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Home , Etz Efraim, Havat Gilad, Homesh, Mahanayim, Oranit, Vered Yeriho

REPORT ON IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peac e Volum e 18 N umber 4 July-August 2008

WHERE WILL THE PALESTINIAN STATE BE ESTABLISHED?

By Geoffrey Aronson the generic issues to be negotiated. ing major Israeli population centers, it is Palestinian Authority president unrealistic to expect that the outcome of Israeli president Shimon Peres Mahmoud Abbas was at pains to convey final status negotiations will be a full recently observed, “There is a competi - to Rice that “ fulfill its obligations and complete return to the armistice tion here over staying power, not just vis a vis colonization, because we con - lines of 1949.” over the ability to withstand suffering.” sider settlement activity as the most Recalling this commitment, a Peres was referring to the conflict with important obstacle facing the political reporter asked Rice, “didn’t President in Gaza,that has just entered a process. And the more there are dates George Bush’s [April 2004] letter to new phase with the joint declaration on [announcing tenders for new settlement Prime Minister Sharon acknowl - June 19 of a tadhiya or “calm.” He could housing] and construction of settle - edge the facts on the ground?” point with equal justification, however, ments, the more this will constitute an “It acknowledged the current realities to the ongoing campaign of settlement impediment that will obstruct reaching of 2004,” Rice noted. “And of course construction in the and East any peace.” there are current realities and new reali - Jerusalem, that has succeeded, despite Rice acknowledged that almost eight ties since 1949 and 1967 for both sides. Palestinian opposition, in settling almost years into the George W. Bush admin - So what the president’s letter said is half a million Israelis in territories cap - istration, U.S. remonstrations to Israel there are population realities. Look— tured in June 1967. about settlement construction go no fur - some of those realities have been recog - Settlements are the most visible, ther than “pressing the case”—the long- nized in every agreement that never potent, and tangible manifestation of standing, pro forma effort to convey to quite made it as well. So this is nothing Israel’s “staying power” in its ongoing Israel that the U.S. views settlements as new, that those realities have been struggle with to prevent the problematic and that “it is in Israel’s acknowledged. But the president said creation of a genuine Palestinian state. interest to do everything that it can to subject to mutual agreement and I They represent an existential challenge promote an atmosphere of confidence.” would remind [you] that the president’s to Palestinian efforts to establish sover - “I think the issue here,“ Rice ex- letter talked about realities at that time. eignty and independence, and thus are plained to reporters on June 15, “is to And there are realities for both sides, understood by Palestinians as the critical try to get back to a place that there’s which is why they need to draw a map benchmark against which the prospect some confidence that [Israel’s settlement and get it done.” of their liberation from occupation is to program] is not an effort, in some way, No one but Israel and the U.S. has be measured. to dictate or prejudge the final status formally acknowledged that these settle - U.S.-led diplomacy has failed to issue and to prejudice the final status ment realities will determine Israel’s address the central challenge that settle - outcome.” border with a Palestinian state. The ments pose to the international consen - Settlements, as Israelis and Palestin- American acknowledgment of the facts sus supporting an end to Israeli occupa - ians know too well, serve the very pur - created by settlements is not subject to tion and the creation of a Palestinian pose—unilaterally determining Israel’s Palestinian endorsement. The secretary state at peace with its neighbors. border—that Rice wants to discount. invoked the precedent of the stillborn Indeed, to judge by remarks made by Her insistence that this is not the case diplomatic dialogues at Camp David Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been betrayed by the administra - and Taba in order to justify unilateral during her June visit to the region, it is tion’s