Tension between the Defense Ministry and the official body representing West Bank settlers reached a boiling point after the latter accused the state of colluding with leftist groups in filing anti-settler petitions to the High Court of Justice, according to Army Radio.

Settler representatives met with Defense Ministry officials earlier in the week in a bid to discuss a negotiated compromise on removing West Bank outposts. The state is interested in gaining settler acquiescence to voluntarily evacuate the outposts in exchange for the building of new neighborhoods in existing settlements, Army Radio reported.

Officials in the Yesha council of settlers told Army Radio they have no intention of discussing the voluntary removal of outposts.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is anxious to commence talks with Yesha representatives in the hopes of reaching a deal that would avoid violent clashes expected in any future evacuation of outposts.

Barak denied settler claims of legal cooperation with left-wing groups. "The defense minister's representatives are in constant contact with the settlers," Barak's office told Army Radio.

During this week's meeting, settler leaders Danny Dayan and Ze'ev Hever blasted the government for not allowing development and construction in the territories. In response, they refused to discuss the matter of the outposts with the defense minister, according to Army Radio.