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World Jewish News
IDF lifts West Bank roadblocks, razes rebuilt settler outpost
03.06.2009
In an effort to facilitate unfettered movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday removed two roadblocks in the Ramallah area.
In addition, the army said it would man an additional West Bank checkpoint around the clock so as to permit Palestinian passage 24 hours a day.
Security forces have also re-evacuated a settler outpost that was razed last week before being rebuilt. Maoz Esther, which lies in the Binyamin regional council in the northern West Bank, was dismantled by authorities last week. Since then, nearby settlers have rebuilt and reestablished their presence in the area.
The Obama administration attaches great importance to a cessation of Israeli activity in the settlements in advancing the peace process. In talks with Israeli officials, the administration has made it clear it expects them to follow through on previous pledges to remove illegal West Bank settlement outposts.
Last week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak denied that pressure from the United States brought about the evacuation Maoz Esther.
"There is no connection to American pressure, and I have clarified this to the settler leaders," Barak said.
The evacuation of the outpost came only a day after Defense Ministry sources told Haaretz that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Barak have agreed on a plan to evacuate illegal outposts in the West Bank, mainly those located on Palestinian land.
Источник: Haaretz
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