own policy of acknowledging in presidential recognition offered without not clear that she fully understands that April 2004 that “in light of new realities settlements are more than simply one of on the ground, including already exist - PALESTINIAN STATE , continued on page 6 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE First-time foreign visitors to the West our view, there is no one state “solution” Bank and East Jerusalem, or those who that could meet the basic needs of both Merle Thorpe, Jr. have not been to the area for many years, peoples and resolve the violence and injus - Founder are shocked by the large scale of settle - tice inherent in the status quo. (1917–1994) ments and related occupation infrastructure But if the United States is serious about that have transformed the landscape. It is helping Israelis and Palestinians rescue the Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. obvious to these observers that the more dream of a genuine two state peace, it will President than 200 settlements housing close to half need to replace its current weak and evasive Geoffrey Aronson a million Israelis, the hundreds of miles of approach to settlements and Jerusalem, Director, Research and settlement roads, the 500 or so check - make clear that peace means ending Israel’s Publications, Editor, Report on points, and the massive separation barrier occupation and settlement venture, and Israeli Settlement in the Occupied and watch towers, are not temporary, but provide urgent and resolute diplomatic Territories rather part of a sweeping and determined leadership and mediation. The wheel need Evan Colton plan for permanent Israeli occupation and not be reinvented. The details can draw Nitzan Goldberger control. It is not surprising that in the face upon the Clinton, Taba, and Geneva plans, Editorial Assistants of this glaring reality, many Palestinians which offer ways to address borders, settle - and a growing number of foreign observers ment withdrawal, and land swaps, a shared Adam Baron Intern now believe that Israel has created an irre - Jerusalem, and other final status issues. versible de facto single state. Without such an effort, the prospects for TRUSTEES The Foundation for Middle East Peace peace and two states will become even has always advocated a division of historic more distant than at present. Landrum R. Bolling Palestine into two states as the only means Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. of rescuing Israelis and Palestinians from James J. Cromwell permanent, mutually destructive conflict. In Peter Gubser Stephen Hartwell Richard S.T. Marsh —————— N —————— Richard W. Murphy Jean C. Newsom Golan Compensation Gail Pressberg William B. Quandt Yediot Aharonot reports on May 25, 2008, that $430 million will be spent in evac - Nicholas A. Veliotes uating all the settlers in the Golan, with $570,000 going to each family. The settlers will be offered relocation to the Galilee, where each settler will receive half a dunan of land. The Foundation, a non- ————————————— profit I.R.C. 501(c)(3) organization, supports peace Amid Talks, Golan Gets First Mall, and security for Israelis and and Development Booms Palestinians through mutual recognition and a negotiated As Turkish envoys were mediating Israeli-Syrian talks in Istanbul, construction division of historic Pales- workers in Bnei Yehuda were putting the finishing touches on the first tine. It publishes the bi- mall in the southern Golan Heights, which will open next month. According to the monthly Report on Israeli mall’s owner, Terrace Investments, it is meant to serve the needs of the “large popu - Settlement in the Occupied lation of tourists who visit the area,” as well as local residents. The mall is just one Territories . example of the Golan’s rapid development in recent years. Copyright © 2008 Terrace CEO Assaf Schuster offered an optimistic assessment of the Golan’s economic future: Local communities are planning to bring in hundreds of new fam - Sign up to receive the ilies, unique archaeological sites are being developed, and there are even plans to Report by e-mail, to be build a small airport, he noted. Local businessmen evidently share this optimism as notified of events in well: Terrace said that most of the mall’s stores have already been rented. Washington, D.C., and Yuval Azoulay, Ha’aretz , May 23, 2008 more. Visit us at www.fmep.org.

