Israeli outpost

An Israeli outpost (Hebrew: מאחז‎, Ma'ahaz lit. "a handhold") refers to a Jewish community built within Judea and Samaria (West Bank), (excluding Jerusalem) that was constructed between 1991 and 2004 without the authorization of the Israeli government. In comparison, Israeli settlements have been given legal status through the government.

Contents

Characteristics of an outpost

According to the 2005 Sasson Report, commissioned by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, there are four principal characteristics of an outpost:

  1. There was no government decision to establish it, and in any case no authorized [1]political echelon approved its establishment.
  2. The outpost was established with no legal planning status. Meaning, with no valid detailed plan governing the area it was established upon, which can support a building permit.
  3. An unauthorized outpost is not attached to an existing settlement, but rather at least a few hundred meters distant from it as the crow flies.
  4. The outpost was established in the nineties, mostly from the mid nineties and on.

The 2005 report gave a provisional figure of 105 outposts. It determined that 26 outposts were on State lands, 15 on private Palestinian lands and 7 on survey lands. 39 outposts were found to be on “mixed” State, survey and Palestinian land. The status of the remainder was unclear.[1][2]

Types of outposts

For the Israeli government, there are two kinds of outposts: "unauthorized" and "illegal."

Unauthorized outposts

These are "fledgling communities" constructed between 1991 and 2004 on the hilltops of the West Bank that have never been "legalized" by the government. They generally number between a dozen to 100 people and are composed of modular homes, such as caravans. However, they can also be further developed, having more permanent housing as well as "paved roads, bus stops, synagogues and playgrounds."[2]

Illegal Outposts

In comparison, illegal outposts are "built partially or entirely" on what the Israeli government has determined is "privately owned Palestinian land."[2]

The Sasson Report itself however, makes it clear that “an unauthorized outpost is not a “semi legal” outpost. Unauthorized is illegal.”[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sasson, Talia (March 10, 2005). "Summary of the Opinion Concerning Unauthorized Outposts". Sasson Report. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Law/Legal+Issues+and+Rulings/Summary+of+Opinion+Concerning+Unauthorized+Outposts+-+Talya+Sason+Adv.htm. Retrieved March 6, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c Lazaroff, Tovah (June 25, 2009). "Settler Affairs: Running for the hilltops". The Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=146752. Retrieved March 6, 2011.