Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Defense Minister Ehud BarakIsrael news photo: (file)

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that he is committed to destroying unauthorized Jewish outposts in Judea and Samaria. In a meeting with Yesha (Judea and Samaria) leaders, Barak said previous governments had agreed to demolish the outposts, and he intends to fulfill their promises.

Yesha leaders, for their part, spoke about the government's refusal in recent months to authorize construction projects in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Until Barak and other leaders resume the normal approvals process for Jews in Judea and Samaria, there will be no talks about outposts, they said.

Barak had hoped to convince Yesha leaders to encourage Jews to leave unauthorized outposts peacefully, without attempting to thwart the demolition process.

The Yesha leaders invited to the meeting included Yesha Council head Danny Dayan, Pinchas Wallerstein, Amana head Zeev Hever, Maaleh Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel, Binyamin council head Avi Roeh, and Karnei Shomron council head Hertzl Ben-Ari.

Gershon Mesika, chairman of the Shomron Regional Council, was invited to the meeting as well. However, Mesika did not attend the meeting, which he termed “a political farce.”

Barak himself is responsible for the fact that outposts in Judea and Samaria are considered “unauthorized,” Mesika said, as Barak is the one who refuses to authorize Jewish communities. “Barak's right hand has been evading proper procedure and for years has refused to sign legal building permits because of his political views, and now his left hand wishes to destroy those same communities that he calls illegal because he himself did not approve them,” he said.