2 O Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2008 GOLAN HEIGHTS 1923 - 2008 Northern Nabatiya DMZ Al Ghajar Marjayoun E NG

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S Ein I Ein Gev 23% Gev I 12% Palestine Border(1923) Territorial Control of agreed by France Demilitarized Zones Southern and Great Britain 1949 - 1967 in DMZ Demilitarized Zones LAKE Kafr Area Percentages k after the War of 1948-'49 ou Hareb rm TIBERIAS I = Israel a Territory conquered N = None Y by Israel in 1967, Samra S = Syria annexed in 1981 Al Hamma Demilitarized Zone (1974) Cease Fire Samah Khirbet k under United Nations u Lines 1949 Tawfik o Control (UNDOF) m r Syrian Villages a Demilitarized / Y JORDAN / depopulated Zones '49-'67 in the War of 1967 Southern Al Israeli Settlements DMZ Hamma Map : © Jan de Jong

July-August 2008 Report on Israeli Settlement O 3 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

February 1 Arutz 7 reports that construc - February 19 Members of the al-Aqsa Palestinians throw stones at vehicles travel - tion has begun on 200 new housing units in Martyrs Brigades shoot at a settler bus near ing near Jerusalem’s Wadi al-Juz neighbor - Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in the Beta intersection, south of . hood, injuring one settler. (OCHA) East Jerusalem. The project is to be con - (Ma’an News) March 5 The IDF imposes a closure on the structed on 4.5 acres. February 20 The IDF issues orders for the villages of Huwwara and Azzun after Palestinians throw stones at Israeli vehicles demolition of two houses in Qalqilya (Area Palestinians throw stones and open fire at traveling on Road 55 near Jinsafaut. C) for being built without a permit. settler vehicles driving nearby. (OCHA) (OCHA) (OCHA) March 6 Yediot Aharonot reports an agree - February 3 Two settlers traveling on Road February 21 The IDF imposes a curfew on ment between Defense Minister Barak and 55 near the village of Azzun are injured by Beita village for 13 hours after Palestinians the Council leaders to evacuate 26 Palestinian stone throwers. The Israel open fire on a settler bus traveling on Road West Bank outposts. Defense Forces (IDF) closes the entrance to 60. (OCHA) March 7 Settlers throw stones at Palestin- Azzun. (OCHA) February 22 IDF soldiers injure 12 Pales- ian vehicles and taxis on Road 60 near February 4 Settlers squatting in the contest - tinians in Kufr Haris village when they fire settlement, injuring an elderly ed “Peace House” in Hebron for a year are rubber-coated metal bullets on a demonstra - woman. (OCHA) allowed to install windows to protect them tion against roadblocks. (OCHA) Near Tulkarem, IDF soldiers fire rubber bul - from the cold. (Arutz 7) Settlers assault a Palestinian with Israeli citi - lets at farmers protesting the closure of the Settlers from the outpost zenship on Road 60 near Yitzhar settlement. separation barrier gate leading to their fields. uproot 200 newly planted olive trees on land (OCHA) One Palestinian boy is injured. (OCHA) belonging to Palestinian farmers from Jit vil - February 23 The IDF issues orders requisi - lage. (OCHA) March 11 The IDF and civil administration tioning 766 dunams from the towns of demolish twelve Palestinian structures and February 6 The IDF demolishes a two- Dhahiriya, Dura, and Al-Ramadin for con - bulldoze 15 dunams of planted agricultural story house on al-Buraq Street in Jerusalem’s struction of the separation barrier. Two land in the . (OCHA) Old City for being built without a permit. thousand four hundred additional dunams It demolishes fifteen structures belonging will be isolated to the west of the barrier. Prime Minister Olmert approves the to Bedouin families in al-Hadidiya. (OCHA) renewed construction of approximately 750 (OCHA) new homes in the West Bank settlement of Twenty Palestinian protesters and one Israeli Givat Ze’ev, near Jerusalem. ( Ha’aretz ) Feburary 7 A Palestinian man from Hebron soldier are injured in clashes over the separa - is injured by a group of stone-throwing set - tion barrier in Bil’in. ( Ha’aretz ) March 12 IDF soldiers fire at Palestinian tlers from the Beit Hadassa settlement. protesters, injuring two boys. The protest February 25 Ha’aretz reports that 3 per - (OCHA) was in opposition to the requisition of cent of immigrants to Israel settle in the Palestinian land for the expansion of the A bill proposing the removal of the West Bank and 19 percent settle in East and Karmei Tzur settlement. (OCHA) Palestinian residents of Hebron is submitted West Jerusalem. March 13 Stone-throwing Palestinians by MK Arye Adler. ( Ha’aretz ) Eleven settlers from the Sha’arei Tikva set - attack a settler vehicle driving on a road near tlement offer to voluntarily evacuate land February 8 Two settlers are injured when Ramallah. (Arutz 7) Palestinians throw stones at their car as they that they had seized from nearby Palestinian pass Awarta village. A settler traveling on villages after charges were filed against them. March 16 Palestinians throw stones at set - Road 55 near Azzun is injured by Palestin- (Ha’aretz ) tler vehicles traveling near Turmus’ayya. (OCHA) ians throwing stones. (OCHA) February 29 Kol Ha’Ir reports on Israel February 12 Ha’aretz reports that between Land Authority plans to sell five construc - March 17 Settlers uproot approximately 200 2000 and 2007, 94 percent of Palestinian tion plots in the East Jerusalem Har Homa olive trees owned by Palestinian families requests for building permits in were settlement. from Turmus’ayya and destroy the fences rejected. March 2 Palestinians throwing stones injure around them. (OCHA) February 13 Israeli prime minister Ehud a settler and three IDF soldiers near the vil - March 18 Israel’s High Court of Justice Olmert meets with Shas member Eli Yishay lage of Yatta. (OCHA) rules in favor of allowing West Bank Road and promises not to freeze construction in March 3 A Palestinian boy is injured by live 443 to be used for Israeli and settler traffic Orthodox settlements. ( Ma’ariv ) ammunition when the IDF opens fire on only. The road was constructed in the 1980s on private Palestinian land. ( Ha’aretz ) February 14 Israel offers 3,500 settlers for - stone-throwers protesting in Surif against giveness of debt totaling $102 million in an Israeli military operations in Gaza. (OCHA) March 19 Palestinians from Beit Umar effort to resolve loans that were handed out A settler from Talmon shoots and kills a throw rocks and flaming tires at settler vehi - in 1978 by the settlement committee. Palestinian during a student demonstration cles. A Palestinian stabs a settler in the East (Ha’aretz ) near Ramallah. (OCHA) Jerusalem settlement of Ramot. (Arutz 7)

