REPORT ON ISRAELI SETTLEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES A Bimonthly Publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peace Volume 23 Number 1 January-February 2013 ELECTION OBSERVATIONS Benjamin Netanyahu will lead tered in the electoral campaigns of most Israel’s next government, offering the “So much of what we aspire to parties and among the public at large. Likud Party leader the chance to become achieve and what we need to do Nationalist, pro-settlement parties Israel’s longest-serving prime minister globally, what we need to do in the have been a constant feature of Israel’s since Israel’s founder David Ben Gu- Maghreb and South Asia, South electoral landscape, most especially rion. Under his unchallenged leadership, Central Asia, throughout the since the historic Likud victory in the the Likud Party, however, emerged from 1977 elections. The Likud and the Na- Gulf, all of this is tied to what can the 2013 election much diminished from tional Religious Party (NRP) have been or doesn’t happen with respect to the 27 seats it won in 2009, when it the most popular parties reflecting this was able to construct a stable coalition Israel-Palestine.” “Greater Israel” ethos. Each in its own between the religious and ideological Secretary of State John Kerry, way has been captured by these forces. right that withstood the U.S.-led interna- January 24, 2013 The NRP, long a mainstay of every tional effort to contain Israel’s long-term coalition since Israel’s establishment, program of settlement expansion and oc- had disappeared by the 1988 election in cupation. (See chart on page 7.) versial Knesset initiatives related to the favor of a series of short-lived mes- Netanyahu’s decision to run jointly occupation and settlement that were so sianic, settler parties. In the Likud, a with Avigdor Lieberman’s Israel Beitanu pronounced in the last Knesset. primary system resulted in the election enabled the newly formed Likud Beitanu Netanyahu’s electoral strength has in- of ideologues who pushed Jabotinsky’s list to win more combined seats (31) deed been reduced at the ballot box—the party even further to the right in its sup- than its closest runner up—the new Yesh Likud accounted for seven of the nine port of settlement and annexation. Atid (There is a Future) (19). The Likud seats lost by the joint Liked-Israel Bei- Israel’s right-wing, messianic, pro- by itself, however, won only 20 seats on tanu list. But unlike Shamir in 1992, Ne- settlement forces were first energized by the combined list, a significant decline tanyahu remains the leader of the largest the NRP’s Gush Emmunim—the Bloc of from the 27 Likud candidates who won party—one that has been “purged” of its the Faithful—a popular movement that in 2009, not to mention the 48 mandates more moderate voices and will form the successfully challenged the then-ruling in the 1981 elections. The January 2013 next government. Labor Alignment to expand settlement result is nevertheless hardly comparable U.S. reservations about the policies throughout the West Bank after 1973. to the Likud’s miserable showing in of the outgoing Netanyahu government, When running independently from the 2006 (12 seats) against Ehud Olmert’s particularly concerning settlements Likud, this faction has garnered as few Kadima Party (29 seats). The Likud’s and stalled negotiations, were both as 7 (in the eighteenth Knesset, 2009), smaller Knesset faction should make it less explicit than the pointed criticism and as many as 17 MKs (thirteenth easier for Netanyahu to derail contro- expressed by the George H. W. Bush Knesset, 1992), running under an ever- administration towards the rejection- changing banner of parties in support of ist policies of Prime Minister Yitzhak more aggressive settlement and annex- IN THIS ISSUE Shamir in his losing effort in 1992, and ationist policies. These parties have been Ma’ale Adumim–E1 Map 3 less effective in shaping the recent elec- notoriously fractious, sectarian, and Knesset Elections Table 7 toral outcome. In contrast to previous politically unstable, rarely lasting for Ma’ale Adumim Details 9 contests, foreign affairs generally, and more than two election cycles. At their Settlement Construction Tenders 10 the ongoing policies of occupation and settlement in particular, hardly regis- ELECTION, continued on page 6 TO OUR READERS FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE President Obama’s decision to visit has its own strategic interest in peace, that Israel in March is welcome news. He will the U.S.