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Home , Daniel Hershkowitz, Irving Moskowitz, Rehelim, Roi Klein, Yitzhak Aharonovich, Yitzhar

REPORT ON IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peac e Volum e 19 N umber 5 September-October 2009

MOVING BEYOND A SETTLEMENT FREEZE

By Geoffrey Aronson tion’s opening diplomatic effort. High- U.S. diplomacy, risks being seen as con - lighting settlements and Arab confi - ferring an ambiguous U.S. “stamp of The administration of Barack dence building measures as the twin approval” and further evidence of the Obama is setting the stage for the points of engagement was understood inability of diplomacy to challenge the resumption of talks, if not necessarily by the Obama team as the policy option settlement enterprise. Despite the fail - formal negotiations, between Israeli and most likely to impress upon Israelis and ure to win a credible suspension of all Palestinian leaders. Washington hopes , as well as the international settlement activity, Obama still com - that a tripartite fall meeting of President community, the intention and the ability mands the international arena and he , Israeli prime minister of the new American leadership to end retains a powerful ability and interest in and PLO chair - occupation, create a Palestinian state, setting the terms of Arab-Israeli diplo - man Mahmoud Abbas will mark the and normalize ’s place in the macy. A vigorous American effort that inauguration of a new phase in Obama’s region. Obama seized the policy initia - supercedes the spurned demand for a Middle East policy. tive by declaring in Cairo “the illegiti - comprehensive settlement freeze appears If Obama succeeds, the negotiations macy of continued Israeli settlements.” to be the White House’s next move. may be headlined by an Annapolis-like Washington’s demand for a settlement The Unrequited Demand for a summit conference that Russia and freeze overshadowed Netanyahu’s effort Settlement Freeze others are vying to host, leading to a to focus on “economic peace” and the resumption of bilateral talks aimed, interwoven crises between Israel and The complete cessation of all facets according to U.S. officials, at “advancing Hamas in Gaza that dominated the of settlement activity everywhere, a two-state solution where Israelis and agenda before Obama’s inauguration. defined by Secretary of State Hilary Palestinians can live side by side in their The new president won a quick affirma - Rodham Clinton as “a stop to the settle - own states with peace and security.” To tion from Netanyahu in support of the ments. Not some settlements, not out - embark on this effort, however, Obama principle (if not the content) of a two- posts, not natural growth exceptions,” must move beyond the diplomatic effort state solution and boosted Palestinian remains Washington’s stated policy. This led during the last three months by his confidence that recognition of their oft- demand is the standard for success special envoy George Mitchell to win repeated demand for imposition of a against which Obama’s settlement poli - from Israel the imposition of a complete settlement freeze was at last in sight. cies is being judged, by those who wish cessation of settlement expansion in the Netanyahu’s anticipated response to the new president well and by others , including East U.S. demands will not meet this test. who want to empty Obama’s two state and tangible demonstrations of normal - Israel is prepared, at most, to impose a vision, and the necessity of massive set - ization with Israel from the Arab world. temporary moratorium on certain types tlement evacuation, of real content. It was Obama’s decision to place set - of settlement expansion, an action simi - Leading Arab commentator Abdul tlements at the heart of his administra - lar to restrictions agreed to by Menac- Rahman al Rashid noted in Sharq al hem Begin in 1977. It will complete Awsat on July 8, 2009, more than 3,000 new dwellings in West “The battle to stop the [Israeli] con - Inside this Issue Bank settlements, enough to increase struction of settlements is a personal Fundraising for Settlement 3 the settler population of 500,000 by battle for Obama, and one that will U.S. Statements on the Freeze 5 12,000, and exclude reveal whether the U.S. president is Settlement Construction Table 8 from any building limitations. Such an outcome, after months of high-powered FREEZE , continued on page 6 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE As this issue reports, the Obama admin - the southern West Bank. A Palestinian istration hopes to shift the U.S. diplomatic state without these areas would be truncat - Merle Thorpe, Jr. agenda from the quest for a comprehensive ed, non-contiguous, economically non- Founder settlement freeze to long-awaited negotia - viable, and deprived of critical water (1917–1994) tions on final status issues with American sources that some of these settlements and mediation. This means that the U.S. will be their satellites dominate. The Palestinians Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. obliged to offer policy proposals to recon - would be most unlikely to accept this out - President cile polarized Israeli and Palestinian views come. Geoffrey Aronson on the issues that must be resolved to The U.S. as mediator will face a choice Director, Research and define peace and a Palestinian state: bor - of dealing with final status issues individu - Publications, Editor, Report on ders, settlements, Jerusalem, security and ally or with a comprehensive plan. An inte - Israeli Settlement in the Occupied refugees. grated approach has the strong advantage Territories By dealing with borders, negotiations of defining an outcome in a way that is Nitzan Goldberger will subsume the freeze issue and address credible and compelling to both sides by Waseem Mardini settlement evacuation, land swaps, and the demonstrating the advantages to each of Editorial Assistants ultimate status of Jerusalem. Such negotia - the otherwise painful tradeoffs they must tions would confront and define the issues make in return for peace that meets the Jonathan van Melle Intern of the settlement blocs that Israel hopes to fundamental needs of both. Whatever the annex. Among these are in the central format, the negotiating agenda is formida - TRUSTEES northern West Bank, others that surround ble, but the stakes could not be higher for and virtually cut off Arab East Jerusalem, Israelis, Palestinians and Americans. Landrum R. Bolling such as Maale Adumim and the proposed Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. E-1 bloc, which almost splits the West James J. Cromwell Bank in half; and Hebron in the heart of 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 © 2009

