Israel to remove "unauthorised" outposts

Sunday, 3 August 2003 5:31 AM

Israel pledged yesterday to remove six Jewish "unauthorised" outposts in the West Bank, in a bid to push forward the US-backed "road map" for peace in the Middle East.

Under 'road map' guidelines, Israel must remove many of the 100 or so outposts built after Israel President Ariel Sharon became leader in March 2001.

Should all demands be met under the peace plan, the envisioned creation of a Palestinian state could come about by 2005.

Separately, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, a Palestinian militant group loosely affiliated with Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat 's Fatah movement, threatened to break the fragile three-month truce with Israel after 17 members were detained by Mr Arafat's security forces in Ramallah.

"We have ordered the resumption everywhere of our attacks and in particular suicide operations.

"The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades will strike with an iron fist all those who carry out Zionist and American plans," the group said.

The group believed the under house arrest Arafat "sold out" to the US and Israel.

Mr Arafat may be allowed to travel outside of the so-called "muqata" compound if militants there are handed over for prosecution.

The detainment prompted the Islamic Jihad group to step up the rhetoric of further suicide attacks against Israel because of the "Americo-Zionist decision to arrest the activists."

Israel wants the men, believed to have perpetrated terrorist attacks against the Jewish state, to face prison terms in Jericho. The militants disagree.

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