[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: "Aides to the prime minister assured that Olmert
wanted no conflict with the defense minister" - but superfluous conflict
with Jews when the nation faces a plethora of Arab threats? That's a
different story. After all, this would be in the Second Temple tradition of
fighting Jews even as the enemy is at the gates.]

PM consults attorney general on outpost removal

After Peretz tells Olmert he means to appeal to Mazuz to enforce illegal
outpost evacuation, Prime Minister's Office approaches A-G first. 'Rumors
Olmert avoiding outpost removal groundless,' aides to Olmert say
Ronny Sofer YNET Published: 02.11.07, 23:41 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3363814,00.html

The Prime Minister's Office consulted with the attorney general on the legal
constraints on the evacuation of illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Earlier Sunday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz
denied reports of a crisis brewing between them over the issue.

Channel 2 reported that during a meeting between the two leaders Sunday,
Peretz told Olmert he would confer with Attorney General Menahem Mazuz on
the outpost issue and request that he compel the prime minister to act
towards evacuating unauthorized outposts.

Since a meeting two weeks ago between Olmert and Peretz the matter has
apparently failed to advance, and Peretz was disappointed by Olmert's
failure to move forward, according to the Channel 2 report.

Sources in the defense minister's office confirmed that Peretz was urging
immediate progress on outpost evacuation, but denied reports of a row
between the two leaders.

Olmert's office said an official petition was filed at the Attorney General's
Office requesting clarification of the legal issues concerning outpost
evacuation.

'PM will act'

The prime minister's associates said Sunday night that claims that Olmert
"wasn't thrilled to remove illegal outposts" were totally groundless.

"The prime minister will act according to the government's decision, the
conclusions of the Talia Sasson report and Israel's obligations to the
international community," Olmert's associates declared.

In March 2005 the government agreed to adopt the recommendations of Attorney
Talia Sasson's report on illegal outposts and Israel's obligation to the US
to dismantle them.

"The prime minister's goal is to remove illegal outposts, as far as is
possible, with the cooperation of settlers. If this doesn't work, the prime
minister will act together with all relevant government offices - the
Defense Ministry, Internal Security Ministry, Foreign Ministry and others -
to activate law enforcement elements in the matter," they explained.

Aides to the prime minister assured that Olmert wanted no conflict with the
defense minister.