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2 O Report on Israeli Settlement September-October 2009 AMERICAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION RAISES FUNDS FOR SETTLEMENT

American Friends of , a nonprofit organi - The Friends organization’s most recent return, filed in zation that sends millions of shekels worth of donations to 2008 for fiscal 2007, shows that it raised $2.1 million in Israel every year for clearly political purposes, such as buying donations that year. Of this, $1.6 million was transferred to Arab properties in East Jerusalem, is registered in the United Ateret Cohanim in Israel. States as an organization that funds educational institutes in The remainder was used to cover administrative overhead, Israel. including fund-raising expenses and an $80,000 salary for The U.S. tax code enables nonprofits to receive tax-exempt Shoshana Hikind, the American organization's vice president status if they engage in educational, charitable, religious or and de facto director, whose husband, Dov, is a scientific activity. However, such organizations are forbidden state assemblyman and well-known supporter of the Israeli to engage in any political activity. The latter is broadly defined right. as any action, even the promotion of certain ideas, that could The organization also raised substantial sums in previous have a political impact. years: $1.3 million in 2006, $900,000 in 2005 and about $2 million in 2004. Land Purchases in East Jerusalem By comparison, American Moskowitz has invested extensive funds Friends of Yeshivat Ateret Yeru- Financing land purchases in in setting up small enclaves within Arab shalayim raised only $189,000 in East Jerusalem would, therefore, 2007. neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. The seem to violate the organization’s In its IRS returns, American population he settles and subsidizes does tax-exempt status. Friends of Ateret Cohanim said its Daniel Luria, chief fund-raiser not come to live, it comes to establish polit - purpose is to “promote, publicize” for Ateret Cohanim in Israel, told ical facts on the ground. Is it conceivable, and “raise funds for” Ateret Ha’aretz Sunday that the American Netanyahu asked yesterday, that not Cohanim institutions in Israel. organization's registration as an be permitted to settle in parts of New York These institutions, it continued, educational entity stemmed from or Washington? This is a hypocritical, “encourage and promote study and tax considerations. sanctimonious statement. A Jew who set - observance of Jewish religious tra - “We are an umbrella organiza - tles in the Bronx or in Queens lives in ditions and culture.” tion that engages in redeeming peace and happiness under the American land,” he said. “Our [fund-raising] flag. Moskowitz’s Jews will live under the Redeeming the Land activity in New York goes solely shadow of the IDF’s bayonets. They are toward land redemption.” In reality, Ateret Cohanim in not coming as tenants; they are coming as Although Ateret Cohanim also Israel focuses mainly on purchasing landlords. operates a , Ateret Yerusha- Arab property in East Jerusalem. Nahum Barnea, layim, in the Muslim Quarter of Since its founding in the 1970s, it , July 20, 2009 Jerusalem’s Old City, fund-raising Yediot Aharonot has bought dozens of Arab build - for the yeshiva is handled by a ings for Jews. Just this April, for different organization: American instance, it moved Jewish families Friends of Yeshivat Ateret Yerushalayim. into an Arab house it purchased in the Muslim Quarter. One noteworthy donor to its Friends organization is casino Fundraising in the U.S. magnate Irving Moskowitz, a well-known supporter of right - ist causes, who also owns the Shepherd Hotel in East Jerusa- American Friends of Ateret Cohanim was founded in New lem. That hotel made headlines recently when Moskowitz York in 1987. Like all tax-exempt organizations, it must file obtained a permit to build 20 apartments for Jews there, detailed annual returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Ser- sparking angry protests from the U.S. government. vice. An examination reveals that the organization describes In response, Ateret Cohanim chairman Mati Dan insisted its “primary exempt purpose” as: “provid[ing] funding for that the Friends organization “is an independent organization higher educational institutes in Israel.” that decides for itself whom to fund.” Moreover, he added, “That's because of the tax issue,” Luria said, explaining “we engage in education constantly . . . I don’t know what that due to American law, the American Friends organization Daniel Luria told you, but we are active in the field of [educa - “has to be connected in some fashion with educational mat - tional] institutions.” ters.” He also estimated that 60 percent of Ateret Cohanim’s Uri Blau, with Nir Hasson, money is raised in the U.S. Ha’aretz , August 17, 2009

