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Home , Alfei Menashe, Har Adar, Judea and Samaria Area

REPORT ON IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peace Volume 15 Number 6 November-December 2005

SHARON’S POLICY LEAVES LITTLE ROLE FOR THE PA

Any informed assessment of the emasculation. This declaration has not over the land borders, regional waters, future direction of events in the West been amended nor repudiated. and air space of these areas, including Bank must take as its point of departure In May 2002, shortly after the begin- securing an international presence.” a review of the main elements of current ning of ’s restoration of direct Minister for Civil Affairs Muhammad Israeli and Palestinian policies. security control over the entire West Dahlan explained, “There will be no Bank, the Settlement Report observed, “A separation between the West Bank and The Big Picture new, post-Oslo era has begun in the Gaza, and we will not allow the Gaza Prime Minister Sharon has occupied territories. The understandings Strip to be turned into a prison.” adopted a wide-ranging and dynamic between Israel and the that Measured against these Palestinian policy that makes no reference to made possible the establishment of a goals, Israel’s disengagement from the Palestinians or the Oslo framework. Palestinian Authority led by Yasser Gaza Strip remains incomplete, pending This spirit of unilateralism has long Arafat and the creation of Palestinian a resolution of the residual powers Israel been a central feature of Israel’s policies security services with a mandate in will retain over the movement of people in the occupied territories. Palestinian populated areas [Areas A] of and goods between the Gaza Strip and Palestinian president Mahmoud the West Bank have been irrevocably Egypt and beyond, and the degree of Abbas, an advocate of nonviolence, undermined. Likewise, the territorial freedom established for movement hopes to assert the leadership of the PA division of the West Bank that resulted between Gaza and the West Bank. over Palestinian factions and their vio- from the Oslo process—the creation Crippling the PA lent resistance to continuing occupation Areas A, B, and C—is no longer rele- in an effort to convince Israel to resume vant to the reality in the West Bank and The government of Ariel Sharon has negotiations on final status issues and Gaza Strip.” little interest in the creation of an effec- restore territorial and security attributes Subsequent events, including Israel’s tive Palestinian security force in the lost during the intifada. departure from the Gaza Strip, have West Bank, and it is at best ambivalent In December 2001, Israel’s cabinet confirmed that the Sharon government about the rehabilitation of such a capa- defined the Palestinian Authority (PA) has no interest or faith in the “land for bility in the Gaza Strip. as an “entity that supports terror,” set- security” bargain at the heart of Oslo. In the West Bank, the Israeli army ting the stage for the body’s subsequent Nor do many Palestinians who see regularly exercises freedom of action Israel’s retreat from Gaza as a victory everywhere, preempting the crippled for the armed resistance. Abbas is rely- security capabilities of the PA. Unilater- Please visit our website to see its ing upon the international community, al Israeli actions, notably the erection of new look and improved navigation. particularly the Bush administration, to the separation barrier, assassinations, Sign up to receive the Report by restore the Oslo equation, now updated and the complex and draconian system e-mail, to be notified of events in by the moribund road map, to the of controls on Palestinian movement, Washington, DC, and more. Visit diplomatic center stage. now define Israel’s preferred security us at www.fmep.org. Palestinian strategic objectives are instruments. Despite Palestinian and freedom, independence, and sovereignty international entreaties, Israel has shown Also in this issue: over all territories conquered by Israel in no interest in reassessing these policies. Separation Barrier Update 5 June 1967. In an April 2005 position Beginning in March 2002, the gov- Ma’ale Adumim Map 6 paper presented to U.S. envoys, Pale- stinians demanded “full . . . sovereignty WEST BANK, continued on page 7 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE Hopes for peace based on Mahmoud than the 19 square miles abandoned in Abbas’ commitment to non-violence, an Gaza. Merle Thorpe, Jr. informal truce, and Ariel Sharon’s with- The only way to break the current Founder drawal from Gaza are fading fast, threaten- impasse and avoid a new descent into vio- (1917–1994) ing a return to the old cycle of violence and lence is to end unilateralism and return to revenge. There has been little progress on negotiations, with vigorous American Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. the critical issue of assuring Palestinian mediation. Abbas wants peace talks. But President freedom of movement in and out of Gaza, Sharon prefers unilateralism and treats Geoffrey Aronson and American envoy James Wolfensohn Abbas like Yasser Arafat, claiming he is not Director, Research and has complained about Israeli foot-dragging. a “partner” until he gains control of securi- Publications, Editor, Report on Abbas has not stamped out terrorism, nor ty. Meanwhile, as this Report points out, Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories has the IDF stopped settler violence Sharon and the IDF have rejected coopera- against Palestinian citizens and property. tion with Palestinian security forces and are Nitzan Goldberger Sharon is moving relentlessly to consolidate pursuing unilateral settlement and security Editorial Assistant West Bank settlements and confine the policies that undermine Abbas, strengthen Maher Bitar Palestinians to isolated enclaves, ignoring his militant rivals, and provoke new vio- Intern U.S. concerns. In the first quarter of 2005, lence. Adding to this dismal picture, settlement building in the West Bank was President Bush discouraged hopes for TRUSTEES up 83%, and 14,000 more have set- renewed U.S. leadership when he said dur- tled there, far more than the 6,500 evacuat- ing Abbas’ visit in October that he would Lucius D. Battle ed from Gaza. The 23 square miles alone urge no timetable for renewed talks. Landrum R. Bolling that Sharon plans to encircle with his sepa- Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. ration barrier in order to sever East James J. Cromwell from the West Bank are more Peter Gubser Stephen Hartwell Richard S.T. Marsh —————— ◆ —————— Richard W. Murphy Jean C. Newsom NETZARIM VERSUS THE CHRISTIANS Gail Pressberg William B. Quandt Ariel mayor wants “to strength the Jewish character of the city,” Nicholas A. Veliotes according to a September 9, 2005 article in the Ma’ariv supplement. The settle- ment was established in 1978 and enjoys a growing population of 18,000. Close to The Foundation, a non- half the settlement’s population arrived from the former Soviet Union during the profit I.R.C. 501(c)(3) last 15 years, including a large percentage (up to 50 percent) who are Christian. organization, supports peace and security for Israelis and Ariel is home to Russian evangelicals and a group of “Jews for Jesus”—the “Hope Palestinians through mutual of ”—who count Christians from Waco, Texas as members. These recognition and a negotiated Americans were first introduced to the settlement by Nachman, who has long division of historic Pales- tine. It publishes the bi- solicited Christian fundamentalist groups throughout the United States for finan- monthly Report on Israeli cial and political support. Settlement in the Occupied Ariel’s popularity among Christians has prompted a backlash of sorts. As part Territories. of his campaign “to strengthen the ideological religious ( Jewish) public that lives Copyright © 2005 in the ” and to double its population in the settlement to 20 per- cent, Nachman invited evacuees from the Gaza settlement of Netzarim, now residing temporarily in the settlement, to establish a new, permanent neighbor- hood. “If they intend to build a new little Gaza with beautiful houses and money- earning hothouses,” said one Christian resident, “I’ll be very happy.”

