Security forces clear two West Bank outposts, plan for more

[oberliner]

Security forces on Wednesday evacuated two illegal West Bank outposts and are planning to clear at least three more in the near future, Army Radio reported.

Forces evacuate the Harhivi outpost in the northern West Bank and the Shvut Ami outpost near the settlement of Kedumim, the radio said.

The Defense Ministry's legal adviser, Ahaz Ben-Ari, has told the State Prosecution that five illegal outposts will be voluntarily abandoned in the near future, according to Army Radio.

"Progress has begun on the general matter of outposts," Ben-Ari wrote in a letter to the Prosecution, as quoted by the radio. "As part of an arrangement being made, in the coming period five illegal outposts will be voluntarily evacuated."

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/971061.html

[bemildred]

1. Settlers, peace activists clash at illegal outpost close to Kedumim

West Bank settlers clashed violently with peace activists and Palestinians hours after the evacuation of an illegal outpost close to the Kedumim settlement Wednesday.

In the morning, police and Civil Administration officials evacuated seven Jewish teenagers staying at the outpost, which had been built some six months ago. It had been evacuated several times, but each time the settlers moved back.

In the afternoon peace activists and Palestinians came to the site with the intention of establishing their own outpost. They said the land's Palestinian owner asked them to keep an eye on it for her. In response the settlers organized youths to return to the site.

The Yesh Din human rights organization reported that the settlers attacked and beat the peace activists and Palestinians, while the Border Police stood idly by.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/971178.html

[Scurrilous]

2. Border Police let settlers retake illegal W. Bank outpost

<snip>

"The Border Police last week allowed settlers to return to an illegal outpost on Palestinian land in the West Bank and force out leftist activists who had been authorized to guard the place.

Officials at the Yesh Din human rights group say they had warned authorities of the settlers' plans ahead of time. The Border Police say their forces were unable to gain control over the settlers due to "numerical inferiority."

The incident occurred Wednesday on the Shvut Ami outpost, near Kedumim. According to Israel Defense Forces records, the structure is on land owned by Badriya Amar of the village of Qadum. The outpost has been evacuated nine times, but each time settlers return, preventing the legal owners from reaching the land."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/971909.html

[bemildred]

3. I guess the settlers are an illegal milita that needs to be disarmed. nt