September-October 2009 Report on Israeli Settlement O 3 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE

June 29 The Israeli government presents sion to allow settlers in the Migron outpost there are proper permits issued by the muni- its plan to the High Court of Justice to build to remain there for another year. ( Yediot cipality and the state, there will be construc - 50 housing units in the settlement of Adam Aharonot ) ( See story on page 7. ) tion.” () for families slated to be evacuated from the July 9 Eighty right wing activists enter the July 20 The settlement division of the Migron outpost. ( Ha’aretz ) evacuated settlement of to bury World Zionist Organization (WZO) July 1 The Palestinian Authority (PA) the remains of scrolls that had been announces plans to transfer approximately accuses Israel of planning to claim another 2 burned on July 1. (Israel Radio) $8 million to West Bank settlements. (Army percent of West Bank land. Israeli Defense Radio) July 12 Israeli police give the Ministry sources say that the land in ques - Regional Council a list of 11 illegal settle - Israeli civil administration authorities and tion was once under the waters of the Dead ment structures slated for demolition, border police evacuate and demolish several Sea but has since been exposed by the sea’s including at Bracha, , , and buildings at the , Nofei Yarden, and steady decline. ( Ha’aretz ) . (Israel Radio) Mitzpe Danny outposts. In response, settlers Ma’ariv reports Israeli defense minister set fire to land belonging to Palestinians July 13 Yediot Aharonot reports on the fir - as having told U.S. Middle East from Burin and Asira al-Kabaliya, in the ing of Uzi Keren, special advisor on settle - envoy George Mitchell, “In 2000, I was the Yitzhar area, destroying at least 1,500 olive ment issues. Keren was appointed by former Israeli prime minister that made the boldest trees. ( Yediot Aharonot , Ha’aretz ) prime minister and continued steps to attain peace, and in that year there to serve under . Prime Minis- Settlers throw stones at Palestinians travel - was the most Israeli construction in the ter - ter Netanyahu is reportedly considering head ing near the Hawara checkpoint, near ritories.” ( See table on page 8. ) of the Yesha Council Pinhas Wallerstein to . ( Yediot Aharonot ) The (IDF) remove the replace Keren. July 21 Stone-throwing settlers injure an Hawara roadblock, one of the busiest in the July 14 The High Court of Justice rules IDF soldier, and settlers damage 10 Palestin- West Bank, south of Nablus. Soldiers will that the home of Major Roi Klein, a deco - ian cars near Kedumim. (Israel Radio) remain at the site but will not search Pale- rated deputy battalion com - stinians. ( Ma’ariv ) Settlers cut down 40 olive trees belonging to mander killed in the , Palestinians from Burin, near the Yitzhar Palestinians enter the yeshiva of the Homesh should be evacuated and demolished. Peace settlement. ( Ha’aretz ) settlement, which was evacuated by the Now had petitioned the court, arguing that Israeli government in 2005, and burn dozens Klein’s house, along with eleven others in the July 23 Dozens of settlers fire tear-gas of books of the Talmud and other Jewish Eli settlement, had been built illegally. canisters into Palestinian homes in Asira al- texts. Following the raid, Homesh leader (Ma’ariv ) Qibliya, south of Nablus. (Ma’an News) demands that Prime Minister Settlers destroy dozens of olive trees when July 27 Arutz 7 reports the construction of Benjamin Netanyahu substantially expand they set fire to 25 dunams of land belonging 11 new West Bank outposts by settler youth. Homesh in response to the “desecration and to farmers in Burqa village. (Ma’an News) Security forces tear down two of them. national humiliation.” (Arutz 7) Ha’aretz reports the dropping of charges In Jerusalem, a crowd of approximately According to a report, Israeli against Ze’ev Braude, a settler from Kiryat 2,000 people gather in front of the U.S. con - government funding for a private security Arba who was filmed on December 4, 2008, sulate to protest pressure by the Obama firm protecting settlers in East Jerusalem shooting three Palestinians from the al administration to freeze settlement construc - Arab neighborhoods more than doubled Matariyeh family in Hebron. tion. ( Ha’aretz ) during the preceding 10 years. The current amount exceeds $14 million annually. July 15 Israeli authorities destroy a Pale- July 28 Israeli security forces prevent set - (Jerusalem Post ) stinian home in Beit Hanina and a residence tlers from erecting an outpost near Efrat. in Silwan on the grounds that the dwellings (Army Radio) July 2 The Jerusalem municipality approves were built without permits. ( al-Hayat al- plans for 20 housing units in the Shepherd July 29 The Israeli High Court allows set - Jadida ) Hotel compound in the Palestinian neigh - tlers to renovate the seized home of the borhood of , in East Jerusalem. Settlers from burn 150 dunams of Palestinian Hijazi family in the Sheikh The hotel, owned by settlement financier land belonging to Palestinian farmers from Jarrah neighborhood, in East Jerusalem. Irwin Moscowitz, will be demolished to Beit Ummar. ( al-Hayat al-Jadida ) (al-Quds ) accommodate the dwellings. ( Ma’ariv ) July 16 Responding to U.S. State Depart- July 30 On Tisha B’av, a day of fasting July 6 During talks in London, Defense ment pressure to stop Israeli construction in when Jews mourn the destruction of the Minister Barak promises U.S. envoy George the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Temple some 2,000 years ago, the Temple Mitchell that the evacuation of 23 outposts Jerusalem, Israeli internal security minister Institute begins building a sacrificial altar will occur “in weeks or months, not in Yitzhak Aharonovich states, “Jerusalem is a in the Mitzpe Yericho settlement. The insti - years.” Contrary to Barak’s claim, the unified city; its municipal borders are clear tute plans to transport the altar to the Netanyahu government informs the Israeli to all the people of Israel and the entire Temple Mount when it is completed. High Court that it plans to grant an exten - world; and where it is possible to build, and (Arutz 7)