2 ❖ Report on Israeli Settlement November-December 2005 Come live the good life in Anatot, because its . . . THE SAFEST. Now it is certain that Anatot will be “inside the fence” so come live in a house for a lifetime in the New Anatot.

The New Anatot The new cottage neighborhood in Anatot A house for a lifetime in the New Anatot IT’S WORTH IT Populated Neighborhood ● Immediate move-in ● Feature-rich house Freestanding 4 bedroom house with a balcony and green garden For a limited time offer instead of $150,000 only $140,000. The early bird wins—ony 7 desirable units left. Bet Amana—the leading company for freestanding homes invites you to take advantage of a once in a lifetime chance in the New Anatot—the new cottage neighborhood in Anatot.

This advertisement for the settlement of Anatot/Almon appeared soon after the Sharon government decided that the route of the separation barrier would include the Adumin bloc settlements. Yediot Aharonot, February 20, 2005

November-December 2005 Report on Israeli Settlement ❖ 3 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

August 26 Yerushalaim reports that two “voiced his determination to alter the demo- his commitment to increasing the security of Jewish American investors are in the process graphic reality in the area to an extent where settlements and to clearing any obstacles to of purchasing 13 dunams belonging to Arab the government will be forced to include the expansion plans for key settlement blocs. landowners in the Palestinian village abut- area within the boundaries of the separation (Ha’aretz) ting in an effort to expand Har barrier.” September 15 Israel’s High Court of Adar by about 2,000 residents. Ma’ariv reports Defense Minister Mofaz’s Justice orders the government to move the Kol Ha’Ir reports the Jerusalem municipali- approval of the construction of 117 housing separation barrier in the area ty’s intent to encourage one-third of Gaza’s units in the West Bank settlements of Ariel (see page 5). (MidEast Mirror) Neve Dekalim settlers, about 2,500 persons, and Ma’ale Adumim. High-ranking mem- Yediot Aharonot reports that the outpost of to relocate to a newly built neighborhood in bers of the Ariel municipality claim that , near the West Bank settlement Har Homa in . more than 3,000 housing units have actually of Karne Shomron, is now connected to the been approved. August 28 Yerushalaim reports on a plan to area’s electrical grid. Prime Minister Sharon build 500 housing units in Har Homa. The Yediot Aharonot reports that 10 housing units and Defense Minister Mofaz had recently neighborhood currently includes more than have been built in the West Bank settlement signed off on Ramat Gilad’s immediate dis- 2,500 homes. of Ariel since the beginning of the year. mantlement. Yerushalaim reports that Jerusalem mayor Uri September 7 Ha’aretz reports that during September 16 Ha’aretz reports that in Tel Lupolianski has proposed a plan to transfer the first half of 2005, Jerusalem mayor Rumeida five Jewish families have moved some neighborhoods in East Jerusalem to Lupolianski declined to sign 4 percent of into a building purchased by Jewish residents the Palestinian Authority (PA) in exchange demolition orders issued for Palestinian of , bringing the total number of for complete Israeli control of the Old City, dwellings in East Jerusalem, while he Jewish families living in the quarter to 20. including the al-Aqsa mosque. declined to sign 37 percent of those issued Kol Ha’zman reports the issuance in Britain for West Jerusalem. August 31 Avri Ran, the “father” of hilltop of a warrant for the arrest of Jerusalem hous- outposts and leader of the settler youth Ma’ariv reports the recent building of ing supervisor Micha Ben-Nun. Since 2002, movement, is captured near the River approximately 130 new housing units in the Jerusalem municipality and Office of by police. He had escaped house arrest seven West Bank settlements. The most significant Internal Affairs have demolished 294 houses months prior. (Ma’ariv) settlement expansion of 40 new units in East Jerusalem. Ben-Nun was alleged occurred in the outpost of Bruchin, west of responsible for 36 home demolitions in Settlers vandalize security cameras placed by Ariel. 2002, 66 in 2003, 124 in 2004, and nearly 60 the Israeli Defense Forces in the Jewish thus far in 2005. enclave of Tel Rumeida in Hebron. Two September 8 The Jerusalem municipality teenagers are arrested. (Ha’aretz) gives final approval for the construction of September 20 A Palestinian resident of the 20 housing units and a synagogue in the West Bank village of al-Sheikh is arrested September 1 Ha’aretz reports the Israeli heart of the Old City’s Muslim quarter. for attempting to bribe an Israeli officer to comptroller’s findings of serious violations in (Yerushalaim) redirect the route of the separation barrier to the enforcement and operation of the sepa- include his home on the side of the Jerusa- September 9 Neto reports on a project to ration barrier following an investigation con- lem municipality. (Ha’aretz) ducted August through October 2004. The build 74 housing units in Har Adar. There comptroller asserted that technology and are some 2,000 residents in the settlement. IDF soldiers complete their withdrawal from personnel were not being used effectively to The 5 to7 room houses will be sold for the settlements of Ganim and Kadim in the ensure the security or standard of living of $320,000-370,000. northern West Bank. (Ha’aretz) the Palestinian people. September 11 Ha’aretz reports that hun- September 21 Israel declares its border September 2 Yerushalaim reports a plan to dreds of Palestinian children in East Jerusa- with Gaza an international boundary. The build more than 1,000 Palestinian housing lem have again been refused admission to residents of Gaza must present passports to units on approximately 1,500 dunams in the local schools. The Israeli High Court enter Israel. Internal Affairs Minister Ofir neighbhorhood of al-Tur. An agreement is instructed the municipality to resolve the Pines-Paz signs orders making the Office of being negotiated whereby in exchange for a capacity problem a few years ago, when a Internal Affairs responsible for the move- Palestinian commitment to freeze unautho- petition was submitted on behalf of 950 East ment of people between Gaza and Israel. rized construction in the area, the munici- Jerusalem children for whom no publicly The responsibility had previously been that pality would cease issuing demolition orders. financed educational facilities existed. of security forces. (Ma’ariv) September 12 The last IDF soldiers leave A group of 30 settlers from throw September 6 Israeli agriculture minister the Gaza Strip after 38 years of direct mili- rocks at the jeep of central commander Maj. Yisrael Katz orders the fencing of 15,000 tary occupation. (Ha’artez) Gen. Yair Naveh as he tours the West Bank. dunams south of Har Hebron. The govern- (Ha’aretz) ment had decided to leave this area near September 13 During a visit to the West unauthorized outposts outside of the separa- Bank settlements of Beit Arieh and Karne tion barrier, but Katz, according to Ma’ariv Shomron, Defense Minister Mofaz expresses

