Advertisement

Israel to dismantle 4 West Bank outposts

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Sunday ordered the evacuations of four illegal settlements in the West Bank.

The order signed in Tel Aviv strips the power of the settlers to wage lengthy legal battles over the illegal settlements, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Advertisement

The outposts to be evacuated within 10 days, then dismantled, are Ganot Aryeh, near Ofra; Magen David, near Sussiya; West West Bat Ayin and Havat Shaked, near Yitzhar.

The Yesha Council of Settlements and Peace Now Sunday dismissed the order as another government "ploy" to appease U.S. President George W. Bush, the Post reported.

The Bush administration has criticized Israel for acting too slowly on the dismantling of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"I can assure you, if Arik (Ariel Sharon) intends to go through with this, we will fight it," a Yesha spokesman said. "We will take it to the High Court of Justice."

Latest Headlines