4 O Report on Israeli Settlement September-October 2009 U.S. STATEMENTS ON A SETTLEMENT FREEZE

THE WHITE HOUSE stop to settlement activity. And you saw the statement out of Office of the Press Secretary the White House that we regret that they are planning to do September 4, 2009 this. . . . Statement by the Press Secretary on Israeli Settlements Question: Did Mitchell not tell the Israelis that if they went ahead and did this, that they were going to get We regret the reports of Israel’s plans to approve additional slapped? . . . The bottom line is that he knew this was settlement construction [announced by Prime Minister coming. Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day]. Continued settle - Mr. Kelly: [W]e have a very open dialogue with our ment activity is inconsistent with Israel's commitment under friends in Israel. the Roadmap. Question: Well, aren’t they—come on, aren’t they like spit - As the President has said before, the does ting on you, the fact that you’re negotiating an agreement for not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion a settlement freeze, and here they talk about announcing new and we urge that it stop. We are working to create a climate settlements. I mean, doesn’t that just fly in the face of what in which negotiations can take place, and such actions make it you say that you want and what the Israelis say that they’re harder to create such a climate. working on with you? I mean, that’s ridiculous. We do appreciate Israel’s stated intent to place limits on Mr. Kelly: No, we’re partners. We have a good dialogue, an settlement activity and will continue to discuss this with the excellent relationship. Israelis as these limitations are Question: It doesn’t sound like defined. it. The U.S. commitment to Israel’s “As the President has said before, the Mr. Kelly: They’re open about security is and will remain their interests. We’re open about United States does not accept the legit - unshakeable. We believe it can best our interests. And we’re all being be achieved through comprehen - imacy of continued settlement expan - clear here. . . . sive peace in the region, including sion and we urge that it stop. We are Question: [H]ave you taken a a two-state solution with a working to create a climate in which step back, though? I mean, there Palestinian state living side by side negotiations can take place, and such was all this hope that you were in peace with Israel. actions make it harder to create such a going to have a launch of negotia - That is the ultimate goal to tions at UNGA [UN General climate.” which the President is deeply and Assembly]. Is this a step back? personally committed. White House Press Secretary, Mr. Kelly: I wouldn’t say that at Our objective remains to resume September 4, 2009 all. meaningful negotiations as soon as Question: So that means you’re possible in pursuit of this goal. We saying that it’s okay? are working with all parties—Israelis, Palestinians, and Arab Question: So this is a positive development? states—on the steps they must take to achieve that objective. Mr. Kelly: Oh, I wouldn’t call it a positive development. I didn’t say that. Question: But if it’s not a step back and it’s—and you State Department Daily Briefing regret it, well. . . . Washington, DC Mr. Kelly: What’s going on now is we were having very September 4, 2009 intense discussions with all the parties involved. Right now, we’re focusing on our discussion with the Israeli officials. We Question: On the settlements, were you caught kind of talk very frankly and they talk very frankly, and—but this is, I blindsided by this? [H]ave the Israelis been discussing the fact think, part of the whole process of our discussions. We’re that as you’re negotiating a settlement freeze, they’re going to being clear, they’re being clear. announce the approval of new settlements? Question: It sounds like they are completely ignoring you. Mr. Kelly: Well, you know that we don’t want to get too That’s what it sounds like. You want a settlement freeze and much into detail of our confidential diplomatic conversations. they’re building more settlements. . . . What I’ll say in response to that is that we have had a very Question: What’s the point of [Mitchel] going [to Israel] open dialogue with our Israeli partners. And Senator Mitchell if they’re just going to defy you? on multiple occasions has had a thorough discussion of all of Mr. Kelly: I just said the process continues. [N]othing has these issues. We’ve made our position quite clear. Our posi - stopped because of announcements. N tion is that all sides have to abide by their obligations under the Roadmap. And of course, for the Israelis, that means a