4 ❖ Report on Israeli Settlement November-December 2005 SEPARATION BARRIER UPDATE

Opponents of the separation barrier have filed almost 90 peti- barrier and the . tions before Israel’s High Court of Justice since the government In a September 15 ruling, Israel’s High Court of Justice ordered approved construction in June 2002. More than 40 petitions the Sharon government to reconsider 13km of the existing route in remain active, contesting 80 km of the route, parts of which have this area because of the disproportionate harm caused to Palestin- already been completed. Most of the petitions have been filed by ians affected by its route. It expressed doubt that security considera- Palestinians opposed to the barrier route in their local environs, tions were always the paramount consideration in determining the including one that resulted in a court order in mid-2005 to revise barrier’s route. It found that Israel must take into account the secu- the route near . Others have been filed by Israeli human rity requirements of settlers and settlements, as well as those of rights organizations. Israel itself, in determining the route of the separation barrier, but The current route of the barrier is 763 km, of which 242 km is only insofar as the chosen route does not have a disproportionate completed, with an additional 157 km under construction. Con- impact upon affected Palestinians. The court found justification for struction has yet to begin along almost half of the route located its recognition of the security rights of settlers in the Oslo Accords in south of Jerusalem and along the West Bank’s southern perimeter. which, the court argued, the Liberation Organization Construction of the 25 km section of the separation barrier in recognized Israel’s right to protect the security of settlers. Inte- the area of Alfei Menashe, south of , was completed in restingly, the justices also argued that settlers enjoy property rights the summer of 2003. Alfei Menashe, a settlement of 5650 people, that the state is obliged to protect, according to standards enjoyed by along with noncontiguous areas slated for its future expansion citizens resident in Israel. The full decision can be found at: and a section of Route 55 linking the settlement to Israel, was http://www.btselem.org/English/Special/20050916_Ruling_on_ included in the “seam area”—the land created between the Alfeii_Menashe_Enclave.asp. Excerpts appear below.

