Netanyahu seeks to legalize outposts built on private Palestinian land

[Jefferson23]

Instruction issued under pressure from the right in response to the state's decision to demolish several outposts built on private Palestinian land.

By Chaim Levinson

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman to set up a task force to explore ways to legalize houses in the settlements that were built on private Palestinian land.

The instruction was issued under heavy pressure from settlers and others on the right in response to the state's decision to demolish several outposts built on private Palestinian land over the next half year.


In February, Netanyahu and three other senior ministers - Ehud Barak, Moshe Ya'alon and Benny Begin - met with the attorney general and other senior legal officials. The product of that meeting was a decision to demolish all outposts built on private Palestinian land, but to try to retroactively legalize any illegal construction in settlements or outposts that took place on state land. The state subsequently submitted affidavits to the High Court of Justice detailing the timetable for the demolitions.

Inter alia, the affidavits said that by the end of this year, the Givat Assaf outpost would be razed in its entirety, as would parts of the outposts of Givat Haro'eh, Ramat Gilad and Bnei Adam. In addition, by May 2012, 30 houses and caravans in Jebel Artis, near Beit El, will be demolished, while Migron, which is home to 45 families, is due to go by the end of March 2012.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-seeks-to-legalize-outposts-built-on-private-palestinian-land-1.389233

[oberliner]

1. Good that they are demolishing those outposts at least

More than I expected from this government.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. The sooner Nutty's govt is gone, the better imo....

'Meanwhile, the government is also working energetically to legalize everything that has been built on state land, but without proper master plans or building permits, in both settlements and outposts. At stake is much of what has been built in the settlements over the last 20 years. Based on the state's submissions to the High Court, it seems it plans to legalize 326 permanent houses and 344 caravans.

However, various government legal officials say that certain outposts cannot be legalized without a cabinet decision to establish a new settlement - something the government wants to avoid due to the diplomatic ramification of such a moves. The government is seeking to declare these outposts neighborhoods of nearby settlements.

"Israel's policy regarding construction in Judea and Samaria has not changed," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said in response to this report.'

[bemildred]

2. Seems like a clear admission that the outposts are both illegal and tolerated anyway. nt

[Jefferson23]

3. Absolutely, imo. n/t

[azurnoir]

4. sounds like the Israeli Courts will be very very busy

Meanwhile, the government is also working energetically to legalize everything that has been built on state land, but without proper master plans or building permits, in both settlements and outposts. At stake is much of what has been built in the settlements over the last 20 years. Based on the state's submissions to the High Court, it seems it plans to legalize 326 permanent houses and 344 caravans.

[Scurrilous]

6. U.S.: Israel move to legalize West Bank outposts 'unhelpful to peace efforts'

Comment by State Department official comes after Netanyahu launches task force that will look into ways to retroactively legalize settlements built on private Palestinian land.

<snip>

"The U.S. State Department criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's newly launched attempt to legalize West Bank outposts on Wednesday, saying the move was "unhelpful" to Mideast peace efforts.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu's office announced instructed Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman to set up a task force to explore ways to legalize houses in the settlements that were built on private Palestinian land.

The instruction was issued under heavy pressure from settlers and others on the right in response to the state's decision to demolish several outposts built on private Palestinian land over the next half year.

Commenting on the announcement on Wednesday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson criticized the Israeli moves, indicating that the American stance against settlement building "remains unchanged."

"The United States has a clear policy – we do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity," the U.S. official said, adding that Washington opposed "any effort to legalize settlement outposts, which is unhelpful to our peace efforts and would contradict Israeli commitments and obligations."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-israel-move-to-legalize-west-bank-outposts-unhelpful-to-peace-efforts-1.389688