old*824 Posted November 29, 2003 Share Posted November 29, 2003 http://www.palestinemonitor.org/factsheet/...settlement.html Israeli Settlements on Occupied Palestinian Territories What is a settlement? Settlements are essentially large housing projects built illegally by Israel on land confiscated from Palestinians within the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. These settlements are joined to each other and to Israel through "by-pass" roads, which are for the exclusive use of Israelis and which are also built on privately owned Palestinian land confiscated by the Israeli government. Israeli settlements affect Palestinian daily life and impact long-term Palestinian developmental needs. They ensure that Palestinians live in a continuous state of insecurity and fragmentation and therefore prevent economic, social and political development. Number and Area of Settlements There are 205 settlements in the West Bank (including Jerusalem) and Gaza Strip.190 are in the West Bank and 19 in the Gaza Strip.i Over 74 outposts (habitations built that are non-contiguous with the established settlements) were established after the Oslo Accord.ii The Israeli controlled areas (including settlements, military and industrial facilities) in the West Bank occupy 106 Km2 (2.1% of the area of the West Bank). Palestinian built-up areas occupy 283 km2 (8.5% of the area of the West Bank).iii The total remaining area of the West Bank, including all borders, is under complete Israeli security control. One million Palestinians live on 360 square kilometers of land in the Gaza Strip, making it the most highly dense population area in the world. Despite this fact, 5000 Israeli settlers continue to reside illegally in the Gaza strip and control 30% of the area. Settler Population There are more than 403,249 settlers in the West Bank. 211,788 of these settlers live in Jerusalem.iv Settlement Expansion According to Peace Now, 15 new settlement outposts have been approved for construction in the West Bank since Ariel Sharon took office in March 2001. 27 new settlement outposts have been built since the signing of the Wye Memorandum, 11 of which were established since March 1999.v According to Peace Now, tenders for the construction of at least 3499 settlement housing units in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been issued since Prime Minister Barak took office in July 1999, and construction has begun on at least 2270 housing units. According to figures from the Israeli Construction and Housing Ministry, construction in the settlements increased by 96% during the first half of this year as compared to the first half of the year 1999.vi The population growth within the Israeli settlements is almost four times greater than that of Israel itself, contradicting any claim that this increase is due to "natural population growth". According to the Israeli Bureau of Statistics the percentage of increase in population in the settlements from 1995 to the end of 1998 was 24.8% as compared to 6.6% in Israel.vii New structures - some permanent - have been built at a number of frozen settlement outposts, including Gvaot Olamn, Sneh Ya'akov, Amona, and Ahiya.viii A chain of massive settlements surrounding Jerusalem, including Ma'ale Adumim, Beitar, Efrat, Givat Ze'ev, are being expanded at a particularly fast rate in an effort to determine Jerusalem's future through settlements and to prevent territorial contiguity between the northern and southern territories of the State of Palestine. By-pass Roads ix The continued building of new by-pass roads and the extension of existing bypass roads is a major disruption to the Palestinian economy, autonomy and society. The by-pass network allows the Israeli military to occupy Palestinian land with roads. The network divides the Palestinian areas into Bantustans separated and surrounded by military controlled roads. Furthermore, the by-pass network prevents the expansion and development of Palestinian towns and villages, which results in overcrowding, and prevents Palestinian territorial contiguity. The by-pass roads link Israeli settlements to each other and to Israel. This easy access allows for attractive living conditions for settlers, thus lead to the expansion of settlements. The network undermines the economy of the Palestinians by restricting Palestinian movement and impeding the flow of commerce and workers from area to area. In addition, the confiscation of agricultural land, closing of stone quarries and destruction of houses has impoverished many Palestinians. The by-pass road network violates both international humanitarian and human rights standards as well as the interim Israeli-Palestinian Agreements. The roads built along the green line and around Jerusalem extend Israel's borders beyond the green line and around an expanded Jerusalem. Settlements and Natural Resources Settlements limit Palestinian access to natural resources such as water and agricultural land. This is especially problematic for the Palestinians since it is estimated that their population will double within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to five million by the year 2010.x There are 115 settlements located over water highly sensitive areas, and 25 settlements over water sensitive areas.xi Three million Palestinians are allowed to use 250 million cubic meters of water per annum (83 cubic meters for each Palestinian per year) while six million Israelis enjoy the use of 2.0 billion cubic meters (333 cubic meter for each Israeli per year), which means that one Israeli consumes as much water as do four Palestinians.xii Each Israeli settler is allocated 1450 cubic meters per year. Legality of Settlements xiii Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip violate international law. Article 49, paragraph 6 of the Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly stipulates "the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies". Article 46 of the Hague Convention prohibits the confiscation of private property in occupied territory. The confiscation of land by the Israeli government for settlement construction is in violation of this article. Article 55 of the Hague Convention stipulates that "the occupying state shall be regarded only as administrator and usufructuary of public buildings, real estate, forests, and agricultural estates belonging to the hostile State, and situated in the occupied country. It must safeguard the capital of these properties, and administer them in accordance with the rules of usufruct." This means that the occupying power does not become the owner of the territories and properties of the occupied country and does not use them for serving the interests of its civilians. This rule applies to all of the occupied territory's natural resources. