REPORT ON IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peac e Volum e 18 N umber 5 September-October 2008

ISRAEL LEADS THE CONTEST WITH PALESTINIANS FOR “STAYING POWER”

By Geoffrey Aronson elections and the de facto government ‘finger’).” Interestingly, ’s annexa - in Gaza. tion of agreed upon parts of the West When asked about his legacy as pres - Yet Olmert has acted in a manner Bank would take place immediately ident, George W. Bush recently remark- contrary to his laudable rhetoric and his upon signature of the agreement— ed, “Oh, I don’t know. I’ll be dead when contacts with Hamas. Rather than break “Olmert’s proposal states that once a they finally figure it out. I’ll be long with the policies of his predecessors, he border is agreed upon, Israel would be gone before somebody finally figures out has promoted the consolidation of the able to build freely in the settlement the true merit and meaning of the Bush instruments of occupation, settlement, blocs to be annexed [more than 55 set - administration.” and overlordship of Palestinians that tlements with a population of more than Israeli prime minister will arguably be his most lasting legacy. 400,000]”—while the transfer of “swap- has revealed a greater interest in defin - The parallel negotiating tracks estab - ped” territory to Palestine, as well as ing by year’s end his own historical con - lished after the November 2007 Anna- settlement evacuation in the remainder tribution, an intention no doubt fueled polis meeting—one between Olmert of the [including approxi - by his July 30 decision to resign from and Palestinian Authority chairman mately 70 settlements with a population leadership of the Kadima party, and thus Mahmoud Abbas, the other between of 70,000] would have no timetable and the premiership. Notwithstanding this Foreign Minister and lead would have to await completion of “a choice, forced upon him by allegations negotiator Ahmad Qur’ei—have been series of internal [Palestinian] reforms,” of corruption, the complexities of Israeli “serious and professional” according to including the restoration of Fateh’s rule politics may enable Olmert to remain participants. Olmert has said that he in the . prime minister until after Bush’s succes - does not “see a practical possibility of There are also reports of efforts to sor enters the White House in January achieving understandings on the issue of reach a bilateral U.S.-Israel understand - 2009. Despite his abysmal standing in by the end of the year,” but ing on the security principles that would the polls—only 6 percent of Israelis that on borders and refugees “the differ - govern an eventual Israeli-Palestinian consider him worthy to be prime ences aren’t dramatic.” Aluf Benn, in agreement. If agreed to by Washington, minister—Olmert’s remaining months Ha’aretz, reported details of a proposal the terms being discussed would signal in power offer him a last opportunity conveyed by Olmert to Abbas, accord - American support for a permanent to reverse the policies of occupation ing to which “Israel would keep 7 per - Israeli military presence throughout the and settlement over which he has cent of the West Bank, while the Pale- West Bank and along its borders. presided. stinians would receive territory equiva - Even if the most forthcoming out - Olmert has spoken far more forth - lent to 5.5 percent of West Bank. . . . come of the Annapolis process material - rightly and eloquently than his prede - The land to be annexed to Israel would izes by the end of Olmert’s term, the cessors of the unbearable cost to Israel include the large settlement blocs, and implementation of an agreement that of continuing occupation and settle - the border would be similar to the pres - promises an end to occupation and set - ment—if only beyond the still-unfin - ent route of the separation fence. Israel tlement and the establishment of a ished separation barrier. He has also would keep Ma’ale Adumim, Gush viable and sovereign Palestinian state begun what will certainly be a tortuous Etzion (including Efrat), the settle - will remain distant and uncertain. diplomatic and military path towards ments surrounding Jerusalem and some establishing a common language with land in the northern West Bank adja - Hamas, the victor in the last Palestinian cent to Israel (including the Ariel ISRAEL , continued on page 4 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE This Report explores the glaring contra - Palestinian entity that could be called a diction between Prime Minister Ehud state. This aggressive settlement expansion Merle Thorpe, Jr. Olmert’s statements that Israel will be “fin - is occurring while Olmert is going through Founder ished” if it does not end its occupation of the motions of negotiating a two-state (1917–1994) the Palestinians, and his government’s poli - peace agreement with the Palestinians by cy of expanding settlements that ensure the end of 2008. Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. permanent conquest and settlement of the It is clear that Olmert and the majority President West Bank and East Jerusalem. of Israel’s secular political leaders now Geoffrey Aronson According to a recent report from Peace understand that settlements are bad for Director, Research and Now in Israel, settlement construction has Israel, but have become hostage politically Publications, Editor, Report on almost doubled over the past year. One to a settler lobby that has seized control of Israeli Settlement in the Occupied thousand new buildings containing 2,600 this issue. Yet, as Jeff Aronson points out in Territories new housing units are underway, construc - this issue, Olmert and his colleagues are Nitzan Goldberger tion tenders are up 550 percent, and plans also paralyzed by a syndrome in Israel’s Waseem Mardini for new housing units in east Jerusalem political culture that has not reconciled an Editorial Assistants have jumped to 6,843 from 1,734. This urge, based on its embattled history and burst of settlement activity is on both sides centuries of Jewish powerlessness, to prove Sara Bobak Intern of the separation barrier, belying the notion strength and defeat their Palestinian adver - that the barrier defines Israel’s concept of saries, with an intellectual recognition that TRUSTEES its final borders and a smaller Palestinian this would be a hollow victory that would state east of the barrier. On the contrary, lead to Israel’s own defeat as a Jewish, Landrum R. Bolling continued settlement building is strategi - democratic state. Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. cally located throughout the West Bank to James J. Cromwell preclude absolutely the emergence of any Peter Gubser Stephen Hartwell Richard S.T. Marsh —————— N —————— Richard W. Murphy Jean C. Newsom Gail Pressberg William B. Quandt Nicholas A. Veliotes

The Foundation, a non- profit I.R.C. 501(c)(3) organization, supports peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians through mutual recognition and a negotiated division of historic Pales- tine. It publishes the bi- monthly Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories . Copyright © 2008

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2 O Report on Israeli Settlement September-October 2008 WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN SAYING

Do Settlements Represent Facts on the Ground? so. We’re also going to continue to talk about the political Rice: No . . . and Yes track, which is ongoing. . . . Question: Apparently, based on his comments to reporters, Question: With that [in] mind, Secretary Rice, I mean the Israelis consider that—those [newly announced settle - Israel has defied you publicly. You [called] for a hold on set - ment] units as justified and there’s no indication they’re back - tlements and they’re constructing thousands of new units. ing down on it. What are you going to do about it? Or is the Bush adminis - Mr. McCormack: Well, you know, again, they have their tration (inaudible)? point of view, we have our point of view, with respect to the Secretary Condoleezza Rice: The settlement issue with Roadmap obligations. Our view is not changing, and we’re Israel is not unique to the Bush administration. going to continue talking to them about it. You know, ulti - Question: At a time when it’s the most urgent— mately, however, these questions about settlements where— Secretary Rice: The settlement issue is not unique to the you know, where lines are drawn, what is legitimate, what is Bush administration at a time when negotiations are going on not legitimate, with respect to Roadmap obligations, are only either. There’s a pattern here. And we’re going to continue to really ultimately going to be settled by a final negotiated set - raise it. I am hopeful that the Israelis understand that we very tlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. You’re not seriously are concerned not just about the activity itself, going to have these kinds of questions. You’re not going to although that’s an issue, but about the effect that it has on the have these kinds of bumps in the road with respect to negoti - confidence of the parties—of the Palestinians but also of the ations when these issues of settlements come up. United States. There’s no effort here to create facts on the And so our focus is to