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Israeli Army Begins Dismantling Outpost

Posted on: Thursday, 19 June 2003, 06:00 CDT

The Israeli Army began removing buildings Thursday at the West Bank settlement outpost of Mitzpeh Yitzhar, the first inhabited outpost it has started dismantling under a new U.S.-backed peace plan, military sources said.

About 200 settlers from nearby settlements blocked the road with cars and burning tires as paratroopers and police arrived to begin taking down buildings, according to Israeli Radio.

As part of the "road map" peace plan, which envisions creation of a Palestinian state by 2005, Israel must take down unauthorized settlement outposts in the West Bank set up over the last two years.

Officials from the Peace Now group, which opposes settlements, says there are 62 such outposts and a total of more than 100 set up since 1996.

Last week Israel removed 10 uninhabited outposts. Settler leaders sued to prevent inhabited outposts from being targeted and threatened to build more.

Settlers said Thursday there had been minor confrontations at the outpost as troops arrived.

"We are blocking the entrance to the community and there has been some confrontation, some light pushing," a settler who identified himself as Yossi told Army Radio.

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