Israel’s Supreme Court has formally ordered the government to remove the largest illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank

For the first time, Israel's Supreme Court has formally ordered the government to remove the largest illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank, one of scores built by settlers without official approval across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Most of illegal outposts remain in place, and many have government-funded access roads, electricity and water hookups.

The court ruled on the case of Migron, a cluster of about 60 mobile homes that is situated on private Palestinian land on a hill north of occupied Jerusalem and is considered the flagship of the unauthorized outposts. Palestinian landowners and the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now had petitioned the court in 2006, seeking the removal of Migron on the grounds that it was built illegally.

According to figures compiled by Peace Now, there are 99 unauthorized outposts in the West Bank, 80 of which are built wholly or partially on private Palestinian land. There are 120 established Israeli settlements in the West Bank, housing some 300,000 settlers. Much of the world regards the settlements as illegal under international law.