JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Civil Administration issued zoning notices to nine West Bank outposts, which could lead to their evacuation.
The notices, which note violations of zoning laws, were posted Sunday and Monday on unauthorized construction in the outposts. The nine outposts have been served with notices in the past, but they have expired.
Four of the nine outposts are believed to be constructed on private Palestinian land.
There are about 101 outposts in the West Bank, and Israel promised the United States it would demolish 22 under the 2003 "road map" plan. Speaking about the evacuation of the 22 outposts, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last week that "If this is not done through negotiations, it will be done with swift and firm enforcement."
Barak told Army Radio Monday that he would not warn settlers as to when the demolitions and evacuations would take place, saying he hoped to resolve the issue through dialogue with settler groups.
The zoning orders can be appealed at the Civil Administration and eventually as high as Israel’s Supreme Court.
