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Home , Army Radio, Dov Lior, Eli Yishai, HaTzofe, Raja Shehadeh, Ramat Gilad

REPORT ON SETTLEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Peac e Volum e 19 N umber 4 July-August 2009

A SETTLEMENT FREEZE . . . OR MORE OF THE SAME

By Geoffrey Aronson and seal off East from its It is not surprising that when faced Palestinian hinterland. This project con - with Obama’s demand for a freeze, Never in the forty-two years that tinues despite widespread protest, ’s leaders are confident that the Israel has been occupying and settling including a recent, unprecedented public new president’s efforts will be neutral - the has an Israeli prime ceremony inaugurating a new national ized. Once again they are offering a minister taken seriously, let alone imple - police chief in the imposing police menu of policy compromises—a freeze mented, U.S. demands for a freeze of headquarters built in the eastern part of limited duration and scope, construc - settlement expansion. From the admin - of E-1. tion within existing settlement perime - istration of Lyndon Johnson, when the Prime Ministers ters, no new settlements or special gov - United States first noted Israel’s viola - and trumpeted their ernment incentives, “natural growth” to tion of the Fourth Geneva Convention settlement achievements. Many others, accommodate growing settler families prohibiting the transfer of its civilian including , , and their everyday needs, and expansion population to the occupied territories, to and “talked left and built only in settlement blocs. These artifices the June 4, 2009, declaration in Cairo right.” Whatever the method, Israel has have succeeded for almost five decades, by President rejecting never stopped building settlements and enabling Israel to settle close to half a “the legitimacy of continued Israeli set - related transportation and security infra - million of its citizens in the West Bank, tlements,” Washington’s opposition to structure for settlers. East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights in settlements has been variously, and Israel has built settlements without the face of virtually unanimous interna - always successfully, ignored, outlived, consideration for international opinion, tional opposition. This is an astonishing sidelined, or negotiated away. as did Defense Minister Ehud Barak achievement that reflects Israel’s deter - Israel has built settlements demon - when in June 2009 he authorized the mination, the chronic weakness of stratively, as a “Zionist response” to Civil Administration to submit a plan American and international diplomacy, Palestinian attacks or aggressive Ameri- for the construction of 300 housing and the failure of Palestinian protest and can diplomacy. The settlements in units in the unauthorized outpost of opposition. fit this category, as do the Givat Habrecha, near the settlement of “[U.S. special envoy George] “Baker settlements,” championed by Talmon east of the separation barrier. Mitchell knows the fraud exactly,” says a Secretary of State James Baker’s nemesis Palestinian opposition to settlements is former top official in Israel’s Defense almost twenty years ago. invariably ignored or dismissed. Ministry. When Israelis argued that In one of these, , outside of Is this central feature of the occu- restricting the natural growth of settle - Nablus, a new neighborhood of 52 “vil - pation about to change? President ments is like the Holocaust, as they did las” is now under construction. Obama’s insistent call for a comprehen - at a May 26, 2009 meeting in , Israel has built settlements quietly, sive end to continued settlement activity the Americans sitting opposite remained hoping not to excite strenuous interna - is unprecedented in its intensity. Despite unmoved. tional opposition. Until recently, this has the fact that until now all that he has While Israel’s leaders’ discomfort been the case with E-1, the vast area of asked of Israel is that it abide by the with Obama’s demand is genuine, like the West Bank east of Jerusalem where settlement commitments of George W. the incredulity of a child when a parent for many years Israel has been con - Bush’s road map, Obama’s demand rings finally says “enough!” they hope that structing elaborate infrastructure for all the louder in comparison to the more something will happen to “change the future settlement that would effectively forgiving U.S. policies of the Clinton divide the north and south West Bank and Bush administrations. SETTLEMENT , continued on page 6 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE America’s commitment to Israel’s securi - notwithstanding its military might, and its ty has been a constant in U.S. foreign poli - security as a democratic, Jewish state will Merle Thorpe, Jr. cy. It is based on our national security erode. Founder interest in Arab-Israeli peace, the assump - Perpetuation of the status quo could also (1917–1994) tion of shared values, and the belief that eventually weaken the U.S. commitment to Israel would make peace if it felt truly Israel. This commitment reflects a sense of Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. secure. For years, the rationale for massive affinity based on the tragic history of the President American military aid to Israel and ensur - Jewish people and a belief that the Zionist Geoffrey Aronson ing its “qualitative edge” against all adver - state upholds liberal values of democracy, Director, Research and saries was “to give Israel the confidence to peace, equality and justice inscribed in Publications, Editor, Report on make peace.” Israel’s Declaration of Independence. in the Occupied America’s security support for Israel Israel’s occupation and settlement policies Territories helped move Egypt and Jordan to make defy these values and harm its security. If Nitzan Goldberger peace with Israel, and more recently, influ - these policies continue, Israel’s secular, lib - Waseem Mardini enced the promise of the other Arab eral elements will lose to the challenge of a Editorial Assistants League states to make peace if Israel liber - harsh, intolerant, militant that ates the . The main threat to worships land and abandons enlightenment Jonathan van Melle Intern Israel’s security today, however, does not values. It is time for Israel and the U.S. to come from external forces—not even Iran, begin an honest discussion of more realistic TRUSTEES given Israeli and U.S. deterrent power—but policies that will make Israel truly secure, from Israel’s forty-year occupation and set - bring justice to the Palestinians, and pre - Landrum R. Bolling tlement of Palestinian territories which serve strong U.S.-Israeli relations. Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. now prevent a genuine two-state peace. James J. Cromwell Unless this project is reversed, Israel will Peter Gubser confront permanent strife and violence, 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 © 2009