work with both sides to get as far as ground. And we believe and have said that the realities on the we can in achieving a settlement on all final status issues by ground have to be taken into account when any agreement is the end of the year. That remains our goal. We’re going to done. And a lot has happened since 1966. continue to push on that goal. And ultimately, when you get But that said, it isn’t acceptable to keep trying to create to that point, whether that’s in this administration or some realities on the ground, new realities on the ground. And I administration down the road, these questions aren’t going to think there is an important message there to the Israeli lead - become the grist for daily news stories anymore because the ership. issues will have been settled. Question: What kind of pressure are you putting on the State Department Daily Briefing, July 29, 2008 Israeli leadership so that it’s not just dialogue (inaudible)? Secretary Rice: Israel is a sovereign government. And ————————————— they’ve always said that they have a different position about this. But again, some of this comes down to whether the Rice: A Long Slog United States, when asked, is going to accept that new reali - Secretary Rice: Well, if you remember, the—Annapolis had ties have been created on the ground or whether or not we three tracks. One was Roadmap implementation. The parties continue to believe that when we talked about population undertook, in 2003, a number of obligations to try and move realities on the ground, we were talking about population the process forward, kind of on-the-ground obligations. And realities on the ground at the time. I think that’s an important so, for instance, the Palestinians said that they would disman - distinction here. tle the infrastructure of terror. The Israelis made some repre - Rice Interview with the CNN Editorial Board, sentations about dismantling outposts. New York, June 19, 2008 It’s a slog, to be quite frank. ————————————— Rice Remarks with Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson, August 3, 2008 State: Israel’s Roadmap Obligations Unclear and Subject to ————————————— Dispute. The US Cannot Determine the Legitimacy of Settlements Until a Final Status Agreement Is Reached Stop Settling, Please [State Department Spokesperson] Mr. Sean McCormack: On the settlement issue, I think I’ve made very clear the In terms of the settlements issue, I know that that was on the U.S. position that the settlement activity is not conducive to agenda for us to talk to [Defense] Minister [Ehud] Barak creating an environment for negotiations, yet negotiations go about. Our position on that is well known. We’ve talked on. We continue to press the Israelis about their Roadmap about it. The fact that there are these continuing activities obligations and to work with the Palestinians on their with respect to settlement activity is a problem. We have Roadmap obligations as well. talked to the Israelis about that. We’ve talked to them about Rice remarks with Palestinian president their Roadmap obligations and we’re going to continue to do Mahmoud Abbas, Ramallah, August 26, 2008

September-October 2008 Report on Israeli Settlement O 3 ISRAEL , continued from page 1 uttered a word in support of Palestinian statehood, and discussion of settlement evacuation was absent Not so the other, more activist dimension of Olmert’s West from mainstream Israeli debate. Bank agenda. Here Olmert’s legacy is ominous and unam - As prime minister at the turn of the century, Ehud Barak biguous—more settlements, more settlers and infrastructure to preceded Olmert in his alienation from the settlement move - serve them, and the growing marginalization of Palestinian ment as represented by the national-religious right. So too did authority over the territory and people under its nominal public opinion. Israelis no longer view settlers, especially those administration. claiming land east of the separation barrier, as “our boys” It would be incomplete and misleading to focus on this returning to the homeland, but as anachronistic artifacts from record—the facts on the ground—without reference to a bygone era, claiming lands that very few Israelis venture to Olmert’s diplomatic engagement and his apparently genuine visit. (A recent poll by Peace Now reports that 73 percent of belief that it is in Israel’s interest to remove some settlements; Israelis have not traveled to a West Bank settlement in the the same however, holds true for a blinkered attention to the last five years, and among those who have, 20 percent did so uncertain, and so-far-unproductive diplomatic efforts begun as part of their military