Olmert. Committed to Road Map plan
צילום: גיל יוחנן
Officials: Israel will raze all outposts
Sources at Acting Prime Mnister's office tell Ynet Olmert remains obligated to the tearing down of all illegal outposts, . Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni refrains from supporting settlers' compromise plan on outposts
Sources at Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said Friday the Israeli government has no intentions of making any concessions to the settler leadership at this point in time regarding the illegal outposts.
"Israel is committed to the razing of the outposts in accordance with the Road Map peace plan. There is no other decision at this stage," a source at the acting PM's office told Ynet Friday.
In the framework of recent efforts by heads of the Yesha council to reach a compromise on the outposts' subject, members of the council met Thursday with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and proposed a settlement stating that the council will see to the evacuation of 20 illegal outposts, if the government concedes to leaving four outposts unharmed.
This formula, the settler leaders believe, will help prevent violent clashes, like the ones that took place in Amona last Wednesday, from happening again.
However, while Minister Livni agreed to meet with the settlers, she refrained from voicing support in the proposed plan. Livni informed the settler leaders she will relay the offer to Olmert, and that she herself will be willing to continue addressing the matter following her return from Washington next week.
The two sides agreed to continue negotiations.
The government's obligation to tear down the illegal outposts is in keeping with the Road Map peace plan. Shortly after Olmert took on the position of acting prime minister he informed his ministers he intends to be determined in enforcing the law in Judea and Samaria, and target the issue of illegal outposts.
Olmert has also asked of defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to draft a plan for the evacuation and destruction of the outposts.
In wake of Livni's meeting with the settlers, sources at the acting PM's office stated the decision to tear sown the outposts remains unchanged at this stage.