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2 O Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2009 THE BLUE VELVET HILLS OF MY YOUTH HAVE BEEN DESTROYED

Palestinians will never be able to undo the damage caused by these massive, illegal and politically motivated settlements

By Raja Shehadeh At that time, Shamir dismissed the new settlement as “just a new neighbourhood.” The signing of the Oslo accords under I can remember the appearance of the hills around a Rabin government in 1993 led to the building of a road in 1979, before any Jewish settlement came to be connecting Dolev to Beit Eil, running through private established there. In the spring of that year I walked north Palestinian land. This winding road passed through the beau - from Ramallah, where I live, to the nearby village of A’yn tiful wadi linking Ramallah to A’yn Qenya, causing extensive Qenya and up the pine-forested hill. A gazelle leapt ahead of destruction to the ancient rock formations and olive orchards me. When I reached the top I could see hills spread below me along the way. One rockface that I particularly miss used to like crumpled blue velvet, with the hamlets of Janiya and Deir be studded with cyclamens during the late winter months, Ammar huddled between its folds. On top of the highest hill coming down all the way to the spring—which was also in the distance stood the village of Ras Karkar with its cen - destroyed. turies-old citadel that dominated the area during Ottoman The Israeli policy of speeding up settlement construction times. I had been following the worrying developments of in the face of U.S. diplomatic pressure shows no sign of extensive settlement-building elsewhere in the West Bank and changing. Following the latest U.S. administration declaration wondered how long it would be before these hills came under that Israel must impose a complete freeze on settlements, the the merciless blades of the Israeli bulldozers. I didn’t have to country’s defence minister, Ehud Barak, declared last week the wait long. A year later the top of the hill was lopped off and decision to establish 300 housing units in Givat Habrecha the settlement of Dolev, then a cluster of red-tiled Swiss-style (Hebrew for hill of the blessing), one of the 12 outposts near chalets, was established. the settlement of Talmon in the Ramallah hills. A few days Now, more than 25 years later, Dolev has expanded and later, on 29 June, he announced a further expansion of the taken over the hills to its north for illegal settlement of Adam, where vineyards. Numerous highways for 50 families are to move to a new the exclusive use of its Jewish set - When I asked him what right he had neighbourhood located on a rela - tlers connect it to the many other tively large parcel of land outside to be there, he answered: “I live here.” settlements in the area and to the built–up area of the settlement. Israel’s coastline. Those settlers He then pointedly added: “Unlike you, This also violates the Israeli com - travelling to and from Israeli cities I really live here.” mitment in the road map agree - where they work can only see road ment not to expand the area of signs indicating other Jewish settle - existing settlements. ments. They encounter no Palestinian traffic on the roads nor This demand for a freeze on new settlements—which is do they see any Palestinian villages. No wonder then that I not accepted by Israel even temporarily, as one minister was once stopped by an armed settler and interrogated as to underlined today—falls short of what should happen if a why I was taking a walk in his hills. When I asked him what viable peace is to be achieved: a complete evacuation of all the right he had to be there, he answered: “I live here.” He then settlements built illegally in the territories occupied by Israel pointedly added: “Unlike you, I really live here.” in 1967. Some would say this cannot possibly happen, given Not a single year has passed since Israel acquired the terri - that there are around half a million Israeli settlers living in the tories in 1967 in which Jewish settlements were not built. West Bank. But who would have thought in 1962 that it Had it pursued peace as assiduously, surely it would have would be possible to evict a million French Algerians who achieved it by now. Instead, whenever the U.S. pressed for a had been living in the country for almost a century and who peace initiative, the “proper Zionist response” was the creation represented roughly 9% of the population ? of [a new] settlement. The pattern of settling the Ramallah Until this happens, we will have a continuation of the pres - hills illustrates well the workings of this doomed policy. The ent reality where there is a single apartheid Israeli state Jewish settlement of Talmon was established in 1989 on the encompassing pre-1967 borders and the Palestinian occupied lands of the Palestinian village of Janiya, when the govern - territories. The sad truth is that when Israeli illegal settle - ment of Yitzhak Shamir was being pressured to agree to start ments come to an end, as they must, Palestinians will not be negotiations with the Palestinians. Talmon B was established, able to undo the damage caused to the landscape by this mas - about two miles away, when the US secretary of state, James sive, politically motivated development. Baker, arrived in Israel two years later to broker the first ever peace conference between Israel and Arab countries. Copyright Guardian News & Media Ltd., July 5, 2009

