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Gordian Knot: Israeli Settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem

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Gordian Knot: Israeli Settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem

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    1. 1 Gordian Knot: Israeli Settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem Lisabeth Brown Moulder Geography of the Middle East and Northern Africa

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    3. 3 Geography The West Bank is approximately 5860 sq. km. or 2,178 sq. mi. Ethnically, Arabs and other non-Jews make up 83% and Jews 17% of the estimated total population of 2,535,927. The per capita income of the Palestinians averages $1,100 (2003 estimate) The Israeli settlers are considered citizens of Israel and have as such $26,000 (2008 estimate) per capita income. Arable land, which occupies only 16.9% of the West Bank, is listed as the major natural resource.

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    5. 5 What’s in a Name? Historically, this area was divided into Samaria in the north and Judea in the south. The ancient city of Jerusalem anchored the center. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan annexed the region and renamed it the West Bank during the 1948 Israeli War for Independence. In 1967 Israel gained control of the West Bank and Jerusalem during the Six Day War. Today, the West Bank is largest section of the proposed state of Palestine.

    6. 6 Kibbutz, Settlement or Outpost?

    7. 7 Types of Settlement In 2005 David Meir-Levi, Director of Research and Education at the Israel Peace Initiative, wrote: “There are five types of settlements: 1. Agrarian settlements for military purposes manned mostly by soldiers. 2. Settlements of Jews returning to sites occupied by Jews prior to 1948 (Hebron, Gush Etzion, Jewish quarter) 3. Expanding suburbs of Israeli cities on or near the ‘Green Line” 4. Missionary Settlements unrelated to the previous three types. 5. Patently illegal rogue settlements.”

    8. 8 Avni settlement

    9. 9 Kibbutz / Settlement The first kibbutz were communal homesteads established in the early 1900s. A settlement is not necessarily a kibbutz. Today, the word settlement is most often used to describe growth in Jewish immigration to the West Bank after the Six Day War in 1967. In 2007 Peace Now stated that “…around 260,000 people live in 121 settlements throughout the West Bank…”

    10. 10 Susiya settlement construction

    11. 11 Outposts “Rogue Settlements These settlements were set up by break-away occupants, often contrary to IDF and/or government instructions, sometimes on privately owned Palestinian land.”(Meir-Levi 2005) Israeli forces have dismantled some of the illegal outposts only to have them rebuilt. Orthodox Jews have been outraged by the demolitions and in cases, reacted violently towards Israeli government representatives .

    12. 12 Jerusalem’s Neighborhoods Jerusalem is currently divided into East and West Jerusalem. East Jerusalem contains the original walled ancient city. Palestinians consider East Jerusalem their future capitol. Israelis have sought to “…strengthen Israeli sovereignty over the city by creating a Jewish majority.” (B’Tselem – The Israeli Center for Human Rights) “Expanding Suburbs Unoccupied areas around Jerusalem…were used as sites for major building projects that created low cost housing for the expanding populations of the Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv areas.” (Meir-Levi 2005) In February 2008 the Israeli government announced that 1,100 apartments were to be built in East Jerusalem. Peace Now estimates that 190,000 Israelis live beyond the ‘Green Line’ in the West Bank territory now known as East Jerusalem.

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    14. 14 A new Jerusalem neighborhood.

    15. 15 Proposals, Negotiations, and Treaties 1995 Oslo Agreement 1997 Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron 1998 Wye River Memorandum 1999 Sharm al-Sheikn Memorandum 2000 Camp David Summit 2001 Taba Talks 2005 Gaza Withdrawal 2007 Annapolis Conference

    16. 16 Current Peace Proposals 2007 Annapolis Peace Conference 2003 Sharon Disengagement Plan 2003 Geneva Accord Roadmap for Peace Nusseibeh-Ayalin Agreement 2002 Arab Peace Initiative

    17. 17 Peace Now logo

    18. 18 United States Involvement The United States has had a “special relationship” with Israel since its independence in 1947. With respect to the Israeli / Palestinian conflict, the U.S. has repeatedly attempted to foster the peace process. The first Persian Gulf War in 1991 accelerated the need for a more cohesive U.S. strategy. The U.S. backed Roadmap for Peace called for Israeli freeze on new settlement construction. In November 2007, G.W.Bush initiated the Annapolis conference.Two of its six points were the status of Jerusalem and the Israeli settlements. To date, the U.S. has either lacked the resolve or ability to compel the two sides to complete the ongoing peace negotiations .

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    20. 20 The War Within Israeli have elected government leaders that publicly supported the peace process while encouraging continued construction in the occupied territories. Orthodox Jews demand that “…all Jews be allowed to settle in the Promised Land.” (Meir-Levi 2005) Secular nationalists stress economic and security reasons for continued occupation. Israeli High Courts have ruled in favor of Palestinian land rights-and have their orders ignored by local Israeli officials. Enraged displaced Israeli settlers have committed violent acts against Israeli officials. “The settlements cost us 556 million dollars per year.” (Peace Now:207)

    21. 21 The War Within Haaretz Editorial March 4, 2008 “The dynamic of deception is continuing. Deception of the Americans, deception of the voters for parties that etched peace on their standard, deception of the Palestinians and above all self-deception” “Israel is continuing to work against itself,against its future, against any chance for the existence of a two nation states side by side.” (www.harretz.com)

    22. 22 Peace Now protest banner

    23. 23 Possible Solutions Israel announce that it would “…cut off funding for illegal settlement outposts and crack down on extremist squatters.” (Karin Laub. AJC :11/4/08) Bayit Ehad (Our Home) proposes “…a law budgeting $6 billion to buy homes of 20,000 families so that they can start over inside Israel.” (Ethan Bronner. AJC: 11/16/08) The U.S. could redirect Israeli financial aid for their military to relocating Israeli settlers.

    24. 24 What Is a “Gordian Knot”? How does this image relate to the Israeli / Palestinian conflict?

    25. 25 The Gordian Knot The struggle for property rights in the West Bank and Jerusalem is a modern day Gordian Knot. Holding the two ends of the knot are the Israelis and the Palestinians. The United States, to continue the metaphor, represents Alexander the Great. Peace negotiations take the place of Alexander’s sword in unraveling the knot. Continued failure to achieve a long standing agreement will further diminish America’s political influence in the Middle East.

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