4 O Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2008 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

March 20 reports that the intention of establishing their own out - April 15 Palestinians throw a molotov cock - the IDF Home Front Command has cut post. ( Ha’aretz ) tail at a settler house in the East Talpiyot some 70 percent of funding for the mainte - settlement of Jerusalem. (OCHA) The IDF confirms removing 50 dirt mounds nance of defense systems in West Bank set - used as roadblocks to restrict Palestinian April 16 A 5-year-old Palestinian boy from tlements. The money is for repairing elec - travel in the West Bank. ( Ha’aretz ) the village of Furik is found dead near the tronic fences, cameras, and other sensors. Hamra settlement. (OCHA) Arutz 7 reports an Israeli government March 21 Stone-throwing settlers from announcement that it will no longer fund April 17 Following an agreement with the injure a 44-year-old Palestinian anti-rock plastic windows for West Bank Defense Ministry, the Merom Ayalon out - from Hebron. settler vehicles. post is evacuated in exchange for new hous - March 23 Stone-throwing settlers from Tel ing in the nearby Mevo Horon settlement. April 4 Ha’aretz reports Israeli border police Rumeida injure a 23-year-old Palestinian (Arutz 7) allowing settlers to return to the Shvut Ami woman. Settlers from Eli kidnap two young site, built on Palestinian land near Kedu- April 18 The Israeli Ministry of Housing Palestinian shepherds from al-Lubban al- mim, and forcing out left-wing activists who and Construction issues tenders for 100 Sharqiya village. (OCHA) had been guarding it. The outpost had been housing units in the and Ariel settle - March 25 Defense Minister Barak approves evacuated nine times, but each time settlers ments. ( Ha’aretz ) the transfer of five new mobile homes to the returned, preventing the legal owners from Settlers from Kiryat Arba attack a Palestin- West Bank settlement of Tene Omarim. reaching the land. ian man at his house in Hebron. (OCHA) (Ha’aretz ) Settlers from the Havat Gilad outpost April 20 Settlers uproot 200 newly planted March 27 Arutz 7 reports that demolition assault a Palestinian shepherd from Far’ata olive trees on land belonging to residents of orders have been issued for seven homes in village. (OCHA) . (OCHA) the Jordan Valley settlement of Maskiyot. April 6 Israeli military forces dismantle 10 April 24 Ha’aretz reports that no effort has March 28 Settlers from uproot 100 dirt roadblocks in the West Bank, bringing been made to dismantle part of the separa - trees in the vicinity of a new construction the total number of security barriers tion barrier near the Palestinian village of site for the settlement. Two three-storey removed during one week to 60. ( Ha’aretz ) Bil’in, eight months after Israel’s High buildings will contain 54 units. (OHCA) April 7 A settler bus hits and kills a 15- Court of Justice ordered the IDF to do so. March 30 Israel’s Justice Ministry rules that year-old Palestinian shepherd near Nablus. The IDF evacuates 40 Palestinians and Ariel College, in the West Bank settlement (OCHA) Israeli activists who had come to the aban - of Ariel, cannot be designated as a universi - April 8 Palestinians throw a metal rod at a doned unauthorized outpost of Yad Yair to ty. (Arutz 7) settler vehicle traveling near al-Lubban al- plant a Palestinian flag. Settlers were later Palestinians throw stones at settler vehicles Sharqiya village. (OCHA) permitted to return to the outpost’s syna - traveling near East Jerusalem’s Ne’ve Ya’akov gogue to pray. ( Ha’aretz ) April 9 Ha’aretz reports that following sev - settlement. Settlers from assault a eral break-ins at West Bank settlement April 27 Arutz 7 reports on a decision by 39-year-old Palestinian farmer. Settlers from armories, the IDF has begun collecting the IDF to transfer responsibility for security Shim’a assault a 70-year-old Palestinian man weapons from settlers and transferring them at 40 West Bank settlements to private firms from al-Dhahiriya. (OCHA) to regional brigade camps. and to withdraw protection entirely from 10 others. March 31 Prime Minister Olmert signals Stone-throwing settlers from Yitzhar injure support for settlement construction in the a Palestinian woman driving on Road 60 April 28 Ha’aretz reports on a settler plan to West Bank after a meeting with Shas party near Huwwara village. Settlers from Bracha take up residence in a police station in the members. ( Ma’ariv ) enter a Palestinian house and uproot a num - East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al- April 1 Kol Ha’Ir reports Jerusalem mayor ber of olive trees. (OCHA) Amud when the police finish moving to a new complex in nearby E-1. Uri Lupoliansky approved 600 new housing A Palestinian house in the Jerusalem munic - units in the East Jerusalem settlement of ipality is demolished for being built without April 29 Arutz 7 reports that in a recent Pisgat Ze’ev. a permit. (OCHA) poll, fifteen Kadima Knesset members opposed returning the Golan Heights to Settlers kill a Palestinian university student April 12 Settlers from the Gilad outpost Syria. at a hitchhiking post on Road 60. (Ma’an attack Palestinians working in the fields near News) the village of Tal, Nablus, and uproot their Palestinian gunmen fire at homes in the Adi April 2 Clashes ensue when police and civil trees. (Ma’an News) Ad outpost near the West Bank settlement administration officials evacuate seven settler April 13 Stone-throwing Palestinians injure of Shiloh. ( Ha’aretz ) youths squatting in Shvut Ami, a six-month- a settler traveling in a bus near Hizma vil - April 30 Police and IDF troops demolish old outpost near Kedumim. Later, West lage, Jerusalem. Settlers from the Gilad out - Ma’oz Esther, an unauthorized outpost near Bank settlers clash with Israeli activists and post throw stones at Palestinian vehicles Palestinians when they arrive at the site with traveling on Road 60. (OCHA) TIME LINE , continued on page 6

