Published July 9th, 2009 by Future Atlas
Israel’s Expanding Settlements
Middle East Progress this week interviewed retired Israeli colonel Shaul Arieli about Israel’s settlements, which are now arguably the chief obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Arieli made these points:
- Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories continue to expand, and “outposts” are being made more substantial. This expansion is occurring outside the main “settlement blocs,” including in settlements beyond the “separation barrier.”
- The Palestinian Authority “have fulfilled all of their Road Map commitments,” but Israel has contravened them by continuing to expand settlements.
- “Settlements change the reality on the ground in a way that makes the contiguity of the Palestinian territories less and less viable, not to mention the grabbing of private Palestinian lands.
- “To guarantee the settlers’ safety, Israel prevents the Palestinians from using more and more main transportation routes, which of course hinders the development of the Palestinian economy.”
- Israel has about 600 checkpoints and roadblocks in Palestinian territory, another impediment to the Palestinian economy.
- Since the 1993 Oslo Accords,” the number of Israelis residing beyond the Green Line multiplied two and a half times—today the formal number of settlers is 470,000 versus 222,000 in 1993, including in Jerusalem.”
- “Under any model of agreement, even under the Geneva Accords in which Israel annexes only two percent of the West Bank, not more than 100,000-120,000 settlers would have to be evacuated.”
- “Israel’s military supremacy combined with international guarantees and legitimacy as well as with the Palestinian interest to avoid risking the results achieved in a peace agreement would all protect Israel’s security after a withdrawal takes place.”
In other words, the trendline is still negative, but Arieli sees paths forward.
(Image courtesy Wikipedia Commons)