service.) Overwhelming public sup - at Annapolis. port for ’s evacuation of settlers and the IDF How, then, can Olmert’s continuing contribution to the from the Gaza Strip in 2005 demonstrated the failure of set - sustainability and expansion of settlements be reconciled with tlers to “settle in the hearts” of the Israeli public. his unprecedented critique of the settlement ethos? Yet even as the settlement movement lost its pride of place among Israelis, and politicians became more critical of settlers The Old/New Politics of Settlement still wedded to the brutal confrontation with Palestinians over Israelis—including its preeminent ruling institutions—the control of the West Bank heartland and East Jerusalem, the political elite, the military, and governing bodies including the competition for staying power and domination, rather than Land Authority and the courts—have always viewed the partnership in a shared destiny, continues to drive Israeli poli - occupation through the prism of what President Shimon cy. Olmert represents not only the growing recognition Peres recently described as “the competition here over staying among Israelis of Israel’s interest in retreating from the West power,” whose roots hark back to the formative years of Bank and supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, Zionist colonization in Palestine. Israelis continue to embrace but also the prevailing view supporting the zero-sum contest this struggle as the defining aspect of relations with Palestin- for control of the land. This duality is the key to the conun - ians. Competition for dominance and control—with settle - drum that characterizes Olmert’s record, and helps to explain ments as the main currency—is the overriding context in the contradiction between Olmert’s impassioned but unreal - which all policies are conceived and executed. ized rhetoric acknowledging the costs of occupation and set - In the first decades of Israeli rule of the territories captured tlement and his real achievements in their favor. in June 1967, Israel enjoyed a national consensus in support of At a time when Israel’s political elite no longer views set - settlement. Critics of the policy were isolated and on the tlers as sainted emissaries of Greater Israel, four dynamic political margins. During this era, it would have been incon - decades of settlement expansion have created new centers of ceivable for any Israeli prime minister to suggest, as Olmert power in support of settlement on both sides of the separation has, that if the “two state solution collapses, the State of Israel barrier that Israeli politicians, including Olmert, no matter is finished.” Until recently Olmert himself considered such what their personal views, find easier to accommodate than views blasphemous. The settlers were “our boys,” continuing confront. the time-honored Zionist tradition of marking the borders of “Does anyone really believe that Olmert, Tzipi Livni, Shaul Jewish sovereignty. By 1974, the limitations that Israel’s Labor Mofaz et al are capable of relocating (or expelling, depending Party sought to impose on this national enterprise were crum - on one’s point of view) 250,000 people?,” asked Eitan Haber, bling. The Likud’s election in May 1977 removed them formerly a close aide toYitzhak Rabin. “Is there anyone in entirely. Under ’s stewardship and through - Israel today capable of giving that order and surviving politi - out the 1980s, with enthusiastic support from backbenchers cally? Israel will continue to spin out of control, until some - like Olmert, settlement “throughout the ” was thing major, something dramatic, something huge and some - lauded as an expression of the best of Zionism and an appro - thing unprecedented happens. Something that will bring the priate “Zionist response” to Palestinian opposition to Jewish tailspin to a sudden end in the tempestuous waters.” settlement anywhere in Palestine. Settlement towns such as Ariel, Alfe Menashe, and Ma’ale The first intifada, which began in December 1987, marked Adumim today boast tens of thousands of secular, middle- the beginning of Israel’s popular and political disenchantment class residents, who see themsleves as Israelis in pursuit of the with the settlement enterprise. Yet during the Oslo years, set - good life, not settlers. They, like politicians and government tlement expansion and the “peace process” proceeded in tan - ministries, view their communities as part of Israel, and see dem, settlements having been explicitly excluded from the nothing unusual in claiming (more than) their proportionate diplomatic agenda. Neither Labor’s or Likud’s share of the national budget.

