JERUSALEM, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Israeli
forces on Friday dismantled three West Bank outposts that had been erected
by Jewish settlers in a show of strength ahead of elections that could
swing on the growing debate over the occupied territory.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed
to keep major West Bank settlements, but has said some isolated communities
may one day be removed. Israel is required to dismantle all unauthorised
outposts under a U.S.-led plan for peace with the Palestinians.
An army spokeswoman said troops and police removed two makeshift outposts near the Palestinian-ruled city of Ramallah and another outside the settlement of Beit El before dawn.
"The Israeli Defence Forces will continue to act to enforce law and order in the West Bank," she said.
There was no word on when Israel might move against other outposts erected without government permits this week by a Jewish ultranationalist group, the Land of Israel Faithful. Group spokeswoman Datya Yitzhaki said 21 outposts -- mostly small shacks made of stones and wood panels -- went up since Tuesday, and vowed to rebuild those that had been dismantled.
"Our aim is to expand and build settlements. We will do nothing against the Israeli forces. If they try to expel us, we will return," Yitzhaki said.
Jewish ultranationalists stake a biblical claim to land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians want all of Gaza, from which Israel has now withdrawn, and the West Bank for their own state.
Debate over the West Bank, home to 2.4 million Palestinians, has gathered pace in Israel ahead of March 28 elections. Sharon is widely expected to order some West Bank settlements evacuated if he is re-elected.
Israel is meant to remove outposts under the U.S.-led "road map" for Palestinian statehood, but almost all remain.
Israel has also failed to stop building inside established settlements, all of which have been branded illegal by the World Court. Israel disputes this.
The Palestinians have not met their own road map requirement to begin disarming militant groups waging a revolt against Israel that erupted in September 2000.