July-August 2009 Report on Israeli Settlement O 3 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

May 2 Dozens of settlers from Bat Ayin May 13 Israel’s High Court of Justice their Palestinian residents. attack the Umm Safa village, injuring two orders the state to explain within 90 days May 25 Settlers from Ma’on and Beit Yatir Palestinians. The incident follows the recent why it has not followed the court’s ruling to attack four Palestinian shepherds on land murder of a settler by a resident of Umm evacuate the illegal settlement outposts of near the settlements. (Ma’an News) Safa. The (IDF) arrest Givat Asaf, Ma’ale Rihbam, Mitzpe Lak- four settlers involved in the attack, two of hish, Mitzpe , and Ramat Gilad. May 26 The civil administration releases a whom are off-duty soldiers. ( Yediot Aharonot ) (Ha’aretz ) full list of buildings targeted for evacuation in 22 outposts. ( Ha’aretz ) May 3 Army Radio reports that Israeli May 15 Israeli authorities prevent interna - security officials fear an increase in the num - tional activists and Palestinians from access - May 27 Israeli police evacuate the outposts ber of incidents between settlers and Pale- ing lands in front of the settle - of Hill 18 and the Federman farm near stinians because of reports in the Palestinian ment. The Palestinians sought to clean their Kiryat Arba. The farm had been previously press about settlement expansion. agricultural lands, which had been declared evacuated. (Army Radio) part of a closed military zone by the IDF. Israeli interior minister and party Defense Minister Ehud Barak tells the High (Ma’an News) leader Eli Yishai recommends expanding Court of Justice that nine disputed Ofra Ma’ale Adumim by 12,000 dunams. The May 17 Ma’an News reports that an Israeli homes will not be demolished. (Arutz 7) expansion would include 6,000 new housing court will fine Palestinian families in Jerusa- May 31 Clashes erupt between settlers and units in the area between the Ma’ale lem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood $50,000 Israeli security forces during the evacuation Adumim and Qedar settlements. (Ma’an each if they fail to obey orders to evacuate by of a few West Bank settlement outposts, News) July 19. including one linked to the Yitzhar settle - Settlers release boars near the Palestinian vil - May 18 Israeli contractors begin planning ment. Another outpost, Shvut Ami B, was lage of Salim, east of Nablus, damaging new construction in the Maskiot settlement evacuated for the twentieth time. ( Yediot sheep barns and beehives. (Ma’an News) in the Jordan Valley. The units will house Aharonot , Ma’ariv ) eight families evacuated from Gaza’s Shirat May 4 Interior Minister Yishai announces June 1 Settlers assault and injure six Hayam settlement. ( Ma’ariv ) plans to develop the City of David as a Palestinians at the Qedumim junction, Jewish residential area in Jerusalem. Arab League secretary-general Amr Moussa between Nablus and Qalqiliya. Settlers set (Arutz 7) calls on the leaders of Arab states to boycott fire to Palestinian-owned fields of wheat, Prime Minister as long