Israel to 'dismantle 15 West Bank outposts'

by Sarah N. Dippity Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2003 at 2:15 PM

Translation: All but 15 ILLEGAL settlements, and consequent LAND THEFT are to be allowed to remain on the STOLEN land.

Ananova: 

Israel to 'dismantle 15 West Bank outposts'

Israel plans to dismantle 15 settlement outposts in line with the US-backed road map to peace.

The military is to present the list of sites to settler leaders and ask that they voluntarily remove the small clusters of trailers from West Bank hilltops, Israeli radio and TV stations say.

If the request is turned down, Israeli troops could begin dismantling the outposts themselves as early as this evening, the reports add.

The Israeli Defence Ministry has declined to comment on the reports.

Settler leader Pinchas Wallerstein says he and his supporters will try to stop any outposts being removed.

"In no shape or form will we co-operate with this evacuation, and we will even fight against this with all our might," he told Israel Army Radio.

Israel has to remove all settlement outposts set up since Sharon came to power in March 2001 - an estimated 70 outposts of nearly 120 established in the last five years in a land grab by settlers.

© Associated Press

Original: Israel to 'dismantle 15 West Bank outposts'