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 calls for "just and lasting peace". The confiscated territories on which the settlements are built were confiscated illegally and in war. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 465, which was unanimously adopted, made it clear that "Israel's policy and practices of settling parts of its population and new immigrants" in the occupied territories constitute "a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East". The Security Council called upon Israel to "dismantle the existing settlements and in particular to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction of planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 455 Posted November 29, 2003 Share Posted November 29, 2003 damn....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 29, 2003 Author Share Posted November 29, 2003 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...lestinians_1591 Middle East - AP Paper: Israel Weighs Removing Settlements 2 hours, 10 minutes ago By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI, Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) is considering dismantling Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) while simultaneously annexing blocs of West Bank settlements if peace efforts fail, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday. AP Photo Reuters Slideshow: Mideast Conflict Sharon: Israel Must Make Land Concessions (AP Video) Sharon adviser Zalman Shoval stopped short of confirming the report, but suggested Israel would keep some areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and leave others, if it were to take unilateral steps in the absence of a peace deal. Also Friday, a Palestinian intelligence officer was shot and killed by Israeli troops after he approached the fence of the Gaza Strip settlement of Nissanit, witnesses and hospital officials said. Witnesses said the officer had been trying to rescue a mentally retarded man who had wandered into the area. The army said the Palestinian man was shot as troops tried to disperse a crowd of more than 40 Palestininans from an unauthorized area near the fence, but that it had suspended a number of soldiers while it investigates the killing. The soldiers are suspected of not acting according to proper procedure, the army said, noting that the victim was unarmed. Sharon has said in recent days that he would take unilateral steps if there is no progress toward a peace agreement. Sharon is under increasing pressure to end three years of fighting and renew long-stalled talks. On Friday, Maariv newspaper quoted unidentified officials as saying that Sharon would annex West Bank territories — such as the large settlement blocs of Gush Etzion or Maale Adumim — while dismantling some Gaza Strip settlements. About 50,000 Israelis live in Gush Etzion and Maale Adumim — two of the largest Jewish settlement areas near Jerusalem. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath told The Associated Press that "we will not accept annexing one centimeter (inch) of our land. We will not accept giving something in return for nothing." Israeli and Palestinian officials, meanwhile, wrapped up two days of informal negotiations, saying the talks had been constructive but not yielded any breakthroughs. Participants, who included Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s security adviser and Sharon's son were unable to resolve their differences over the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan. Both the Palestinians and the Israelis have formally accepted the plan, although Israel has added 14 reservations to its acceptance. Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said the two sides must begin implementing the road map now that conditions are riper for progress than they have been for some time and warned that "we can't stay where we are." Powell commented in an interview this week with reporters from European newspapers. The U.S. State Department released a text on Friday. William Burns, a U.S. envoy to the Middle East, was expected to arrive in the region Saturday to hold talks about implementing the road map, which envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005. Burns last met Israeli and Palestinian officials in mid-August. Shaath said he and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia would meet Burns on Monday, marking Qureia's first official meeting with U.S. officials. Shaath said the Palestinians would demand the United States take a stronger stand against Israel's construction of a West Bank barrier, adding that a recent U.S. move to deduct nearly $300 million from a $9 billion loan guarantee package was not enough. Israel says the barrier, which dips into Palestinian land, is meant to keep out suicide bombers. Palestinians call it a land grab. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) said Friday that Israel is violating a General Assembly resolution to halt construction of the barrier and to dismantle the 90-mile section already built. Qureia will tell Burns that he is optimistic that dialogue with militant Palestinian factions — which is to begin next week — will lead to a cease-fire, said Palestinian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Qureia will also demand the Israelis halt settlement activities; stop the targeted killing of militants; allow Arafat — who has been holed up in his battered West Bank headquarters for nearly two years — to leave the Ramallah compound; and pull out of Palestinian towns and cities, the officials said. Israel will also present its ideas and make clear that it will fulfill its obligation to dismantle unauthorized outposts in the West Bank, Shoval said. On Thursday, Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim said Israel was in the final stages of legalizing some of the outposts, a violation of the road map, and Sharon confirmed the intention in a news conference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 