Leading Israeli Rabbis have called on troops to disobey their superiors if they ask the soldiers to evacuate illegal outposts in the West Bank.

"The holy Torah prohibits taking part in any act of uprooting Jews from any part of our sacred land," wrote a group of extremist rabbis, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.

"We call on all security personnel to refuse expulsion orders. A soldier or a policeman who is asked to take part in an uprooting operation is obligated to refuse this order, which goes against Torah values," they said.

Among the signatories of the statement were Rabbi Ya'acov Yosef, the eldest son of Shas spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Beit El Chief Rabbi, Zalman Melamed.

The announcement came amid calls by the US to persuade Israel to fulfill its commitments under the Roadmap peace plan and evacuate the settlements built in the West Bank occupied in 1967 war.

Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, said they started a plan to dismantle 26 illegal outposts.

SB/SME/RE