Israel is expected to announce it will evacuate five illegal West Bank outposts in advance of George W. Bush’s visit next month.
Israeli government officials and settler leaders currently are in negotiations over the goodwill gesture, which would see 50-60 people removed from five outposts in advance of the visit to Israel by the U.S. president., Ynet reported. The outposts are among 25 illegal settlements on a list the U.S. government has been pressing Israel to dismantle since Ariel Sharon was in office, the report said.
Israel committed to removing all illegal settlement outposts as part of the “road map” peace plan. The meetings between Israeli officials and settler leaders are focusing on addressing how to evacuate all 205 illegal outposts, Ynet said.
Some of the outposts will be removed and others likely will be moved to the settlement blocs Israel plans to keep in a peace deal with the Palestinians.
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