4 O Report on Israeli Settlement September-October 2008 Settlements of exploding ultra-orthodox communities settlements and to extend “Jewish” control over the land. The beyond the Green Line—Mod’in Ilit and Beitar Ilit are the YESHA leadership came of age in an era where respect for fastest growing settlements—have created a newly powerful the IDF and collaboration with state institutions like the political lobby for settlement expansion at least as important army were usually the rule. In contrast, many of the young as the “religious Zionist” settlers who spearhead efforts east of people manning new settlement outposts disdain the army the separation barrier and secular Israelis seeking to improve and do not recognize the authority of the state. Moreover to their “quality of life.” These non-Zionist ultra-Orthodox have them, “every caravan is Masada”—an attitude that precludes been won over to settlement in the West Bank not because of compromise. Zeev Hever, for example, is a veteran member of any love for Greater Israel but as a politically palatable solu - the Jewish terror cells of the 1980s who worked closely with tion to the housing needs of their poor but rapidly growing Ariel Sharon to settle the West Bank. According to Ha’aretz , community. Hever “is being persecuted by the right wing, which is more “In early April,” reported Ma’ariv columnist Shalom extreme than he is. The man who invented the diversionary Yerushalmi, “Communication Minister Ariel Atias from tactics that enabled the construction of the supposedly legal came in to see the prime minister. ‘Listen to me now,’ he state-funded settlements is now regarded as too moderate and threatened. ‘Unless you approve is being harassed for his willingness 286 new housing units in Beitar to give up two outposts in order to Ilit, all of our members hang on to a hundred others.” will just get up and leave the [T]he golem has risen up against its Hever is reportedly considering plenum when the next no-confi - creator: When the public finally real - leaving the settlement of Kiryat dence vote comes up. I’m telling ized that if the Jewish national move - Arba (for the settlement of Ofra) you this just between the two of us, ment does not absorb universal foun - because of threats made against no media and no brouhaha.’ Two dations of human rights, democracy him by even more radical settlers. days later he phoned Shas leader, and the rule of law it will doom itself to Yet despite their internal conflicts, Rabbi Ovadia Yossef, to say that settlers remain united in their the Prime Minister’s Office okayed destruction, a force had already arisen determination not to permit Israel’s the added construction in the West over the Green Line that now threatens political or judicial establishment, Bank settlement. . . . Finally, after to drown all of Israel. or its security forces to restrict their the expansion in Beitar Ilit was Thus a minority took control of the settlement agenda. They have once again postponed to facilitate a fate of the entire society and held it largely succeeded. smoother visit by Rice, some of the hostage, due both to the left’s ideologi - Relations between the IDF— land for the 286 new units was charged with defending the broad - allocated and re-zoned for con - cal impotence and a lack of character, est prerogatives of settlers—and struction.” determination and leadership. If society the “hilltop youth” manning the The concept of “settlement does not find the emotional strength to 100 or so new settlement outposts blocs” as applied to areas west of remove the noose of the settlements, established in the last 12 years, are the separation barrier is meant to nothing but a sad memory will remain at times confrontational. The sanitize and remove from the nego - of the Jewish state as it still exists.” removal of a bus being used by set - tiating agenda numerous settle - tlers as a mobile home in an unau - ments, all of which are illegal Zeev Sternhal, Ha’aretz , August 8, 2008 thorized settlement outpost lead to according to international law. By confrontations in late July that an acknowledging the “reality” of these IDF official described as having blocs in April 2004, President Bush established a diplomatic “crossed all the red lines.” It was reported that in one instance foundation for Olmert to justify their eventual annexation by a settler held a knife to the throat of a soldier and stole his Israel. helmet before fleeing. Ma’ariv quoted an IDF officer The YESHA Council, the representative institution for the acknowledging that “the settlers intend to show that they have 280,000 Israelis living in the West Bank, carries political and power on the ground with the goal of blocking any legal mis - economic as well as ideological weight that politicians of all sion, such as the evacuation of outposts. We will have to parties would rather cooperate with than confront. The route rethink the matter and respond