Israeli premier mulling legalizing settlement outposts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his justice minister to look into possibility of legalizing settlement outposts that has mushroomed throughout the West Bank in recent years without government approval, Tuesday said Israeli media. According to Haaretz, Netanyahu asked the justice minister to set up a task force to explore ways to legalize houses in settlements that were built on private Palestinian land. It claimed the instructions came following heavy pressure from settlers. It said settler leaders and other right wing officials have opposed plans by Netanyahu and his defense minister to remove the outposts. Since the Israeli army’s demolition of houses in Migron outpost, near Ramallah, in early September, settlers have been exerting pressure on Netanyahu and lawmakers to prevent further action against other outposts.