Hebron: Settlement marks a year since its establishment

[subsuelo]

On 19 March 2007, settlers invaded a house and established a new settlement, in the heart of the a-Ras Palestinian neighborhood in Hebron. In the twelve months that have passed since then, despite the decision of the Defense Minister at the time to evacuate the settlement, the settlement has grownIt has been connected to the electricity grid and has undergone construction and renovation work.

Over the past year, the harm to the Palestinian residents in the area has increased and they have suffered further infringement of their human rights. They suffer both from the settlers and from Israeli security forces who have been assigned to protect the settlement.

Researchers from B'Tselem and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel found that establishment of the settlement, and the failure to evacuate it, has caused daily harm to Palestinian residents of the area, including:

* extensive abuse and violence by settlers in the new settlement, carried out before the eyes of security forces;
* abuse and violence by security forces posted at or near the new settlement;
* increased prohibitions on movement enforced by Israeli security forces;
* failure to enforce the law on violent settlers;
* attempts by settlers to cut access paths to the settlement through Palestinian farmland or on Palestinian streets, which led to violent confrontations.





The settlers claim that the building was sold to Jews. On the other hand, it is contended that the purchase documents were forged. Since the establishment of the new settlement, B'Tselem has maintained that Israel must evict the occupants immediately, without regard to the question of ownership. This position is based on the illegality, under international law, of Israeli settlements from the start, and in light of the severe human rights violations that have come in the wake of the new settlement.

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[azurnoir]

1. How does the Israeli government

claim that it is not actively supporting the settlements when it assigns IDF to protect the settlers?

[breakaleg]

2. This is the core of what Israel is about. It's about time the world woke up and realized this. nt

[LeftishBrit]

3. Do you also think...

that the Iraq war is 'the core of what America is about'?

Do you think that rocket attacks are 'the core of what Palestine is about', or that executing gays is 'the core of what Iran is about' or that LePen is 'the core of what France is about'?

One can STRONGLY oppose a government's policies on certain issues without totally condemning the essence of the country.

[breakaleg]

5. The settlers are driving the theft of Palestinian land. Israel has done exactly nothing to stop

them. Public promises never fulfilled so they can pander to this lot IS what Israel is about. Say one thing, do another, all with a wink and a nod. To underestimate the effect that this group has had on peace is insane. It IS about the occupation and that means it's about the settlers.

Frankly, I'm tired of the pro-Israeli crowd looking at the settlers and saying they don't know why Israel doesn't do more about them. The fact that Israel doesn't do more about them speaks to the core of Israel's real intentions than anything else.

[LeftishBrit]

6. I think the settlers have had a disastrous effect on peace

And I think they have too much power in Israel, partly due to the electoral system giving too much power to small parties. But that's not the point I'm making. I object to identifying an entire country - any country - with its worst elements. You'd be the first to object (rightly) to people identifying all Palestinians with terrorists, so why identify all Israelis with RW settlers?

[breakaleg]

8. I don't consider all Israelis to be the same as RW settlers. I think the government

of Israel has more in common with the RW settlers than they are willing to admit. While their reasons may be different, the result is the same - they both want more Palestinian land than they are entitled to. I am usually very careful to say that I believe this is the government of Israel's position rather than all Israelis.

Many people in the US do not support the war but they will likely be held accountable for it simply because it's their government that is running it. Just like Americans had better vote out this government and vote in another that will end the war, it's Israelis' responsibility to vote in a government that will get them out of ALL of the OT, if that's what they truly want. I don't know that it is.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

7. Do you not think that the settlement activity is cornerstone of the Israeli gov't? nt

[LeftishBrit]

4. Ugh

These people should be kicked out before they cause any more trouble.