Lapid slams Mofaz over failure to dismantle outposts

[Gimel]

Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid harshly
criticized Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday
for the delay in dismantling illegal settler
outposts in the West Bank.

"I've been hearing promises for several weeks that the
outposts would be evacuated, but nothing has happened,"Lapid complained during the weekly cabinet meeting.

"I hope the IDF is more efficient in other areas," he
added. "We're losing the battle for world opinion and
cracks are even being created in our relations with the
United States."

The justice minister suggested "lifting the
siege on Palestinian cities and reducing the
number of checkpoints so that the world does
not have to see Palestinian women trudging
along dirt roads with babies in their arms."

Mofaz said in response that 43 illegal outposts
have been dismantled so far....

<snip><scroll to final paragraphs>

In his security briefing at the cabinet meeting,
Mofaz revealed that several suicide bombings
were thwarted by Israel's security forces last
week. "The picture portrayed in the public - as
if there has been quiet in recent days - is a
misleading picture because the terror efforts
are continuing steadily, almost at the same
level as in the past," he said. The public
impression of a lull in terror is only due to
the IDF's success in preventing and
intercepting terror attacks, Mofaz said.

The defense minister said the partially
constructed separation fence in the West Bank
has already proved a very effective defense
measure. Initial assessments by the defense
establishment have indicated a drastic
reduction in infiltration by terrorists and
criminal elements in areas where the barrier
has been completed.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=366844

[JohnLocke]

1. Great article