accordingly.” of the separation barrier is a reflection of their power. So too Israel’s High Court of Justice has also been mobilized in are Olmert’s recent decisions to approve new construction in support of the contest for staying power. The court actively Beitar Ilit and elsewhere, and to refrain from forced evacua - supports the advancement of settlement and occupation, as it tion of settlement outposts championed by YESHA leaders. did when it defied the views of the International Court of There are, however, tensions within the settlement move - Justice on the legality of the separation barrier and asserted ment itself—for example between the “outpost lobby” and the YESHA Council—over the most effective means to expand ISRAEL , continued on page 6

September-October 2008 Report on Israeli Settlement O 5 ISRAEL , continued from page 5 Whole Land of Israel,” and worries, according to Ha’aretz , that support among the American elite for the idea of a state the rights of settlers. While the Court has occasionally of all its citizens “poses a very dangerous process that endan - ordered the IDF to make marginal, if locally significant gers our existence as a Jewish state.” Meanwhile, Olmert sup - changes in the barrier’s route to mitigate harm to Palestinians, ports policies that will bring such a day closer. The settler these instructions have been all but ignored by Olmert. population of the West Bank rose by 15,000 during 2007, an Justices grant any settler who fancies a house or piece of land annual increase of 5.5 per cent, a rate three times the national preferred standing to refute the claims of Palestinian owners. rate of growth. Olmert claims that Israel is “closer than ever Earlier this year, the court validated the exclusion of to firm understandings that can serve as a basis for agree - Palestinians from a road built “for public purposes” on land ments” with the Palestinians (and Syrians). . . . If he is right, expropriated from them. Even when its rulings appear to con - then in the short time left to him, it would be better to leave a strain settlement—the Elon Moreh case, which was meant to legacy that ends occupation and settlement rather than one forbid the taking of private Palestinian land for civilian settle - that perpetuates it. N ment, is the most prominent example—the settlement machine has conjured administrative and legal fictions that have nullified its impact when it has not simply ignored the court’s views, often with the latter’s passive complicity. So, in the wake of the court’s Elon Moreh decision in 1979, the In the land of the settlers, disengagement is a bleed - “state lands” rationale became the “legal” method of choice for ing wound. It changed not only their relationship with land theft for settlement . . . and private land continued to be the state, but also the relationship amongst themselves. taken in any caset. Most recently, in August the court-ordered The central leadership has crumbled, and the settlement date for the evacuation of the outpost settlement of Migron, movement today is led by wild groups of young people built on private Palestinian land, passed without action by the who are openly fed up with Israel and its institutions. Defense Ministry headed by Ehud Barak to enforce the judg - And this anger makes them lose it. Almost not a day ment. Instead, settlers were offered the chance to remain— goes by without an incident vis-à-vis the security forces. and expand—until new housing in a new settlement is con - A settler wrests away a soldier’s rifle; a group of children structed—an offer they refused. yells “Nazis” at the reservists guarding them; IDF “Barak has not made a single decision that was geared to Central Command jeeps are blocked; a police cruiser’s tighten law enforcement in the West Bank,” observed Yediot tires are slashed. Aharonot columnist Nahum Barnea. “Forget about a deci - On occasion, when a settler is arrested, they impose a sion—no one has heard him speak. Barak’s support for the siege on the police station and try to get their friend out rule of law is very enthusiastic, very convincing, but it never by force, as if we were some kind of foreign colonialist crosses the Green Line. No less interesting than Barak’s atti - regime in Zimbabwe or Congo. They are mad at the tude towards the High Court is the Court’s attitude towards IDF, show contempt to the law, and refuse to accept the Barak. Time and time again the defense minister has asked to state’s authority. This is the case in the outpost of put off honoring his commitment to evacuate unauthorized Migron, as well as the daily infiltrations to the evacuated settlement outposts, and every time that extension has been settlement and to Joseph’s Tomb; this is the case given. He promises to evacuate the settlements consensually in settlements such as Yitzhar and Tapuach. despite the fact that in the case of Migron, at least, a settle - And as always, they do the job