HCJ 7957/04 Mara’abe v. The Prime Minister of Israel ty, and dignity of every one of the Israeli settlers. Israelis present in the area have the rights to life, dignity Alfei Menashe is an Israeli [settlement] town in the and honor, property [emphasis added], privacy, and the rest of Samaria area. It was established approximately four kilometers the rights which anyone present in Israel enjoys. Converse to beyond the Green Line. Pursuant the military commander’s this right of theirs stands the state’s duty to refrain from orders, a separation fence was built, surrounding the town impinging upon these rights, and to protect them. from all sides, and leaving a passage containing a road con- The fence cuts the residents of the villages off from the necting the town to Israel. A number of Palestinian villages Palestinian communities which provide them necessary servic- [5] are included within the fence’s perimeter. The separation es. The fence traps the residents of the villages inside of an fence cuts them off from the remaining parts of the and enclave cut off from the Palestinian population in the West Samaria area. An enclave of Palestinian villages on the Bank. The residents of the villages are unable to enter a “Israeli” side of the fence has been created. Petitioners are res- Palestinian community outside the enclave without passing idents of the villages. They contend that the separation fence through the gates in the fence or a checkpoint (crossing 109). is not legal. Residents who wish to travel from the villages of the enclave The military commander is authorized to order the con- to the adjacent towns of Habla and Ras Atiyeh are forced to struction of the separation fence if the reason behind its con- pass long and wearying roads, which require travel by car, just struction is a security and military one. to get to a place which in the past was reachable by foot. It is sometimes necessary, in order to erect a separation We have reached the conclusion that the considerations fence, to take possession of land belonging to Palestinian resi- behind the determined route are security considerations. It is dents. Is the military commander authorized to do so? The not a political consideration which lies behind the fence route answer is that if it is necessary for military needs, the military at the Alfei Menashe enclave, rather the need to protect the commander is authorized to do so. well-being and security of the Israelis (those in Israel and Does the military commander’s authority to construct a those living in Alfei Menashe, as well as those wishing to separation fence also include his authority to construct a fence travel from Alfei Menashe to Israel and those wishing to trav- in order to protect the lives and safety of Israelis living in el from Israel to Alfei Menashe). Our conclusion, therefore, is Israeli communities in the ? . . . In our that the decision to erect the separation fence at the Alfeii opinion, the answer is positive. Menashe enclave was made within the authority granted to Even if the military commander acted in a manner that the military commander.... conflicted the law of belligerent occupation at the time he Indeed, any route of the fence must take into account the agreed to the establishment of this or that settlement—and need to provide security for the Israeli residents of Alfei that issue is not before us, and we shall express no opinion on Menashe. it—that does not release him from his duty according to the law of belligerent occupation itself, to preserve the lives, safe- SEPARATION BARRIER UPDATE, continued on page 7

November-December 2005 Report on Israeli Settlement ❖ 5 COMPROMISING PALESTINIAN JERUSALEM—THE ADUMIM BLOC

6 ❖ Report on Israeli Settlement November-December 2005 COMPROMISING PALESTINIAN JERUSALEM

The map opposite portrays the emerging territorial reality the E-1 plan area and westward via Mt. Scopus. This territo- of critical parts of East Jerusalem and its immediate West rial linkage is enhanced by dedicated transportation networks, Bank hinterland. The following points should be noted: notably Route 1 and Route 45. ■ Prospects for maintaining Palestinian territorial hege- ■ Palestinian communities pay the price of these territorial mony in East Jerusalem have been undermined, not only by and transportation linkages. The prospect of Palestinian terri- extensive Israel settlement there, but also by construction of torial continuity within the West Bank is compromised by the the separation barrier south of Kufr Aqab and Semiramis and Ma’ale Adumim bloc. Contiguity within Jerusalem and around the Shufat refugee camp. between it