September-October 2009 Report on Israeli Settlement O 5 FREEZE , continued from page 1 freeze that were now delaying the opening of much anticipat - ed negotiations. Having declared the status quo “unsustain - capable of dealing with the larger issues, such as [Israeli able,” Obama was anxious to move off what he himself Palestinian] negotiations over territory, borders, Jerusalem, acknowledged was “the rut that we’re in currently.” refugees and disarmament. This will also clarify whether Beyond a Settlement Freeze Obama will be able to force the parties to follow through on whatever agreement they make. Everybody is monitor - A meeting with Netanyahu and Abbas would be Washing- ing the battle with regards to the Israeli settlements, and ton’s first achievement in moving beyond a narrow discussion construction is ongoing. So long as settlement building of a settlement freeze to Obama’s strategic objective of a final continues under the pretext of expansion and vertical con - status agreement in which settlement evacuation stands to struction, nobody in the region will believe that Obama is feature prominently. Israel’s leaders are well aware that they capable of handling these weighty issues.” will face this challenge. To meet it, they are continuing efforts Obama is proving no more successful than his predecessors begun by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to reach bilateral in winning a complete freeze, and he has been stung by understandings with Washington on Israel’s long-term securi - Netanyahu’s ability to re-frame Washington’s demand as a ty requirements in the West Bank and elsewhere. To this end, challenge to Israel’s presence in East Jerusalem. By the end of Netanyahu and Barak have presented their six point political- July, Washington found itself engaged in detailed discussions security agenda: recognition of the state of Israel, resolution of of the minutiae of settlement con - the refugee problem outside Israel, struction and expansion. U.S. nego - an end to Palestinian and Arab tiators asserted that the talks were “Those who believe that we will accept claims as part of the end to the aimed at closing settlement expan - the legitimacy and presence of the settle - conflict, effective demilitarization, sion “loopholes.” Israeli leaders, ments and that we will accept to bargain on and international recognition of the initially stunned by Obama’s our land and rights will be deluded. With demilitarization arrangements. “As demands, were also confident. respect to this policy, I would like to note long as we unite behind these con - They had concluded that Obama’s ditions,” declared Netanyahu on here that the popular resistance our people “bark was worse than his bite.” The July 28, “the chance of implement - are carrying out against the settlements, potential for a crisis in relations ing them increases, because the over settlements had been averted the separation wall, and the demolition and international community respects a and the evolving terms of a limited confiscation of houses offers a model of our clear, solid, logical and just stance.” settlement moratorium were well people’s ability to adopt different forms of Alone among the participants, within manageable limits. In a resistance capable of penetrating the Abbas is conditioning a renewal of reflection of this cold-blooded world’s conscience and winning the support diplomatic contacts on a complete Israeli view, Israeli columnist of the peoples of the world.” cessation of settlement expansion. Nahum Barnea wrote on August Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the He has asserted control over both 14, “Defense Minister Ehud Barak Palestinian Authority, address to the Sixth the fractious Fatah movement and was the honey trap and special Fatah General Congress, August 4, 2009 the moribund PLO and looks to envoy George Mitchell took the polls that show improvement in the bait. . . . He is now negotiating contest with Hamas. Now more over the [settlement moratorium’s] timetable, the conditions, than ever Washington and Abu Mazen believe that a the numbers and the exit points.” “strengthened” Abu Mazen, without Hamas, is the key to Arab visitors to Washington from Egypt, Jordan and Saudi effective Palestinian representation. Arabia offered equally insistent advice about the shortcomings Nevertheless, Gaza’s continuing instability and the associ - of the administration’s pursuit of a settlement freeze, calling ated failure to reconcile Hamas and Fatah loom large as for renewed diplomacy on ending the occupation and creating obstacles to Obama’s goal of a two-state agreement within a Palestinian state. In a July 31 press conference with Clinton, two years. Even though Gaza has been overshadowed by Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal stated, Washington’s diplomatic effort to win a settlement freeze, it “Incrementalism and a step by step approach has not and remains the key focus of the Palestinian conflict with Israel, we believe will not achieve peace. Temporary security, confi - and the Hamas-Fatah split undermines Abbas’ ability to dence building measures will also not bring peace. What is negotiate effectively on behalf of all Palestinians. As the required is a comprehensive approach that defines the final Obama administration moves from the issue of a freeze to outcome at the outset and launches into negotiations over broader talks on final status issues, it would do well to com - final status issues: borders, Jerusalem, water, refugees and plement this process by promoting policies that address the security.” unsustainable humanitarian and economic crisis in Gaza and As the summer wore on Obama himself grew visibly impa - encourage Palestinian political reconciliation. N tient with seemingly interminable discussions on a settlement

