the first time the core issues for a permanent peace agreement.


Related articles:
  • Barak aides: Olmert reckless in seeking conflict over outposts
  • Israel, PA negotiating teams to start talks on core issues Monday
  • Editorial: Words won't stop the construction
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    Case of deja vu
    Olmert and his office chief Shula Zaken were accused of similar charges back in 1991.
      1.   There should be no concessions, all Israeli squatters need to go. 03:22  |  POP 14/01/08
      2.   Stop coddling the settlers 03:36  |  Mary P 14/01/08
      3.   Deal or no deal 03:38  |  David 14/01/08
      4.   "26 outposts created since 2001 (as per Haaretz)" 03:57  |  Silvienne 14/01/08
      5.   Evacuation of outposts 03:59  |  Otto Rand 14/01/08
      6.   olmert and settler removal 04:13  |  marv 14/01/08
      7.   From One Settlement to Another 04:26  |  Mark 14/01/08
      8.   The headline could honestly read: 04:31  |  Mark Lincoln 14/01/08
      9.   Tools of Antisemites and Islamist-Jihadists 04:45  |  Brod 14/01/08
      10.   What a Bargain 04:51  |  Rollin 14/01/08
      11.   Superb accomplishment in reaching agreement! 05:27  |  Smadar 14/01/08
      12.   When it come to Israel Bush gives a different advice. 05:50  |  Akram Zekaria 14/01/08
      13.   Excuse me???? 05:53  |  Johnboy 14/01/08
      14.   Ganavim , ganvu li t`bayit , take down Olmert and Gangs . 05:57  |  Joseph E . 14/01/08
      15.   fWe`re not squatters. This is our land! 06:06  |  Chaim 14/01/08
      16.   instead of conducting talk to uproot the enemy 06:19  |  Joseph E . 14/01/08
      17.   Weakness 06:56  |  Danite 14/01/08
      18.   The defense minister... 06:56  |  Gavriel 14/01/08
      19.   "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face, it`s just a goddamned 06:57  |  Joseph E . 14/01/08
      20.   All settlements are illegal UN, I.C. 07:02  |  Aan 14/01/08
      21.   Road map. 07:20  |  Gavriel 14/01/08
      22.   Should Olmert Gov`t dismanttle an outpost brick 07:23  |  Joseph E . 14/01/08
      23.   Barak reaches deal on evacuation of outposts 07:36  |  Martiin List,M.D. 14/01/08
      24.   Deal, schmeal 07:38  |  Jason_M 14/01/08
      25.   Chaim, it`s not your land 07:40  |  Jason_M 14/01/08
      26.   Dhimmi status under Islamic authority . 07:42  |  Joseph E . 14/01/08
      27.   The Arab League planned expulsion of Jews 07:53  |  Joseph E . 14/01/08
      28.   #12 Chaim asks a simple question 07:54  |  Johnboy 14/01/08
      29.   They are ILLEGAL, aren`t they? 07:54  |  Leon 14/01/08
      30.   SO the problem is REALLY the jews!!! 07:55  |  james 14/01/08
      31.   #12 chaim 08:11  |  danny 14/01/08
      32.   rolin atlanta 08:18  |  danny 14/01/08
      33.   #29 because leon they are actually legal 08:29  |  v hardman 14/01/08
      34.   CIVIL WAR IN ISRAEL AND THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL ...... 08:30  |  WARRIOR 14/01/08
      35.   Illegal Outposts are Illegal!!!!! 08:31  |  Moshe 14/01/08
      36.   Nobody is that stupid 08:47  |  Natallie Durson 14/01/08
      37.   Settlements, Outposts, Whatever 09:30  |  Khalid Mufti 14/01/08
      38.   And the appeasement to the settlers 09:36  |  Steve the Pals. 14/01/08
      39.   Barak shall be treated as a traitor. 09:38  |  Dutch Dirk 14/01/08
      40.   Ehud Barak has become Israels "trickser" Nr. 1 10:09  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/01/08
      41.   Barak is the friend of the Jewish terrorists? 10:23  |  Dutch Dirk 14/01/08
      42.   For all our leftists and "peace lovers": Olmert is THE obstacle! 10:25  |  S 14/01/08
      43.   Note to Barak: 10:32  |  Natallie Durson 14/01/08
      44.   I Dreamt Last Night 10:40  |  King of Palestine 14/01/08
      45.   All settlements are illegal ! Anything beyond israel`s land 10:48  |  lakshmi 14/01/08
      46.   why me ? 11:04  |  King of Palestine 14/01/08
      47.   I have a Jew friend 11:12  |  King of Palestine 14/01/08
      48.   haaretz ! dont publish my posts 11:15  |  atilla karagözoğlu 14/01/08
      49.   I said my wife last night ! 11:21  |  ... 14/01/08
      50.   in fact 11:23  |  ... 14/01/08
      51.   in fact I got a pretty strong mind ! 11:26  |  ... 14/01/08
      52.   POP Why not" wash their bones down the drain"? 11:28  |  PETER SM 14/01/08
      53.   australian orders israel to evacuate 11:47  |  zevulun 14/01/08
      54.   johnboy quotes geneva 11:53  |  zevulun 14/01/08
      55.   Illegally parked cars get towed away. What`s the big deal? 12:00  |  Ivar 14/01/08
      56.   LAKSHMI lamely quoting superseeded unenforceable UN GA resolution 12:04  |  PETER SM 14/01/08
      57.   #45 this fruitcake will soon have to reveal her id 12:12  |  v hardman 14/01/08
      58.   Barak`s sending a clear green light for illegal settlements. 12:18  |  Michael 14/01/08
      59.   Barak and outposts 12:30  |  Rona 14/01/08
      60.   Khalid Mufti... 13:02  |  Ofer Maimon 14/01/08
      61.   to pop # 1 13:15  |  jerome 14/01/08
      62.   #58 more of michael and total error 13:17  |  v hardman 14/01/08
      63.   @23, mark agree but first hang peres, beilin and 13:17  |  v 14/01/08
      64.   WHAT exactly is it that Europeans do not get??? 13:35  |  Ofer Maimon 14/01/08
      65.   Martiin List,M.D. and his likes.. 13:43  |  Ofer Maimon 14/01/08
      66.   Does this even begin to do something? or Theater? 13:49  |  Dorothy 14/01/08
      67.   Somebody or other...etc... 13:55  |  Esther 14/01/08
      68.   IVAR Ever tried towing away a building owned for hundreds of yrs? 13:56  |  PETER SM 14/01/08