barley, and olive trees. (Ma’an News) May 5 Hatem Abdel Qader, the Palestin- as construction in the settlements continues. ian presidential advisor for Jerusalem affairs, June 2 Palestinians attack a group of sol - (Ma’ariv ) confirms the halt to 29 home demolitions in diers and settlers, stabbing one soldier, in East Jerusalem following intervention by May 19 Settlers from the Gilad outpost set retaliation for the previous day’s attack at the Palestinian lawyers and legal advisors. fire to land belonging to Palestinian farmers Qedumim junction. (Ma’an News) (Ma’an News) near Qalqiliya. The flames reach the villages Arutz 7 reports the Interior Ministry’s of Jit and Far’ata, scorching large areas of French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner approval of the construction of a new hotel wheat fields and olive groves. (Ma’an News) meets with Israeli foreign minister Avigdor in East Jerusalem. Lieberman and demands that Israel halt Settlers injure several Palestinian residents News media are allowed into the controver - construction in the settlements and open and an Israeli activist at a rally protesting sial E-1 police station between Jerusalem border crossings to improve the economic recent settler attacks and civil administration and Ma’ale Adumim to report the retirement situation in the . (Army Radio) assertions that the farmers do not own the ceremony of the commander of the Israel land despite documents proving ownership. May 6 Palestinian residents of Sinjil, near police in the West Bank. ( Ha’aretz ) (Ma’an News) Ramallah, accuse settlers from the Givat In response to increased American pressure HaRoeh outpost of cutting down 45 of the May 20 The Israel Land Authority pub - on Israel for failing to dismantle settlement village’s olive trees. ( Yediot Aharonot ) lishes tenders for private construction on two outposts, Council chairman Danny plots of land and for the construction of May 10 Palestinian farmers from Beit Dayan asserts, “The Americans are employ - apartment buildings on nine plots in the Ummar are denied access to their agricultur - ing political terrorism against the State of Golan Heights settlement of Katzrin. ( Yediot al lands near the settlement of Bat Ayin after Israel.” ( Ma’ariv ) Aharonot ) the area is declared a closed military zone. June 3 Israeli authorities issue demolition (Ma’an News) May 22 Zeman Yerushalaim reports that orders for 28 houses owned by Palestinians settler activists from the Foundation for May 12 Hundreds of right-wing activists in the northern West Bank. (Ma’an News) Israel Land enter a Palestinian home slated gather in to call for the resettle - Palestinians from the West Bank town of for evacuation in the Sheikh Jarrah neigh - ment of the West Bank area evacuated as Salfit report an attack by a group of settlers borhood of Jerusalem and change the locks. part of the 2005 disengagement. MK Uri from Ariel who unleashed wild boars. They intend on doing the same in 40 homes Arieli, Dov Lior, and Daniela Weiss (Ma’an News) in the area following a court ruling to evict are among the participants. ( Ma’ariv )

