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Photo: Sharon Katz
Settlers prepare for next battle
Yesha Council leaders meet Monday to discuss plans to thwart withdrawals planned by Olmert
Preparing for next battle: Settler leaders convened Monday for a long session to discuss the future of West Bank settlements and the settler approach to the new government, in the hopes of thwarting further Israeli withdrawals.
Binyamin Regional Council Head Pinchas Wallerstein, who on the eve of the Gaza disengagement called on objectors to "violate the law and go to jai,l" told Ynet the settlers discussed the new government's position, expected dates for the removal of unauthorized outposts, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's so-called convergence plan for further West Bank pullouts.
During the meeting, settler leaders decided to look for an outside consultant in order to formulate the struggle against more withdrawals, in light of the failure to thwart the Gaza and northern West Bank disengagement.
Emotions ran high during the session when one of those in attendance called for the Yesha Council to engage in some self-examination and charged the settler leadership failed in etching the rift within Israeli society into the public psyche.
Regarding the issue of unauthorized West Bank outpost, Wallerstein said: "If we were convinced the government of Israel is interested in producing dialogue on an outpost arrangement, as was the case with the Barak government, we would discuss it, but the situation is completely the opposite. There is no intention here to maintain dialogue with us."
The outposts are an "integral part of the West Bank communities," Wallerstein said, and noted that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon did not adopt the entire scathing report on the matter prepared by Talia Sasson and did not speak about the removal of more than 100 outposts.
