“Yesterday I informed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that
our efforts to reach an agreement on the voluntary evacuation of the illegal outposts in the West Bank have been exhausted,” Defense Minister Amir Peretz said
during a Labor faction meeting on Monday.
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The defense minister said he plans to move forward with the evacuation plan, adding that, “Olmert announced he has no intention of reneging on Israel’s commitment to carry out this decision.”
“I hope we will reach an agreement on the timetable in the next few days,” he said.
The Yesha Council – the umbrella organization of the various municipal councils of Jewish communities in the West Bank - denied Peretz’s claim, saying the negotiations on the voluntary evacuation of the outposts have not reached a deadlock.
The organization said the defense minister’s comments were meant for political gain in preparation for the primaries in the Labor Party.
Yesha hopes to reach an agreement according to which Peretz would approve the establishment of a new settlement for each illegal outpost that is evacuated willingly.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
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