Officials said more than 100 unauthorized Jewish communities have been
established over the last decade in the West Bank. They said Israel and the
United States, however, disagree over the number of communities eligible for
demolition.
"Israel is likely to avoid a clash on this topic," Robert Satloff,
executive director of the Washington Institute and close to the
Obama administration, said.
In the first stage, officials said the Israeli government would order
the demolition of Jewish communities located on land owned by Palestinians.
They said at least 26 such communities have been identified by Defense
Minister Ehud Barak for a mission expected to begin in June.
"We will dismantle the illegal outposts," Barak said. "If it won't be
done through understanding, it will be done quickly and by force."
Officials said the Obama administration has been pressing Israel to
begin the demolition campaign as well as conduct other gestures before
the president's address to the Muslim world on June. 4. They said Jewish
construction in the West Bank would mark the key element in relations
between Jerusalem and Washington.
"First, we want to see a stop to settlement construction, additions,
natural growth — any kind of settlement activity," Ms. Clinton told Qatar's
A-Jazeera satellite television. "That is what the president has called for.
We also are going to be pushing for a two-state solution which, by its very
name, implies borders that have to be agreed to. We want to see a stop now."
Officials said leaders of the Democratic-controlled Congress have been
briefed on the Israeli pledge to the White House. They said Netanyahu was
told by House and Senate leaders that they support the Obama demand for an
immediate effort to demolish unauthorized Jewish communities in the West Bank
and freeze other Jewish construction. More than 300,000 Jews were said to live
in the West Bank.
"I re-emphasized to the prime minister the importance of Israel moving
forward, especially in respect to the settlements issue," Senate Foreign
Relations Committee chairmann Sen. John Kerry said.