July-August 2008 Report on Israeli Settlement O 5 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE PALESTINIAN STATE , continued from page 1 reference to any diplomatic process. TIME LINE , continued from page 5 have begun setting up a new winery near Notwithstanding Rice’s demurral, Bush’s the Migron outpost, which is slated to be commitment was indeed new, and it the northern West Bank settlement of evacuated in August. remains, far more than his administra - Kochav Hashachar. ( Ha’aretz ) IDF soldiers injure three Palestinians when tion’s lukewarm and patently ineffective Ha’aretz reports that Israeli police have they fire rubber-coated bullets at a crowd of criticism of Israeli settlement policy, an protestors demonstrating against the requi - begun operating in a new police station important legacy of his presidency. located in E-1 near the Ma’ale Adumim sition of 2,500 dunams of Nil’in village. settlement. (OCHA) The Bush Administration, May 1 Ma’ariv reports that housing sales May 15 Approximately 100 settlers from Yesterday’s Failure in West Bank settlements dropped by 57 Efrata, Har Homa, Kiryat Arba, and Teqoa attempt to establish a new settlement in the percent in the last year. As the Economist wryly noted in a old military base east of Beit Sahour. May 2 Defense Minister Barak authorizes (Ha’aretz ) recent feature about Bush’s foreign policy, the Infrastructure Ministry to build five the only thing worse than a failure is yes - water projects proposed by the Mekorot May 16 The Jerusalem Committee on terday’s failure. The president’s May trip Company in West Bank settlements. ( al- Planning and Construction approves 150 to Israel and the visits of his peripatetic additional housing units for the settlement Quds ) secretary of state lowered the bar of of Gilo. ( Kol Ha’Ir ) An ad hoc committee set up by the Interior expectations yet again for the diplomatic Ministry recommends that the West Bank May 19 A settler opens fire and injures a process inaugurated at Annapolis in settlement of Modi’in Illit be granted Palestinian man at the al-Fahs junction near November 2007. The U.S. still hopes for municipal status. ( Ha’aretz ) Hebron. (OCHA) some sort of agreement between the par - May 4 The IDF approves a request by set - May 21 Israel’s Housing Ministry issues ties before Bush’s term ends. Yet it also tlers to host an Independence Day march to tenders to build an additional 286 housing considers sufficient the creation of the the ruins of the evacuated settlement of units at the Betar Illit settlement. ( Yediot Annapolis process as a platform for the . (Arutz 7) Aharonot ) future. Settlers dismantle two caravans in the unau - May 22 Ma’ariv reports that approximately Prime Minister Salam Fayad notes, thorized outpost of Havat Beit Yatir, south 50,000 Palestinians have moved into Israeli however, that measured against the stan - of Hebron. It is the second time that settlers neighborhoods in West Jerusalem because dard of ending settlements and occupa - have voluntarily dismantled an outpost. of a lack of affordable housing in East tion—the core Palestinian demands— (Ha’aretz ) Jerusalem. the Annapolis process has failed. “The May 8 Approximately 100 settlers infiltrate Hebron settlers throwing stones injure a change that has taken place on the the ruins of the West Bank settlement of Palestinian teacher and student near their ground is not qualitative and so far has Sa-Nur, evacuated in 2005, in an attempt to school. (OCHA) no significance. It could be labeled as rebuild it. Security forces evacuate the set - May 24 Settlers from Shima, south of al- limited change in both quality and quan - tlers. ( Ha’aretz ) Samu village, confiscate a herd of 60 sheep tity,” Fayad explained. “My cause with May 9 Israel’s Interior Ministry establishes belonging to Palestinians. (OCHA) the Israelis is not a matter of roadblocks. a new municipality in the West Bank that My cause is the occupation. Therefore, May 26 Yediot Aharonot reports on the includes the Ariel bloc settlements of with respect to these issues . . . what I am recent construction of a new outpost on a Elkana, , Oranit and Sha’arei hilltop west of Hebron. asking the Israeli defense minister to do Tikva, with a total population of more than is to stop the settlements in the first 13,200 settlers. This administrative measure Palestinians from Bil’in clash with settlers place. . . . removes the four settlements from their tra - attempting to construct a new outpost near “I do not see the progress that you are ditional regional authorities and paves the the village. The IDF arrests one Palestinian. talking about and I do not sense any way for their further development and (OCHA) progress. The track that people see in the expansion. () May 27 IDF soldiers injure 14 Pales- road map track is the settlements and May 12 Peace Now reports settler leaders, tinians, including 7 children, when shoot this is what people see every day and with the help of Israel’s Defense Ministry, rubber-coated bullets at protestors in Nil’in. hear every day about a settlement an- N placing a mobile home in the E-1 area of (OCHA) nouncement. For this reason, I cannot East Jerusalem. Settlers are also reported to assume that things are proceeding in the right way. . . . During the two meetings that were held with Rice and [Israeli

