REPORT ON ISRAELI SETTLEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peace Volume 17 Number 4 July-August 2007 OSLO’S LAST GASP: THE IMPLOSION OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY A new Palestinian government head- Fateh has been all-but-fatally compro- significant ways from the Oslo diplo- ed by Palestinian Authority (PA) presi- mised. matic paradigm. dent Mahmoud Abbas was created in Since the end of negotiations at Despite these developments, the con- June in the aftermath of the disintegra- Camp David, half-hearted efforts to re- tinuing existence of the institutions of tion of security forces in the Gaza Strip create a diplomatic option, led by an Palestinian self-rule, represented by the nominally under his command. This American administration distracted by PA, however compromised by changes action has sealed the demise of the cen- Iraq and skeptical of the prospects for in the diplomatic environment and the tral institutions and the assumptions success, have gone nowhere. security and settlement facts on the that have defined the Palestinian scene Israel, which declared the PA an ground, remained an anchor that all and international diplomacy since the “entity that supports terror” on the eve parties, each for their own reasons, pro- Oslo Declaration of Principles between of its formal re-occupation of the West fessed support. The parliamentary victo- Israel and the PLO was initialed in Bank in April 2002, long ago decided ry by Hamas in January 2006 marked September 1993. Nothing remains of that neither the PA nor its security the end of this consensus and the cre- the core foundations of this agreement arms, compromised by their role in the ation of a new one championed by the and its successors, long under assault by al-Aqsa intifada, were reliable partners Bush administration—the need to engi- violations committed by all parties. The in a process intended to win Palestinian neer the failure of any Palestinian gov- main diplomatic task set by Oslo’s pro- aquiescence in maximal Israeli territorial ernment in which Hamas was a power. moters—to establish a framework for and settlement objectives in the territo- The prevailing view in Washington is ending the conflict between Israel and ries it has occupied since June 1967. As that the policy of isolating Hamas is the Palestinians—ran aground seven a consequence of that decision, Israel by working and that a new opportunity to years ago at the Camp David discus- its actions and policies has effectively “strengthen Abu Mazen”—now weaker sions in July 2000. The other founding destroyed the territorial basis for even than ever after the collapse of his Gaza goal—to marginalize the power of the the limited Palestinian administration of security forces, his retreat to Ramallah, Islamic Resistance Movement— security and most civil Palestinian affairs and his unprecedented dependence Hamas—has been turned on its head. in the West Bank established by the upon the good will of foreign powers— Hamas has been empowered by devel- Oslo II accord of 1995. Israel’s settle- has been created yet again. The U.S. opments over the last 14 years while ment and security policies pursued prefers to press the “restart button” and without interruption in the West Bank to pretend that the January 2006 elec- now strike at the ability of Palestinians tion and its chaotic aftermath never West Bank population 2006: to pursue a normal, everyday existence took place. Israel’s leaders are far more 268,400 and to centrally administer their civil skeptical of Abu Mazen, the man Ariel West Bank settlements: 121 and security affairs. The unilateral dis- Sharon disparagingly described as “a West Bank unauthorized engagement from the Gaza Strip fea- chick without feathers.” They remain to outposts: 105 (population: 2,000) tured the precedent-setting evacuation be convinced that it is in their interest of settlements and settlers and the to abandon policies that in their view Also in this issue: active if undeclared assistance of have succeeded insofar as they have iso- Short Takes 3 Hamas. Disengagement and the accom- lated Hamas, maintained Israeli security, South Jerusalem Map 6 panying decision by Hamas to enter and facilitated settlement expansion. Jerusalem Settlement Expansion 7 elections reflected Israel’s (and Hamas’s) post-Oslo thinking, which departed in OSLO, continued on page 7 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE President Mahmoud Abbas’ sacking of Abbas, who received only rhetorical sup- the Hamas/Fatah unity government and port from the U.S. for an end to the occu- Merle Thorpe, Jr. creation of an emergency cabinet following pation and Palestinian sovereignty before Founder the brutal defeat of Fatah forces in Gaza by the Gaza crisis, is now to be “strengthened” (1917–1994) Hamas militants have been greeted in by isolating Gaza, freezing out Hamas and Washington as a new