29, 2003 Author Share Posted November 29, 2003 Mideast - AFP UN's Annan says Israeli security barrier blow to peace Fri Nov 28,12:36 PM ET Add Mideast - AFP to My Yahoo! UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) said Israel's controversial West Bank security barrier is a setback for the peace process that is seriously harming the Palestinian people. AFP/File Photo Reuters Slideshow: Mideast Conflict In a 12-page report released one day after Israel said it would speed up the building of the barrier, Annan said that he recognised Israel's "right and duty" to protect its people. "However that duty should not be carried out in a way that is in contradiction to international law," he said, saying that its construction was a blow to hopes for a two-state peace plan being pushed by the United Nations (news - web sites). "When each party should be making good-faith confidence-building gestures, the barrier's construction in the West Bank cannot... be seen as anything but a deeply counter-productive act." The Israeli cabinet last year approved the controversial barrier, which the Palestinians claim is intended to predetermine the borders of any independent state they obtain in the future. They say it is also depriving them of fertile land crucial to their troubled economy, a claim backed up by Annan in his report. "Completed sections of the barrier have had a serious impact on agriculture in what is considered the 'breadbasket' of the West Bank," Annan said. He added that checkpoints to allow Palestinian access to land already cut off by the barrier were frequently closed, cutting them off from farmland, hospitals, clinics, schools and essential services. "Such access cannot compensate for the incomes lost from the barrier's destruction of property land and businesses," Annan said. "This raises concerns over violations of the rights of the Palestinians to work, health, education and an adequate standard of living." The UN secretary general said that when completed the barrier will run as deep as 22 kilometres into West Bank land and cut off some 400,000 Palestinians. Annan's report was ordered last month by the UN General Assembly, which passed a resolution condemning the construction of the barrier and calling on Israel to stop building immediately. But Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) vowed Thursday to work more quickly to finish the construction despite fierce worldwide opposition, including from close ally the United States. "We are speeding up the construction of the fence and we will not stop. It is vital for the security of the state and it is our responsibility," Sharon said. Along with the European Union (news - web sites) and Russia, the United Nations and United States are co-sponsors of a "roadmap" for Middle East peace that envisions the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 29, 2003 Author Share Posted November 29, 2003 and you thought the berlin wall was bad..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 29, 2003 Author Share Posted November 29, 2003 so casper and clue....why dont you read this and tell me why we arent liberating Palestine and killin the bad guys when in fact we send Israel billions a year while innocent american children starve this winter on the cold hard streets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 30, 2003 Author Share Posted November 30, 2003 Originally posted by old*824 so casper and clue and rip....why dont you read this and tell me why we arent liberating Palestine and killin the bad guys when in fact we send Israel billions a year while innocent american children starve this winter on the cold hard streets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GucciCondom Posted November 30, 2003 Share Posted November 30, 2003 My boy was tellin me how his dad in the special forces green beret was visiting him and he told him about this story that he was guarding a compound with bombs in it and this little towelhead kid ran in and stole somethin and he was runnin away and this dood who was on a hill jus picked him off..hit em in the lungs like 5 times in a few seconds. And they raided this one place and a towelhead jumped on his back and the dood snapped his neck with the quickness. And his beard was caught on the doods gear so he thought the guy was still alive and shot him in the face like 3 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 30, 2003 Author Share Posted November 30, 2003 um, did you read the articles? yeah, my best friend was a towelhead. and you know, killing a kid with a highpower rifle is somthing to brag about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old*824 Posted November 30, 2003 Author Share Posted November 30, 2003 so let me just get this straight, your glorifying the murder and theft of land of native people on their native land, doh...i forgot, you must just be patriotic since the us did the same thing. read the article fuck head. Originally posted by GucciCondom My boy was tellin me how his dad in the special forces green beret was visiting him and he told him about this story that he was guarding a compound with bombs in it and this little towelhead kid ran in and stole somethin and he was runnin away and this dood who was on a hill jus picked him off..hit em in the lungs like 5 times in a few seconds. And they raided this one place and a towelhead jumped on his back and the dood snapped his neck with the quickness. And his beard was caught on the doods gear so he thought the guy was still alive and shot him in the face like 3 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiseguy Posted November 30, 2003 Share Posted November 30, 2003 thanks old, at least there are a few intelligent people on here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekro Posted November 30, 2003 Share Posted November 30, 2003 My big question: Why doesn't Israel just pull its ass into where they can defend themselves and let the settlements go. Settlements just piss off the palestinians and make them bomb bus stops. I know people who have gone to Ramallah, it's fucked up. None of the palestinian dudes have jobs, the military bulldozes peoples houses, and the kids can't go to school. Why not just pull out and chill out? Yeah killing kids is HARDCORE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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