The settlers are proceeding with construction in illegal outposts in the West Bank, even those earmarked for evacuation, according to the Israel Defense Forces Civil Administration.

The settlers have built new structures in four outposts awaiting evacuation, according to the IDF.

On Givat Haroeh outpost near the Eli settlement, between Ramallah and Nablus, three new trailers have been added and the groundwork has been carried out for putting in two additional mobile homes.

A fence and hut have been built on the Givat Asaf outpost near the Beit El settlement, north of Ramallah, and preparation work for building a sty has been done. In the last two months, five trailers have been evacuated from this outpost with the settlers´ coordination.

On a recent tour, officers were surprised to find Bezeq technicians working on the site. The technicians had been called to install a permanent telephone infrastructure, unaware that the outpost was earmarked for evacuation. Bezeq´s works have been halted there.

A hut and a temporary structure have been added to the Shalhevet outpost near the Yitzhar settlement. The IDF demolished two trailers at the outpost about a month ago, amid violent resistance from hundreds of settlers.

On the Givat Hadegel outpost, near the Karnei Shomron settlements, the settlers had construction done on one of the houses, had built a playground and paved a road.

In all four cases, the IDF had issued demarcation lines for the outposts, to facilitate their rapid evacuation. The residents lost their appeals against the evacuation and the IDF has been authorized to dismantle them. However, this has not been done.

A senior IDF officer explained that the evacuation was pending Prime Minister Ariel Sharon´s decision. He said the political leaders have ordered the IDF to cease all the activity concerning the outposts and to await new orders.

The IDF has also failed to evacuate houses the settlers seized in Hebron´s wholesale market, although the legal procedures were completed more than a year ago.

The IDF prepared forces for the evacuation of outposts last November but the operation was frozen. The United States may raise the issue of the illegal outposts again soon. The Americans will probably find it hard to accept Sharon´s argument that nothing should be done about the West Bank outposts until the disengagement in the Gaza Strip is completed. (© Copyright 2005 Haaretz. 02/02/05)