-Israel relationship must be based Merle Thorpe, Jr. go amidst clashing domestic priorities and on reciprocity and mutual interest, and that Founder even before a new Israeli government is “shared values” becomes a hollow slogan if (1917–1994) fully established because he recognizes that Israel’s leaders continue to define their in- hopes for a two-state peace are disappear- terests as occupation, settlement and defeat Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. ing. Israel’s new government, notwithstand- of Palestinian aspirations for statehood. President ing the emergence of the centrist Yesh Atid Such a policy of even-handed compas- party, will still be dominated by rightist sion, candor, and firm commitments to Geoffrey Aronson settler and religious elements, and the security should be linked, at the right time, Director, Research and Palestinians remain divided. Unless pressed to an American peace plan keyed to the Publica tions, Editor, Report on by the U.S., a leadership-led move toward basic interests of all sides. Such an approach Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories peace is most unlikely. will stir major tensions at the outset, not But Israeli and Palestinian politics are the least here at home, but it will also offer Nitzan Goldberger volatile. The U.S. should not underestimate hope. If we stay the course, however long Philip Sweigart the opportunity to shape public opinion and tortuous, this will galvanize Israeli, Editorial Assistants there and ultimately official policy. Wash- Palestinian—and American—politics and Cassia Providence King ington must convey a more persuasive and change today’s deadly dynamic. Intern empathetic message to both dispirited so- cieties that there is hope, and that the U.S. IN MEMORIAM is committed to helping them realize peace. James Cromwell The President must also stress that America Stephen Hartwell —————— u —————— DIRECTORS SETTLEMENT POLICIES ISOLATE ISRAEL Landrum R. Bolling Calvin H. Cobb, Jr. Arthur H. Hughes Richard S.T. Marsh Richard W. Murphy Jean C. Newsom Gail Pressberg William B. Quandt Nicholas A. Veliotes Philip C. Wilcox, Jr. The Foundation for Middle East Peace has prepared a presentation of maps illustrat- ing the evolution of the conflict from the UN Partition Plan in 1947, and depicting the growth of Israel’s occupation and settlement project from the 1967 War to the present. To download the presentation visit: http://www.fmep.org/resources/ publications-1/map-progres- sion-1948-1967. Copyright © 2012 2 v Report on Israeli Settlement January-February 2013 MMA’ALEa'ale Ad ADUMIM–E1,umim - E 1, 2 2013013 I SHA'AR BINYAMIN Ra Qalandiya ma M ll Chpt. Jaba ah I A (via Jericho) lon R o Ram a Residential Areas d GEVA Submitted for BINYAMIN M Public Review N.YA'ACOV Hizma Beit Hizma Hanina Chpt. Approved ALON Ind. Area ALMON P.ZE'EV KFAR M ADUMIM Shuafat ANATOT R.ESHKOL R.C. Anata FR.HILL Police 'Isawiya M HQ. M Sh. Jarrah MT. Za'im MISHOR SCOPUS ADUMIM Wadi Za'im I Joz East Chpt. Jerusalem OLD Tur MA'ALE CITY Ras al Amud Eizarya ADUMIM Silwan Thuri K.ZION Abu Dis J.Mukaber Ar.Jahalin NOF Sawahra ZION West East QEDAR Wadi EAST Nar TALPIOT Rd. m e h le Sur Sh. th 5 km Baher Sa'ad Be Copyright © Jan de Jong Palestinian Areas beyond the Separation Barrier Ma'ale Adumim - E 1 Plan Area Densely / Thinly Populated Planned Settlement Development Green Line Palestinian Locales Separation Barrier Trajectory Israeli Highway Israeli Settlements Closed Section (Anata Bypass) West Jerusalem Checkpoint ( Israel ) Palestinian Road Closed Section Israeli Facilities (Anata - Za'im) M = Military, I = Industrial Israeli-proposed Palestinian Passage around Jerusalem January-February 2013 Report on Israeli Settlement v 3 SETTLEMENT TIME LINE October 1 Settlers install caravans on October 10 Settlers destroy 250 olive trees Ha’aretz reports on plans by the Israel land belonging to the town of al-Khadr, near Ramallah. (Ma’an News) Defense Forces (IDF) to ease restrictions on near Bethlehem, in an attempt to establish freedom of movement that prevent Palestin- Israeli authorities issue stop-work orders on an illegal outpost. (Palestinian Monitoring ians from traveling between the Jordan Valley five homes near Bethlehem. (Ma’an News) Group-Negotiating Affairs Department) and the rest of the West Bank. October 2 Settlers vandalize a Fran- Settlers raid the Tel al-Rumaida neighbor- October 17 Israeli authorities serve ciscan monastery in Jerusalem and spray hood, in Hebron’s Old City, stealing several demolition notices for several homes in paint “Price Tag” as well as anti-Christian tons of recently harvested olives. (PMG- Bethlehem, Hebron, and East Jerusalem. slogans on the walls and gate. (Ma’an News, NAD) (PMG-NAD) Ha’aretz, Yediot Aharonot) Israeli forces clash with residents of Ramal- October 18 Israeli authorities serve a Settlers stone vehicles in Ramallah and Qa- lah while storming a house to serve a demoli- demolition order for a house in Tubas, giving lqilya, occupy a Palestinian home in Hebron, tion notice. The house had reportedly been occupants three days to vacate the premises. and set fire to agricultural land in Nablus. constructed without a permit. (PMG-NAD) (PMG-NAD) (PMG-NAD) Ma’ariv reports that despite the uncertain October 19 Israel publishes a plan to build October 3 Settlers begin building an out- status of Ariel College’s upgrade to a univer- 800 new units in the settlement of Gilo, post on land belonging to Palestinians from sity, the Israeli government will allocate $6.8 between East Jerusalem and Bethlehem.