6 O Report on Israeli Settlement September-October 2009 SHORT TAKES

Ungrounded Optimism remains of the destroyed settlement Homesh in northern Samaria, which was removed as part of the disengagement If George Mitchell, the special U.S. envoy to the Middle plan four years ago. East, is keen on examining the credibility of Israel’s latest “When one stands on this spot one keenly understands the promises on the evacuation of outposts, he might want to ask meaning of the mountain ridge,” said Yaalon. “Disengagement the U.S. embassy in to send him an update on the provided jihadist Islam with a tailwind. Only control over the deliberations at the High Court on Migron yesterday. The ridge enables real defense of the State of Israel.” state announced to the court that it was planning a further Other ministers on the tour spoke in a similar vein. extension to the settlers at the outpost east of of at Minister also said that he believed Israel ought least one year. This is a sad reflection on law enforcement in to contemplate rebuilding Homesh. In the course of the tour, the territories, and the significant chasm between official dec - when the motorcade made its way down from the ruins of larations and the actions of the Netanyahu government. Homesh, two firebombs were thrown at the cars. The fire - . . . In parallel to talks about regional peace, [Minister of bombs missed. Defense Ehud] Barak promised the evacuation of the 23 out - Israel Radio, August 18, 2009 posts “in weeks or months, not in years.” However, at the High Court, the representative of the State Attorney’s Office, ————————————— Aner Hilman, spoke of a significantly different timetable. Hilman argued that at least one year is necessary to pre - Settler Population in the West Bank Reaches 300,000 pare the 50 homes that will be built in [the] nearby [settle - There are now more than 300,000 settlers living in West ment of] Adam, which are meant to house the settlers from Bank settlements, according to an Israel Defense Forces Migron. This is part of a compromise deal between the report covering the first half of 2009. As of June 30, the set - defense establishment and the Yesha [Settlers] Council. The tler population has reached 304,569, an increase of 2.3 per - official promised that the settlers who refuse to fulfill the cent since January. These figures do not include settlers living compromise agreement in a year will be removed by force. in East Jerusalem and unauthorized outposts. The highest Migron was set up in early 2002, at the peak of terrorist growth rates by percentage were in small settlements such as attacks in the West Bank, over property that the state Itamar, , and Kfar Tapuah, all of which are locat - acknowledges beyond any doubt as belonging to Palestinian ed east of the separation barrier. individuals. In October 2006, Peace Now filed a petition with Most of the numerical growth occurred in the most reli - the court demanding the evacuation of Migron, and the state gious communities. Modi’in Ilit gained 1,879 residents, a 4.5 responded that the outpost was indeed illegal and would be percent increase. Beitar Ilit gained 1,074 residents, a 3.1 per - removed, but did not say when. cent jump. Excluding these two communities, the growth rate Six months ago, Barak reached a compromise deal with the in the settlements was 1.75 percent. settlers. However, even if the state meets its new timetable Among local councils, Har Adar (near Jerusalem) saw 5.7 (which will be a precedent when in comes to the outposts), percent growth, and Alfei Menashe (near the Sharon region, Migron will be evacuated in the summer of 2010, eight and a north of Tel Aviv) reported a 2.7 percent increase. Kedumim half years after the land was confiscated from its lawful own - recorded 2.1 percent; Emanuel, 1.2 percent; and , ers. . . . 