4 O Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2009 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

Israel Radio reports that the Defense of Silwan, south of the Old City of Jerusa- superiors that they would not report for Ministry has set up observation posts near lem. ( al-Quds al-Arabi ) military duty if their outpost is evacuated. the settlement of Eli on Palestinian land. Ha’aretz reports Interior Minister Eli Settlers uproot 150 trees belonging to The posts are located on the route of a road Yishai’s rejection of plans to construct Palestinian farmers from Bet Ummar, north intended to connect Eli to the Yovel settle - 13,500 housing units for Palestinians in of Hebron. ( al-Hayat al-Jadida ) ment outpost, but the High Court of Justice East Jerusalem. has ordered a halt to its paving. Settlers level 40 dunams of Palestinian June 12 Ha’aretz reports that Prime land belonging to residents of Nahaleen. June 4 Ma’ariv reports the rebuilding of Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sidelined (al-Ayyam ) four outposts evacuated on June 1. Two an already moribund committee cre - additional outposts were also established. June 24 Defense Minister Barak authorizes ated under Ariel Sharon to implement the the civil administration to submit plans for June 5 Israeli authorities order the evacua - March 2005 findings of the Sasson Report the construction of 300 new housing units in tion of 18 Palestinian family homes in the on outposts in the West Bank. the Givat Habrecha outpost, near Talmon Jabal al-Ahmar area, near the Jordan Valley. June 16 Rabbi Dov Lior, chairman of the settlement. ( Ha’aretz ) (al-Hayat al-Jadida ) settlements’ Committee of , calls on June 28 B’Tselem reports that the lack of Settler activists construct a new outpost settlers to establish new outposts throughout treatment for raw sewage in Judea and between Jerusalem and the settle - the West Bank following a speech by Prime Samaria, whether from settlements or ment and call it Givat Obama. Another out - Minister Netanyahu on June 14. ( Israel Palestinian municipalities, threatens to dam - post, Oz Yehonatan, is constructed near the Ha’Yom ) age the area’s aquifer. Israel has delayed settlement of Kokhav HaShahar. (Arutz 7) authorization for establishing treatment June 6 Israeli security forces evacuate the Settler leader Pinhas Wallerstein plants to serve Palestinians and only about Bnei Shiloh and Oz Yehonatan outposts. notes that, “all these housing units two-thirds of settlements are connected to (Army Radio) existing treatment plants. (Israeli Radio) [currently under construction] have (See “World Bank Report: Assessment of June 7 Ha’aretz reports that the Israeli already been sold. There is not a sin - Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector Interior Ministry will compensate 50 gle available apartment. . . . The Development–April 2009” in the Settlement Palestinian families a total of $64,000 for Report , vol. 19, no. 3) property damage caused by settlers during minimum needed for natural growth the evacuation of the “Peace House” in in Judea and Samaria is about 2,500 June 29 Ha’aretz reports that Jerusalem Hebron. (See timeline entries for December housing units every year.” mayor Nir Barkat is set to announce a plan 2, 4, 5, 10, 15 in the Settlement Report , vol. to freeze 70 percent of demolition orders for 19, no. 2) unauthorized Palestinian construction in East Jerusalem and to negotiate compensa - Ha’aretz reports right-wing activists sending June 21 Army Radio reports that Israel’s tion for families evicted from the remaining murder threats to IDF Gen. Gadi Shami, 2009–2010 budget allocates $250 million for 30 percent. the head of Central Command. settlements in the West Bank. The budget calls for $125 million for various security Army Radio reports Defense Ministry June 8 Ha’aretz reports that Interior expenses; most of the remainder is for hous - approval of a plan to build 1,450 new Minister Eli Yishai plans to transfer millions ing construction. housing units in the Adam settlement, in of dollars to expand the municipal areas of the Binyamin region near Jerusalem, in an West Bank settlements. June 22 Following reports that groups that effort to resettle some of the residents of the promote the human rights of Palestinians in Migron outpost. The High Court of June 9 The Coalition to Defend the the West Bank had briefed Israeli border Justice rules that only 50 housing units Rights of Palestinians in Jerusalem reports police, the settler group, Human Rights in are permitted. that Israeli authorities issued orders for the Judea and Samaria, contacts police com - demolition of 54 Palestinian homes in May mander Yisrael Yitzhak to brief the border Itzik Shadmi of the Binyamin settlers’ coun - 2009. ( al-Quds al-Arabi ) police on ways to protect the human rights cil states in response to the High Court’s Ha’aretz reports that Israel intends to drop of Jews in the West Bank. ( - decision, “We will not accept any arrange - charges against Ze’ev Baruda, the settler Hatzofe ) ment that implies that we do not have the right to settle anywhere in the Land of whose shooting of two Palestinians during June 23 Ha’aretz reports that soldiers now Israel, and therefore the arrangement struck clashes over the Hebron “Peace House” in accompany Israeli government workers between the Defense Ministry and the High December 2009 was recorded on camera. tracking and mapping illegal construction in Court is unacceptable. . . . The only thing we The High Court of Justice held that releas - the West Bank following attacks by settler are willing to do is to move Migron 300 ing the tape would help Baruda’s defense but groups. also threaten national security. meters and build it as a permanent settle - Ma’ariv reports that eight soldiers from ment. There is no reason we cannot be on June 11 Israeli police present demolition the West Bank outpost of Kida alerted their this hill.” ( Yediot Aharonot ) N orders for 88 homes in the al-Bustan quarter

