But in fact, in 98% of the cases, all they need is that signature.

Pinchas Wallerstein, a Yesha Council leader and head of the Binyamin Regional Council, explains the problem of the satellite towns: "No community or outlying neighborhood in Yesha is considered completely authorized until it has the final signature of the Defense Minister," Wallerstein said. . "Therefore, these 100-plus outlying neighborhoods are technically and formally not yet 100% legal. But in fact, in 98% of the cases, all they need is that signature. If it turns out that in some of the locations, we were tricked and the sale was fictitious, or incomplete, or whatever, we are willing to talk about moving them a few hundred meters - but only after we discuss it with the Yesha leaders, and only in the framework of a comprehensive solution."

The timing of the Ramon's committee session is acute, in that the State is due to give a response this week to the Supreme Court on a suit brought by Peace Now and a group of Arabs against the Jewish community of Migron.

Peace Now, which has been working since 1978 to uproot all Jewish presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza and make room for a Palestinian state, claims that Migron is largely built on Arab-owned land. Migron residents, however, say Peace Now worked hard to find the Arabs in question and convinced them to file the suit against the Jewish town.

Migron, with 43 families, is strategically situated atop a hill six miles north of Jerusalem, between Psagot, Michmash, Tel Tzion, and the Shaar Binyamin Commercial Center.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is under heavy pressure by left-wing groups to order the demolition of Migron and at least 25 other outlying neighborhoods in Judea and Samaria.

Wallerstein noted that though Barak is more open to discussion than was his predecessor Amir Peretz, "this still doesn't leave a lot of room for optimism."
Wallerstein said he refuses to separate the Migron story from that of the other neighborhoods: "We demand a comprehensive solution for all the communities at once. Otherwise, we'll solve one problem, and then a new one will sprout up in Beit El, and in Kfar Adumim, and in other places. We also have another demand, and that is that even if an outlying neighborhood has to be physically destroyed, its community must be relocated."

There are rumors that the Yesha Council agreed to relocate Migron to the Shaar Binyamin commercial area, about two kilometers away.

Asked about outposts that might be found to have been built on privately-owned Arab land, Wallerstein said, "There may be a handful like that, and there are solutions that will be acceptable to the professionals involved - but I am doubtful whether they will be acceptable to our politicians..."

"The problem is worse than it appears," the veteran settlement leader said, "because even established communities are facing all sorts of bureaucratic and political obstacles. Dolev, for instance, does not have enough classrooms, yet new ones are not permitted to be built or brought in. In Ariel, as well, which is a full-fledged city, Mayor Ron Nachman says he has similar problems..."

Wallerstein continued: "In the Arab sector, however, the situation is the opposite. A ministerial committee recently decided that for every Bedouin or Arab outpost or town that is not recognized as such - meaning it is illegal - a committee will be set up to see how it can become authorized and legal."

Meanwhile, in response to the left-wing push to destroy the Jewish presence in Yesha, the Land of Israel Faithful youth organization announced today that it plans to build, over the upcoming Sukkot holiday, five new Jewish locations in Yesha. "We do not agree to any compromise involving the uprooting of Jewish towns or outposts," the group announced, "even if the Yesha Council agrees to it. Whoever starts with concessions and compromises, will end up giving up everything."

Comment:These communities have always been about politics-they passed all the criteria for legal placement, they need only the Defense Minister's signature. This is confirmed by the statement that Barak is being heavily pressured by Israel's left to not allow these communities. It is based upon a long standing political stance from which they cannot back down. if they did backdown, it would condemn the Left's behavior since 1978-they must somehow be alowed to save face.