Israeli Outposts
Encyclopedia
An Israeli outpost refers to a Jewish community built within the West Bank
(excluding Jerusalem) that was constructed between 1991 and 2004 without the authorization of the Israeli government. In comparison, Israeli settlement
s have been given legal status through the government.
, commissioned by then Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon
, there are four principal characteristics of an outpost:
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.
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."
The Sasson Report
itself however, makes it clear that “an unauthorized outpost is not a “semi legal” outpost. Unauthorized is illegal.”
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
(excluding Jerusalem) that was constructed between 1991 and 2004 without the authorization of the Israeli government. In comparison, Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
s have been given legal status through the government.
Characteristics of an outpost
According to the 2005 Sasson ReportSasson Report
The Sasson Report is an official Israeli government report published on 8 March 2005 that concluded that Israeli state bodies had been discreetly diverting millions of shekels to build West Bank settlements and outposts that were illegal under Israeli law...
, commissioned by then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
, there are four principal characteristics of an outpost:
- There was no government decision to establish it, and in any case no authorized political echelon approved its establishment.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
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.
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 BankWest Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
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."
Illegal Outposts
In comparison, illegal outposts are "built partially or entirely" on what the Israeli government has determined is "privately owned Palestinian land."The Sasson Report
Sasson Report
The Sasson Report is an official Israeli government report published on 8 March 2005 that concluded that Israeli state bodies had been discreetly diverting millions of shekels to build West Bank settlements and outposts that were illegal under Israeli law...
itself however, makes it clear that “an unauthorized outpost is not a “semi legal” outpost. Unauthorized is illegal.”