and the West Bank is compromised by the destruc- ■ In contrast, territorial contiguity of East Jerusalem set- tion of Route 60 as the principal north-south Palestinian tlements with each other and nearby settlements is being thoroughfare, and the separation barrier, which controls and enhanced by the expansion of East Jerusalem settlement limits access by Palestinians through 10 planned permanent peripheries beyond the municipal boundary of the city estab- gates. Construction of the barrier along the approved route lished by Israel in June 1967. Note in this regard the route of east of Qedar to the Shufat Gate is essentially a political the separation barrier northeast of Neve Ya’acov and east of expression of the limits of settlement development. Pisgat Ze’ev. ■ A transportation link between the Palestinian areas ■ Territorial contiguity between the Ma’ale Adumim bloc north and south of the Ma’ale Adumim bloc is maintained by of settlements and Israel is created by the territorial linkage in an Israeli-controlled road yet to be constructed. ◆ —————— ◆ —————— WEST BANK, continued from page 1 Occupation Forever Every aspect of Israeli policy, including the separation bar- ernment of Ariel Sharon effectively destroyed the principal rier, the system of checkpoints, closures, and bypass routes, feature of the Oslo framework when the IDF assumed direct and arguably the retreat from Gaza, is inspired by the inten- control of security in Area A—covering the main Palestinian tion to remain in strategic control of all of the West Bank and towns in the West Bank. in permanent, exclusive physical control of between 20 and 50 In November 2002, the Settlement Report noted, “Israel is percent of it. The evacuation of four settlements and army now settling in for an extended period of the direct exercise of bases in the northern part of the West Bank did not result in security responsibilities everywhere in the occupied territories, the change in status of these areas from , another indi- a dramatic transformation from the last decade, and one cation of Israel’s current lack of interest in reviving the territo- which the Bush administration, the road map notwithstand- rial hierarchy that characterized the Oslo period. ing, hesitates to confront.” Israel is prepared to evacuate additional settlements in the In the years that followed, Israel destroyed Palestinian West Bank, although the timing and extent of the retreat operational security capabilities, adding to the already formi- remain to be decided. Notwithstanding this readiness, settle- dable internal obstacles to a unified and decisive monopoly of ment expansion and the consolidation of new settlements, force faced by the PA. Israel has continued to obstruct the even in areas that are deemed to be potential candidates for reconstruction of Palestinian security institutions by refusing evacuation, continues apace, without reference to concerns to cede operational control exercised by the IDF throughout raised by third parties, including the United States. ◆ what was formerly considered Area A and by opposing the enhancement of Palestinian security capabilities. SEPARATION BARRIER UPDATE, continued from page 5 Maj. General Ya’ir Naveh, who heads Israel’s West Bank occupation forces, explains the difference between Israel’s view Respondents must reconsider the existing route. They must of the Gaza Strip and West Bank as follows, examine the possibility of removing the [Palestinian] villages “In Gaza, we are leaving and closing the gates behind us. of the enclave—some or all of them—from the “Israeli” side We have no intention of leaving Judea and Samaria. We will of the fence. remain here in one way or another for hundreds and thou- Respondents must, within a reasonable period, reconsider sands of years.” the various alternatives for the separation fence route at Alfei Israeli policies reflect an intention to permit the PA to Menashe, while examining security alternatives which injure exercise only the most limited of security functions. As Naveh the fabric of life of the residents of the villages of the enclave explains, “I am pleased with the operation of the [Palestinian to a lesser extent. In this context, the alternative by which the security] apparatus. There is a positive trend: returning Israelis enclave will contain only Alfei Menashe and a connecting who stray into Palestinian cities, returning [Israeli] stolen cars, road to Israel, while moving the existing road connecting and collecting weapons. I don’t expect much more from Alfei Menashe to Israel to another location in the south of them.” the enclave, should be examined. ◆