PALESTINIAN STATE , continued on page 7

6 O Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2008 PALESTINIAN STATE , continued from page 6 2008 SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW I defense minister Ehud] Barak, we raised There are approximately 4,000 settlement dwellings under construction in these issues and we asked, ‘Where will the West Bank and East Jerusalem. I the state be established under these 220 permanent buildings in 37 settlements are in various stages of construc - continuous settlement activities?’ The tion. I question in the minds of many, including In addition, during 2008, construction commenced on 275 new buildings in myself, is, ‘Where will the state be 53 settlements; 81 percent are located west of the separation barrier. I established?’ During 2008, 184 mobile homes have been erected in settlements; 82 percent “Even if you believed in the possibility are located east of the separation barrier. of a solution this year, you must not accept the continuation of these settle - Settlement Construction Update — July 2008 ment activities let alone if you have a strong and almost certain feeling [as Construction Tenders Construction Tenders Fayad himself has expressed] that the Name (Buildings)* (Units) Name (Units)* (Units) solution will not be achieved this year. If the solution is not possible this year, Alfe Menashe 53 Kfar Adumim 4 the international effort should at least Allon 7 Kiryat Arba 4 focus on keeping the possibility of the Ma’ale Adumim 59 solution alive and this necessitates in the Almon 14 first place a halt to the settlements.” Ariel 3 100 Ma’ale Shomron 2 Israeli prime minister Barqan 6 Matityahu 2 remains deaf to this demand. He made Beit Arye 14 Menora 4 Mevo Horon 16 clear to Rice that “construction would 3 continue in the Jewish neighborhoods Migdal Oz 1 15 that are expected to remain Israeli under Modi’in Illit 15 any agreement.” Construction of thou - Brakha 2 Neve Daniyel 9 sands of units is proceeding in various Dolev 7 Nirit 17 stages in scores of settlements. East Talpiyot NA 440 Nof Tzion 100 Rice’s by-now-familiar litany of com - Efrata 8 Noqdim 4 plaint about Israel’s settlement policy is Eli 3 dismissed by Israelis. As one Jerusalem Ofra 10 Elkana 4 Post columnist noted, “it is likely too late Oranit 29 5 for Rice to reverse the consequences of Pisgat Ze’ev NA 763 Elon Shvut 6 those policies she pursued in this corner 15 of the world. Nor to prevent Israel from Etz Efraim 1 Sal’it 3 pursuing the same construction policy Geva Binyamin 2 Sha’are Tiqva 6 in Jerusalem that has guided all of its Gilo 6 governments, including this one, since Shaqed 2 Givat Ze’ev 29 750 1967.” Shilo 1 Little wonder then that Palestinians 43 Talmon 3 are, as Bush noted, not only “discouraged Har Homa NA 428 Teqoa 9 by the settlement activity,” but also Hashmonaim 16 Tzofin 2 despairing of Bush’s commitment to Karmei Tzur 5 Vered Yeriho 1 end the occupation, and as the final 15 9 months of his presidency unfold, casting for a more effective strategy to reach Kedar 5 Yitzhar 1 that goal. N Kedumim 4 TOTAL 604 2481