opportunity for proving that he and the secular nationalist Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. peace. According to this scenario, Abbas, Fatah can deliver good governance and President freed of the burdens of Gaza and power- peace in the West Bank. Abbas is a decent Geoffrey Aronson sharing with Hamas, can resume peace man. But the IDF, not Abbas, controls the Director, Research and talks with Israel. West Bank, and Fatah is in disarray. Thus Publications, Editor, Report on This is wishful thinking. Hamas has far, Israel has refused to negotiate final sta- Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories considerable support in the West Bank as tus issues or ease its tight grip on the West well as Gaza. It is unlikely to surrender its Bank. Washington must therefore offer Nitzan Goldberger 2006 electoral mandate, forswear violence, more than renewed aid. It should support Evan Colton recognize Israel’s right to exist, and accept unity, not division, among Palestinians, and Editorial Assistants past agreements without rejoining the work to restore hope through final status Waseem Mardini political process and reciprocal undertak- talks—not just humanitarian palliatives— Intern ings by Israel. Nor will economic and that address the big issues of occupation, diplomatic boycotts force Hamas to aban- settlements and Jerusalem. Otherwise, the TRUSTEES don its demand to share power. Hamas is crisis will continue. Lucius D. Battle armed and potentially dangerous. It could Landrum R. Bolling revert to major terrorism if there is no Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. political accommodation with Fatah and, James J. Cromwell ultimately, Israel. Peter Gubser Stephen Hartwell —————— ◆ —————— Richard S.T. Marsh Richard W. Murphy THE RETURN IS OUR RIGHT Jean C. Newsom AND OUR RIGHT IS RETURN Gail Pressberg William B. Quandt To our people in Jerusalem, who are stationed in their sacred positions and who are Nicholas A. Veliotes facing all forms of harm and harassment to force them to leave their city and give the extremist settlers the pretext to take them, we say: Be patient because the end of your The Foundation, a non- ordeal is now close. profit I.R.C. 501(c)(3) The latest Israeli decisions to allocate millions of dollars to beef up the Jewish presence organization, supports peace inside the town and enlarge the settlement blocks surrounding them proves to us for the and security for Israelis and thousandth time that the occupation does not care about any truces and has no intention Palestinians through mutual of realizing security, peace, or stability in the region. We are certain that these plans, recognition and a negotiated which they are trying to impose by the force of arms and the legislations of the occupa- division of historic Pales- tion, will ultimately fail and be brought to naught. To our people in the West Bank and tine. It publishes the bi- the Gaza Strip and our brothers in all civilian and military organizations and factions, we monthly Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied say: You have created history for us when you forced Sharon to leave Gaza and when you Territories. reached, through understanding and dialogue, the National Reconciliation Document as a framework that we rely on to protect our constant Palestinian principles and as a spring- Copyright © 2007 board for our vision and political movement. Indeed, it was the motive force behind the formation of the national unity government, which is a cause of pride for all of us. I hope Sign up to receive the we will work to protect it despite the pain of the siege and the oppression of the occupa- Report by e-mail, to be tion. On the path delineated by this government we will, God willing, draw up the first notified of events in features of our triumph. Washington, D.C., and Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh on the more. Visit us at fifty-ninth anniversary of the Nakba, Ma’an News, May 15, 2007 www.fmep.org. 2 ❖ Report on Israeli Settlement July-August 2007 SHORT TAKES 40 Years of Settling Jerusalem Bank from 1997 to 2006. One quarter of the structures built without a permit in the West Bank by settlers during this In the four decades since 1967, the Palestinian Arab popu- period were located on what Israel itself recognizes as private lation in Jerusalem has grown at a faster rate than the Israeli Palestinian land. These included permanent dwellings at the Jewish population. Between 1967 and 2005, the Arab popu- outpost settlement of Amona that were demolished in early lation, residing exclusively in (annexed) East Jerusalem, grew 2006. (Caravans continue to be inhabited at the site east of by 257 percent, from 68,600 to 244,800, compared to the Ramallah) There are currently 1,800 unauthorized buildings Jewish population in both the western (Israeli) and eastern in 88 West Bank outpost settlements founded since 1996.