for their rivals— ment that has become firmly established, all the talk about a because more than any spineless speech, they consensual evacuation is nothing more than a ruse—and the define the place they live in as “not Israel.” judges swallow their own spit and accede.” This is a lawless land, lacking respect, where people In East Jerusalem, the high court ordered settlers to be who are different than us live and conduct themselves in removed from a seven-storey building constructed without a line with codes we don’t understand. It is a land that has permit that they are illegally occupying in the East Jerusalem rejected all the basic values that hold us together: The village of Silwan. In response, city administrators are working respect to IDF soldiers, the sense of solidarity, the real - “to kosher” the structure. In the settlement of Ofra, settlers ization that the police do an exhausting job under took the unusual step of working on the Sabbath (actually impossible conditions. they hired non-Jews to do the work) to rush completion and These people create a situation whereby, when the day population of houses built on private Palestinian land that the comes, and the agreements are signed on the lawn in Court had ruled the settlers could not occupy. As the settler- Washington, it will be easier to give up this land, which newswire Arutz 7 observed, “The houses are now occupied by isn’t really ours; this land where not only the laws and Jews, causing a legal anomaly—as the High Court ordered the landscape are different, but also the people. occupancy to be ‘halted’.” Yair Lapid, Ynetnews.com, August 19, 2008 Olmert declares that “only dreamers still believe in the

6 O Report on Israeli Settlement September-October 2008 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

May 28 Israel’s military court approves dents occupy the nine buildings whose con - Yitzhar. ( Yediot Aharonot ) orders to remove settlers squatting in two struction is opposed by the two groups. Israel’s High Court of Justice issues a ruling shops in that belong to Palestinians (Ha’aretz ) banning further construction on nine houses who had fled the area. ( Ha’aretz ) June 10 Ha’aretz reports the removal of ten in the settlement of Ofra and orders the May 30 Settlers from Efrata, Har Homa, West Bank roadblocks by the IDF to ease police and civil administration to enforce its Kiryat Arba, and Teqoa march to the old Palestinian traffic. ruling. (Arutz 7) military base east of Beit Sahour that was Settlers from Kiryat Arba take control of Settlers from Yitzhar settlement set fire to vacated in 2006. (OCHA) land in the Wadi al-Hussein neighborhood agricultural land belonging to Palestinian May 31 Settlers escorted by the IDF enter in Hebron. (OCHA) farmers from Burin, ‘Asira al Qibliya and Nablus to visit Joseph’s Tomb, near the ‘Urif villages. More than 800 dunums of Balata refugee camp. (OCHA) June 11 Palestinians threw stones at an olive groves were burnt. (OCHA) Israeli settler’s bus travelling on Road 443 June 1 For the second time in two years, near At Tira village. No injuries reported. Settlers from Yitzhar settlement throw religious-Zionist rabbis enter the Haram al- The bus sustained some damage. (OCHA) stones at Palestinian vehicles and houses in Sharif [Temple Mount]. ( Ha’aretz ) Burin causing damage to windows of two Settlers from Itamar settlement stopped lev - houses. The IDF closed a segment of Road Construction and Housing Minister Ze’ev eling land for a road to the settlement near Boim announces the issuance of tenders to 60 between Yitzhar and Jit partial check - Beit Furik following IDF intervention. points for seven hours. (OCHA) build 763 units in the East Jerusalem settle - (OCHA) ment of Pisgat Ze’ev and 121 units in Har Settlers from Tappuah settlement set fire to Homa. ( Jerusalem Post ) June 13 A group of Palestinians threw agricultural land belonging to farmers from stones at an Israeli settler’s vehicle travelling June 2 The Israel Land Administration Yasuf village. About 48 dunums were burnt. near Abud village. No injuries were reported. (OCHA) publishes tenders for 47 housing units in the (OCHA) East Jerusalem settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev. Settlers escorted by the IDF entered Nablus (Ha’aretz ) The IDF evacuated and then arrested nine City and Joseph’s Tomb near Balata refugee settlers after they entered Joseph’s Tomb near camp. (OCHA) June 4 The human rights groups Yesh Din Balata refugee camp without prior coordina - and B’tselem submit a petition to Israel’s tion. (OCHA) June 20 Palestinians shoot and injure three High Court of Justice opposing the con - settlers hiking near Ramallah. (Arutz 7) struction of nine housing units in the settle - Plowing work continued in Sinsana settle - ment to allow for further settlement expan - Ma’ariv reports on students from the Od ment of Ofra on private Palestinian land. Yosef Hai Yeshiva, in the Yitzhar