The Israeli media reported that the Israeli army succeeded yesterday evening, June 9th 2003, to dismantle 10 Israeli outposts represented mainly in caravans. Those 10 outposts never existed or have been recently installed. The names of the outposts recorded in Haaretz daily newspaper are Neveh Eretz, east of Ramalla, Shaharit, located next to Ariel colony, Neve Menachem next to Karnei Shomron and the guard tower of Amona next to the settlement of Ofra, northeast of Ramallah. In fact, according to this information, there is only 3 known dismantled outposts where Shaharit is not recorded among the names of outposts that exists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories- OPT based on a list issued recently by the Israeli peace now movement. The outpost of Neve Erez is located 2500 m southeast of Ma'ale Michmash settlement in Ramllah district and is composed of 9 caravans. See photo of Neve Eretz outpost.
Source: Peacenow movement
The outpost of Neve Menchem is located west of Karnei Shomron settlement between Nablus and Qalqilya and is composed of 3 caravans. No information is available about Shaharit but however is located close to Ariel settlement. The rest of the dismantled outposts could be abandoned caravans or that they don't really exist.
The IOF forces announced that in the coming days another 5 outposts will be dismantled, 4 of which are inhabited: Gilad Farm next to Moshe Zar settlement Between Nablus and Qalqilya , Nofei Nehemia next to yitzhar settlement near Nablus, Shvei Shomron west close to Shvei Shomron settlement northwest of Nablus and Bet El Mizrah north of Ramallah. Gilad Farm outpost was evacuated 4 times, its most recent evacuation was in October 2002, but the militant colonists decided each time to return back. See photo of Gilad Farm
Source: Peacenow movement
In reality, all Israeli settlements and outposts are considered illegal according to the international law, and those outposts are even illegal according to the Israeli law and those that have been removed considered the smallest and the less populated even depopulated in some cases. The most populated outpost among the above-mentioned is Amona composed of 25 families and the IOF removed only its guard-tower, while in the Gaza strip the IOF make a success the next day to demolish 13 houses in Beit-Hanoun on the spot!
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