July-August 2009 Report on Israeli Settlement O 5 SETTLEMENT , continued from page 1 intention to work vigorously to end the occupation and to create a Palestinian state at peace with Israel. Yet there will be subject” and draw the American spotlight off settlements, as a diplomatic “opportunity cost” if the settlement freeze debate has happened for decades. is prolonged, and the issues of borders, settlement evacuation, As long as the diplomatic focus remains limited to a settle - and Palestinian sovereignty are deferred. A continuing ment freeze, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain impasse risks undermining the momentum and credibility of a within his comfort zone. Netanyahu would prefer to discuss U.S. diplomatic initiative aimed at ending occupation and cre - and debate ad naseum the finer points of settlement expan - ating a Palestinian state. sion, construction perimeters and the like—a contest Israel Whether or not Israel rejects a freeze, Obama and has always won—than to address the more fundamental issues Mitchell will have to continue a more assertive and convinc - of borders, settlement evacuation, security measures, ing diplomacy that addresses the wide range of final status Jerusalem, and refugees, which must be resolved to achieve a issues—settlement evacuation prominent among them—if it two-state solution. aspires to end Israel’s 42 year occupation and settlement Obama’s goals are much broader than a settlement freeze. adventure. N The appointment of Mitchell is the clearest signal of his

*West Bank and Gaza settlement data excludes East Jerusalem settlements. All Gaza settlements were evacuated in 2005. The Israel column figures in this table include settlers in East Jerusalem. Natural increase is determined by subtracting the number of deaths from the number of births each year. Migration balance accounts for new residents. In the Israel column, the migration balance is immigrants into the country. In the West Bank and Gaza figures, the migration balance is the net difference between departures and arrivals to settlements. Sources: Central Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Housing and Construction; “Sources of Population Growth” and “Dwellings, by Initiating Sector, Type of Locality and District,” Statistical Abstract of Israel, 1992–2008.

6 O Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2009 U.S. STATEMENTS ON A SETTLEMENT FREEZE

President Barack Obama: I have said before and I will progress made, and we will work very aggressively to achieve repeat again that it is, I believe, in the interest not only of the that. Palestinians, but also the Israelis and the United States and I don’t want to put an artificial timetable, but I do share the international community to achieve a two-state solution President Mahmoud Abbas's feelings and I believe that many in which Israelis and Palestinians are living side by side in Israelis share the same view that time is of the essence, that peace and security. . . . Now, Israel is going to have to take we can’t continue with a drift, with the increased fear and some difficult steps as well, and I shared with the prime min - resentments on both sides, the sense of hopelessness around ister the fact that under the roadmap and under Annapolis the situation that we've seen for many years now—we need to that there’s a clear understanding that we have to make get this thing back on track. And I will do everything I can, progress on settlements. Settlements have to be stopped in and my administration will do everything I can—my special order for us to move forward. That’s a difficult issue. I recog - envoy, George Mitchell, is working as diligently as he can, as nize that, but it’s an important one and it has to be addressed. is my entire national security team, to make sure that we Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: I want to make it jumpstart this process and get it moving again. clear that we don’t want to govern the Palestinians. We want Remarks during a visit to the White House by Palestinian to live in peace with them. We want them to govern them - Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, May 28, 2009 selves, absent a handful of powers that could endanger the state of Israel. And for this there has to be a clear goal. The President Barack Obama: I do believe that, if you follow goal has to be an end to conflict. There will have to be com - the roadmap approach that has been laid, if Israel abides by its promises by Israelis and Palestinians alike. We’re ready to do obligations—that includes no settlements—if the Palestinians our share. We hope the Palestinians will do their share, as abide by their obligations, to deal with the security situation, well. If we resume negotiations, as we plan to do, then I think to eliminate incitement, if all this—surrounding Arab states, that the Palestinians will have to working with the Quartet, are able recognize Israel as a Jewish state; to encourage economic develop - “The United States does not accept will have to also enable Israel to ment and political development, have the means to defend itself. the legitimacy of continued Israeli then I think that we can actually And if those conditions are met, settlements.” make some progress. Israel’s security conditions are met, President Barack Obama Interview by Justin Webb, and there’s recognition of Israel’s BBC World Service, June 2, 2009 legitimacy, its permanent legitimacy, then I think we can envision an arrangement where President Barack Obama: Now is the time for Palestinians Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in dignity, in security, to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority and in peace. must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that Remarks at the White House, May 18, 2009 serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have to recognize they Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: With respect have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian to settlements, the president was very clear. . . . He wants to aspirations, to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put see a stop to settlements—not some settlements, not outposts, an end to violence, recognize past agreements, recognize not natural growth exceptions. We think it is in the best inter - Israel's right to exist. ests of the effort that we are engaged in that settlement At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as expansion cease. That is our position. That is what we have Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. communicated very clearly, not only to the Israelis but to the The United States does not accept the legitimacy of contin - Palestinians and others. And we intend to press that point. ued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous Press availability with Egyptian foreign minister agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit at the for these settlements to stop. Department of State, May 27, 2009 And Israel must also live up to its obligation to ensure that Palestinians can live and work and develop their society. Just President Barack Obama: From the first week that I arriv- as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humani - ed in this office, I insisted that this is a critical issue to deal tarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither with, in part because it is in the United States’ interest to does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. achieve peace; that the absence of peace between Palestinians Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be a and Israelis is an impediment to a whole host of other areas of critical part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete increased cooperation and more stable security for people in steps to enable such progress. the region, as well as the United States. And so I want to see Remarks at Cairo University, June 4, 2009