0.9 percent. Alex Fishman, Yediot Aharonot , July 7, 2009 The population growth rate in the larger, middle-class set - ————————————— tlements west of the separation barrier was relatively low. Ma’aleh Adumim, home to many young couples, saw a popu - Ministers Support Outposts lation increase of just 1 percent, as did Efrat, where profes - Minister Moshe Ya’alon said during a tour of the outposts sionals and American immigrants often seek housing. The that the High Court of Justice must be told that the state population of Hashmonaim, also a destination for many would work to legalize the outposts. Minister Eli Yishai said American newcomers, increased by 1.1 percent. Ariel grew by that the outposts in Samaria were legal because they received less than 0.1 percent. East of the barrier, Ofra grew by 1.2 permits from the government and assistance from its ministry. percent. Karnei Shomron had a population increase of 0.2 Ministers Yishai, Daniel Hershkowitz, Yuli Edelstein and percent—another 15 residents. Yaalon visited settlement outposts in Samaria. The settler The report also noted a 4.4 percent increase—425 peo - leaders could not remember the last time so large a delegation ple—in settlers living outside municipal areas. of ministers had toured the settlement outposts in Judea and Chaim Levinson, “IDF: More than Samaria. “There is an unprecedented message in the visit by 300,000 settlers live in West Bank,” the four,” said Settlers Council director general Pinhas Ha’aretz , July 27, 2009 Wallerstein. The high point of the tour was the visit to the

September-October 2009 Report on Israeli Settlement O 7 WEST BANK HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND SALES UPDATE

Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reports that construction of new dwel- lings in West Bank settlements fell by one-third in the first half of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008. Housing starts dropped 34 percent, to 672 dwelling units, compared to 1,015 for the same period in 2008. In Israel overall, housing starts for the first half of 2009 dropped 12 percent, from 14,790 in 2009 compared to 16,540 in 2008. In the West Bank, 163 new dwel- lings were sold between the months of January and July 2009, a decrease from the same period in 2008, in which 279 were sold. “Israel Building in West Bank Settlements Has Dropped, New Study Finds,” Ha’aretz , September 3, 2009; “16% Drop in New Apartment Sales in July,” Gil Kol, Yediot Aharonot , August 27, 2009

Settlement expansion contributes to our people’s loss of trust in the peace process. They see that 16 years after Oslo and six years after we accepted the road map, settlements continue expanding and Israel continues to ignore its commitments. This is the context in which one needs to see our opposition to all this business about what is called natural growth and the expansion of construction in Jerusalem. I believe in the two state solution, and a stop to settlement is the key to achieving this objective. Palestinian Authority prime minister Salam Fayyad, Ha’aretz , August 14, 2009

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