*Excluding East Jerusalem. Settlements in Bold are east of the separation barrier. Source: Peace Now, “Report on Settlement Construction, January-March 2008,” Peace Now, “Jerusalem Settlements Take Center Stage,” Settlements in Focus, February 2008 “Housing Ministry to Issue Tenders for the Construction in East Jerusalem Neighborhood,” Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz , May 31, 2008.

July-August 2008 Report on Israeli Settlement O 7 MEVASSERET ADOMIM E-1—THE DEFENSIVE SHIELD OF JERUSALEM

President of the United States Ministers, the late Yitzhak Rabin, Ehud Barak, Binyamin Mr. George W. Bush Netanyahu and , to promote the Mevasseret Adumim E-1 building plan. This plan is intended to preserve Mr. President, Jewish territorial continuity between Ma’ale Adumim—the We welcome you to Israel on the 60th anniversary of the largest city in and with a population of more founding of the State of Israel. You are considered, and rightly than 36,000—and Jerusalem. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert so, a true friend of Israel. The people of Israel and the United has also, more than once, declared his commitment to States share common values: democracy, tolerance, openness strengthen Ma’ale Adumim and his approval of the construc - and the determination to fight terrorism. tion of Mevasseret Adumim E-1. During your presidency you have frequently expressed your The citizens of Israel interested in the construction of commitment to the security and strengthening of Israel. In a letter Mevasseret Adumim E-1 and in the strengthening of Jerusalem to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on April 14th, 2004, you wrote, await the implementation of this building plan which is consistent inter alia: “As part of a permanent agreement, Israel must attain with your letter to former prime minister Ariel Sharon and with secure and recognized borders which will be determined in negotia - the broad national consensus encompassing all sectors of the popu - tions between the sides . . . in view of the new facts on the ground, lation. including the existence of large Israeli population centers.” In the name of the citizens of Greater Jerusalem and The settlement blocs in Judah and Samaria referred to in Ma’ale Adumim, I wish you a pleasant stay in Israel. this letter also conform to the consensus of opinion in Israel that supports the strengthening of the State of Israel and Respectfully, Jerusalem and desires to keep Ma’ale Adumim an integral part Benny Kashriel of Israel in any political agreement. Mayor of Ma’ale Adumim As chairman of the Greater Jerusalem Forum and mayor of Chairman of the Greater Jerusalem Forum Ma’ale Adumim, I was privileged, together with former Prime

I told Dr. Condoleezza Rice that we are fully committed to the international legitimacy and to the UN resolutions, Roadmap plan, the Arab initiative, and all that constitute a basis for this solution with the establishment of a Palestinian state, side-by-side with the Israeli state, to live together in security and stability. I requested from Dr. Rice to assist us to make Israel fulfill its obligations vis-à-vis colonization, because we consider settlement activity as the most important obstacle facing the political process. And the more there are dates and construction of settle - ments, the more this will constitute and impediment that will obstruct reaching any peace. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Ramallah, June 15, 2008

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