July-August 2009 Report on Israeli Settlement O 7 SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION BOOM IN THE WEST BANK According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of term plans to construct 73,302 additional dwelling units in Israel 2008 no fewer than 3,200 new housing units were under active and the settlements, including 5,722 in East Jerusalem and construction throughout West Bank settlements (excluding East 17,000 in the Etzion settlement bloc alone. Jerusalem). The Ministry of Housing and Construction has longer

Settlement Construction Snapshot Hebron 10-story building next to Beit Romano being planned East Jerusalem I 200-room hotel approved by the Interior Ministry’s dis- Kedar Ground being prepared for construction trict planning office of 42 houses I Building permits for 20 units in Sheikh Jarrah issued by Ma’ale Adumim Approximately 900 houses under the Jerusalem municipality’s licensing committee. construction I 1,200 units planned for the Har Homa settlement Modi’in Illit 617 houses under construction West Bank Ofra 10 houses under construction Ariel 220 houses under construction Revava 52 houses under construction Beitar Illit 327 houses under construction Teqoa Dozens of new villas under construction Efrat Dozens of new villas under construction 10 houses in the final stages of construction Elkana 52 houses under construction Sources: ; “Immense Construction Boom in the West Bank,” Givat Ze’ev 750 houses under construction and will be Yediot Aharonot, June 9, 2009; Akiva Eldar, “U.S. demands Israel halt con- populated in August struction in East Jerusalem market,” Ha’aretz, June 2, 2009; “Apartments in the Territories: The Prices Are Not Frozen,” Yediot Aharonot, June 25, 2009.

The president and the secretary of state have made U.S. which they committed in 2003. It’s not just their responsi- policy clear: The only viable resolution to this conflict is for bility. We believe it’s in their interests as well. the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states. For the Israelis, that means a stop to settlements and We believe that’s the best way to guarantee Israel’s long- other actions. For the Palestinians, that means continuing term security. We believe it’s in the security interest of the their efforts to take responsibility for security and to end United States and of the entire region. The president, the incitement. We’re also asking the Arab countries to take secretary, and the entire administration are working vigor- meaningful steps toward peace and normalization. . . . The ously toward a future where Israelis and Palestinians live United States will not take any action which undermines side by side in peace and security, and where Israel has nor- Israel’s security. The Palestinians are entitled to a viable, mal relations with its neighbors. geographically contiguous state that provides independence Our focus right now is to create the context for the and dignity for their people. We do not regard those two resumption and early conclusion of meaningful negotia- objectives as irreconcilable. tions. To help achieve this, we’re asking all parties to take Briefing by George Mitchell, U.S. Special Envoy meaningful steps. Israelis and Palestinians have a responsi- for Middle East Peace, June 16, 2009 bility to meet their obligations under the road map, to

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