TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected a proposal to evacuate several illegal West Bank outposts despite U.S. pressure to do so.
The Ha'aretz newspaper reported Monday that Defense Minister Amir Peretz recommended removing three or four outposts but that Olmert maintained the timing was not right.
Peretz's idea was to move tiny outposts that contained only a few trailers each, unidentified sources in the Prime Minister's Office told Ha'aretz.
Israel promised the U.S. administration to remove illegal outposts established since March 2001. A year ago it demolished nine houses settlers had built illegally on privately owned Arab land at Amona, near Ramallah. That was done after the Peace Now organization obtained a court order to evict the squatters. The eviction nevertheless sparked severe clashes between policemen, settlers and their supporters.
Ha'aretz's sources said Olmert favors removing illegal outposts, but seeks a comprehensive plan on the matter. He reportedly told Peretz they would determine the proper timing together.
Peace Now's settlement expert, Dror Etkes, told United Press International that the government has been talking for two years about a major eviction plan, but has presented none. Instead there has been, "Massive construction in the past half year," he said.
The military also does not want to get involved in the issue, Etkes said. Ha'aretz noted the military has twice rejected Peretz's initiatives to evacuate outposts.
Defense officials have tried to reach understandings with settler leaders on voluntary evacuation but have made little headway. The Bush administration has meanwhile lessened pressure on the matter, Ha'aretz noted.
Spokespeople for the prime minister and the defnese ministry would not comment on the Ha'aretz report.
However the settlers' council, suspecting that Peretz has had enough talking, appealed to Olmert to discuss the matter and try and "peacefully reach an agreement and a solution."
