At the start of next week, the Ministerial Committee on Matters of the Outposts will discuss the government response to Attorney Talia Sasson’s report on the hilltop communities that were established since Ariel Sharon was first elected prime minister.
A disgruntled employee of the Justice Ministry leaked to Haaretz that the ministry prepared a proposal which is to be presented to the committee, according to which many of the so-called outposts will not be uprooted.
Reportedly, the Justice Ministry advisory calls for funds to be once again channeled to some of the communities to aid their development. Nearly every community in Judea and Samaria started in a similar manner to how the outposts did. The outposts were simply defined as having been established after the arbitrary date of Ariel Sharon’s first election win – in the US-sponsored Road Map to Peace.
Justice Ministry officials stress that what will be delivered is not a decision, but a first draft of a working paper for internal discussion only.
The paper contains a scaled-down version of Sasson’s list of outposts slated for uprooting. Many from the original list, the paper advises, should be treated as young communities and assisted as such. The development does not come as a complete surprise, as such a plan was leaked months ago following a meeting between Justice Ministry officials and the Yesha Council. At the meeting, the council reportedly agreed to work toward the destruction of some outposts in return for the authorization of others.
Another legal point outlined in the paper authorizes local authorities in Judea and Samaria to pave roads without having to get approval from government ministries.
Ministry officials say before a final draft will be presented, the paper will undergo edits by members of the committee and other officials, including Sasson.
Sasson, herself a longtime activist opposing settlement in Judea and Samaria, criticized the proposal, saying it sends a "grave message that breaking the law pays, criminals are not punished and 'the rule of law' is a phrase with no real meaning."
Sasson called for the prosecution of residents of such communities as criminals in her report. It is not clear whether the Justice Ministry - under new leadership following the resignation of Justice Minister Haim Ramon due to a sexual harassment indictment - will follow Sasson’s recommendations.