settlement, (Ha’aretz ) sion. The area being plowed is known by the name Tur Al Nasrani and is located in the firing a homemade rocket in the direction of Construction of the separation barrier near village of Al Ramadin. (OCHA) a Palestinian village. the Palestinian village of Ni’lin restarts fol - The IDF distributed a military order to req - lowing the High Court of Justice’s rejection June 15 The Jerusalem Planning Commit- uisition 1,500 dunums belonging to on May 20 of an appeal by village residents. tee approves the construction of 40,000 Palestinians from Beit Hanina al Balad to (OCHA) housing units across the city, including in East Jerusalem settlements, and for the first construct the Barrier between the village and Israel conducts extensive land leveling in the time, in Palestinian neighborhoods, among Ramot settlement. Palestinians from Beit vicinity of the Har Homa settlement in East them al-Sawiya, Shu’afat, and al-Tur. Hanina al Balad demonstrate against the Jerusalem. (OCHA) (Ha’aretz ) requisition. (OCHA) June 6 Settlers from the Ha’shmonaim set - June 16 Settlers from Yitzhar settlement June 21 The IDF announces the removal tlement fire bullets at Israeli, Palestinian, and physically attacked three Palestinian shep - of ten roadblocks in Ramallah. The action international activists demonstrating in herds in Burin village. After the three brings to 100 the number of roadblocks Ni’lin against the construction of the separa - Palestinians managed to escape, the settlers removed in June in the West Bank as part of tion barrier. IDF soldiers firing rubber-coat - stabbed and killed three donkeys. The inci - a plan authorized by Defense Minister Ehud ed bullets injure three Palestinian males. dent is under investigation by the Israeli Barak. (OCHA) Police. (OCHA) Israeli settlers from Nehli’el settlement June 8 Using iron pipes, settlers attack and June 17 Forty Knesset members sign a burned one olive tree and destroyed two injure a Palestinian family from Yatta as they proposal by MK Aryeh Eldad to allow set - greenhouses belonging to a farmer from graze their sheep. (OCHA) tlers to reestablish settlements evacuated in Beitillu. This took place following a shooting Settlers cut down four trees in the Ibrahimi 2005 in the northern West Bank as part of incident that resulted in the injury of three Mosque garden in preparation for a wed - the “disengagement” from the Gaza Strip. settlers on 20 June. (OCHA) ding. (OCHA) (Arutz 7) June 30 Arutz 7 reports the creation of a In response to a petition by Yesh Din and June 19 Nine Israeli police and 11 settlers new settlement, authorized by the Israeli B’tselem, leaders of the Ofra settlement con - are injured in clashes during an attempted government, near the settlement of Kiryat firm to the High Court of Justice that resi - evacuation of unauthorized buildings in Arba, in Hebron. It houses 10 families.

September-October 2008 Report on Israeli Settlement O 7 Hebron? The whole occupied territories are one big and take them home to their mommies. I forcibly took that game, but the difference in Hebron is that the Jewish set - out of her hands, put it back in its place and closed up, just tlements are inside the town, and these are the worst so that an hour later they took it again, and although I did - zealots living there. There are all kinds of settlers, and they n’t have to do it, for it doesn’t help, I told her, “How could can be grouped. The guys from Gush Etzion are nicer. The you do this?” “They kill us and this and that. . . . ” What people who live in Ariel actually think they’re living in Tel can I say? The mother sends her children to do this. . . . Aviv. Twenty minutes drive on Highway no. 5. They don’t And every time we were at the Shaharabati House, the par - notice; they don’t know a thing. . . . The Efrat settlers, too, ents would distract the soldiers, and the children would are these city jerks, [and] that’s fine. . . . And there’s sabotage the place. In Hebron it’s an upside down world. Hebron, and there’s pure evil pouring out of the settlers Simply upside down. You protect the Palestinians there. I there. Evil. I can tell you there was one guy there who was swear to you. Because [of] the Jews there. . . . You’re used okay. When the kids made trouble he’d come along, take to Arabs throwing stones, but in Hebron it’s different. The his daughter and send her home. All the other parents Arabs don’t do anything, really nothing, and the settlers are would . . . actually send their kids to do it. I remember they the ones throwing stones all day. It was amazing, what went broke into a “welded shop” (a shop whose doors the army on in Hebron. . . . had welded shut). There were these aluminum trays, all Breaking the Silence, Soldiers’ Testimonies from Hebron, kinds of plastic containers and stuff. The kids pick them up 2005–2007 (Jerusalem, 2008), Testimony 66, pp. 88–89

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