Construction on Settlements outposts in some locations in the West Bank continues despite the latest report by attorney Talia Sasson on government involvement in building and funding “unauthorized” outposts. The report basically demands the government to dismantle all outposts, those prior to and after March 2001 and cease any other channeling of funds for further outposts.
Sasson presented the ministers with her report’s main conclusions showing contradiction between words and actions, saying, “the government spoke in two voices on the issue of the outposts. The government must take into its hands responsibility for what is happening in the outposts in the territories and not sit on the sidelines watching as the settlers do whatever they want, without anyone stopping them.”
Sasson said there is no legal difference between the outposts erected before and after March 2001, totaling 95, with 71 before and 24 after that date.
“They are all illegal,” she said. “It is important to emphasize that it’s not merely to evacuate the outposts but to cease the entire procedure of budgeting and transferring state funds to the outposts.”

According to the Israeli Administration in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 65 files on “unauthorized” construction adjacent to settlements have been opened in recent months. Five buildings have been demolished in illegal outposts, three of them by settlers.
Source: imemc news

On this subject, yesterday I was one of many who got the following message, and I thought I’d share it here:

“SEND OUR PREWRITTEN LETTER NOW OR, WRITE YOUR OWN:
http://www.cflweb.org/ congress_m…ress_merge_.htm
*********************************
Citizens for Fair Legislation
For Immediate Release
March 14, 2005
********************************
CFL ALERT: ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FOR GUARANTEES THAT U.S. WELFARE TO ISRAEL WILL NOT BE SPENT ON FUNDING ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY.
Israeli attorney, Talia Sasson has written a damning report about the financing of illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The report recommends that criminal investigations take place against several members of the government who acted as agents of the settlers, not the Israeli government. Accused members of the Israeli government are claiming that knowledge of illegal settlement activity went all the way to the top and that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved and initiated many of the projects to build and sustain illegal settlements. Please take a moment to send our letter or write your own to your representatives and ask that they demand accountability from the Israeli government. Tell them that American tax payer money not be spent on criminal settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza.”