November-December 2005 Report on Israeli Settlement ❖ 7 JERUSALEM SHORTS President Bush: [A]chieving peace demands action from all parties. Israel must continue to work with Arab Neighborhoods Jewish Neighborhoods Palestinian leaders to help improve the daily lives of (East Jerusalem) (East/West Jerusalem) Palestinians. At the same time, Israel should not under- Population (2002) 185,000a 460,000 take any activity that contravenes its road map obliga- Social workers 32 178 tions, or prejudices the final status negotiations with Cases per social worker 240 160 regard to Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. This means tht Israel must remove unauthorized posts and Public parks 45 1,087 stop settlement expansion. It also means that the barrier (470 dunams) (5,165 dunams) now being built to protect Israelis from terrorist attacks Playground structures 15 220 must be a security barrier, rather than a political barrier. Playground structures Israeli leaders must take into account the impact this installed, 2003–2005 1 14 security barrier has on Palestinians not engaged in ter- Recreational structures rorist activities. . . . installed, 2003–2005 90 1,000 President Abbas: Peace requires a departure from the Ping Pong tables 0 14 policies of occupation and the adoption of the principle Park benches 38 400 of freedom. Peace requires departure from the policies of Budget for public centers settlements construction, the collective punishment, and services $530,000 $3.5 million unilateral acts that undermine your vision toward two (15% of total) (85% of total) states and replace that with progress towards negotia- Average household (persons) 5.3b 3.4b tions. Peace and security cannot be guaranteed by the Number of births (2004) 8,200 11,800 construction of walls, by the erection of checkpoints, and (41%)b (59%)b the confiscation of land, but rather by the recognition of rights. Sources: President Bush: And so you said I would like to see Kol Ha’Ir, September 23, 2005. two states before I get out of office. Not true. I’d like to a. Statistical Yearbook of Jerusalem, 2003, Table III/13; Table X/12. see two states. And if it happens before I get out of b. Kol Ha’zman, “18,000 People Don’t Live Here Anymore.” office, I'll be there to witness the ceremony. And if it September 30, 2005. doesn’t, we will work hard to lay that foundation so that the process becomes irreversible. President George W. Bush Welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the White House, October 20, 2005

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