IDF authorizes expansion of West Bank town of Betar Ilit

GOC Central Command Yair Naveh on Thursday signed a military decree authorizing the expansion of the municipal boundaries of Betar Ilit by 500 dunams. The decision to expand the town, located in the West Bank southwest of Jerusalem, was made by former defense minister Shaul Mofaz and was approved by his successor, Amir Peretz.

However, the Defense Ministry said Sunday that Peretz planned to reassess the policy of expanding settlements and allowing construction work there. Nevertheless, Peretz did not intervene to prevent the latest expansion orders.

Over the past few weeks, three similar decrees were issued for the expansion of Jewish settlements: Givat Ze'ev, north of Jerusalem; Oranit, on the Green Line in the Samaria region; and Maskiot, in the northern Jordan valley. Maskiot is slated to absorb the evacuees from the Gush Katif settlement of Shirat Hayam.

Sources in the defense establishment said that legal steps toward issuing the decrees began under the previous government and that the process was completed recently. Mofaz signed the orders last December and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert authorized them in February. The settlements covered are among those earmarked to join settlement blocs that would be annexed to Israel under Olmert's plan for convergence.

Sources in the Yesha Council of Settlements said Sunday they hoped that Peretz would not rescind the decisions of his predecessor, and if he were to do so, that Olmert would bring him into line. The sources said that although they are opposed to convergence, the government has committed itself to the settlement blocs and the defense minister must adhere to this.

Peace Now, on the other hand, said this was the first settlement expansion in many years.

"In back rooms, far from the eyes of the public, the Israeli government has decided to expand the settlements," said Yariv Oppenheimer, secretary of Peace Now. "It transpires that settlement blocs are just another flexible and malleable term."

Peace Now called on Peretz to overturn the decision. Oppenheimer said the expansion would enable territorial contiguity between Betar Ilit and the Green Line.

For his part, the Betar Ilit municipal spokesman said the additional land would contribute to the town's development.