| Israeli Settlements News Archive |
| Settlers have broken ground on nearly 550 West Bank homes since end of freeze, survey shows Ha'aretz, Oct. 21, 2010 The Associated Press reported the construction of 550 units, most of which would be in Palestine under all the informal plans developed over the years to resolve the conflict on the basis of a two state solution. more Settlers start 600 new homes after ban ends - report BBC, Oct. 21, 2010 The Israeli government is demonstrating that it is not interested in rsolving the conflict on the basis of a two-state sollution by supporting the the construction of more than 600 more housing units in the occupied Palestinian Territory. more Palestinian school set on fire, vandalized with 'regards from the hills' graffiti Ha'aretz, Oct. 20, 2010 The Judeofascist settlers continue expressing their Jewish identity by destroying a warehouse of a Palestinian school near Nablus. This is only one of the violent actions by the settlers during the past few days. The number of incidents is numbing. more Palestinians: Netanyahu harming chance for peace by approving East Jerusalem construction Nir Hasson, Has'aretz, Oct. 15, 2010 While Israeli ambassador Michael Oren attempts in the New York Times to distract attention from the poisonous effect Israeli settlements have on the peace process and the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by raising the spurious issue of Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish State, Israel is proceeding to construct an additional 238 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem. more http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/arabs-states-may-ask-un-to-recognize-palestinian-state-if-settlements-continue-1.319258 Ha'aretz, Oct. 15, 2010 Egypt's foreign minister suggested that the Arab League may ask the United Nations to recognize Palestine if Israel continues to violate international law and its previous agreement under the Road Map to freeze all settlement activity. more Jews seek to reclaim houses in Shiekh Jarrah Yair Altman, YNet, Oct. 14, 2010 While Israel refuses to recognize the Palestinian right of return, it hypocritically and inconsistently supports Jews who claim a right of return in order to expell Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem. The latest case occurred in Sheikh Jarrah. more Smothered by Settlements Mustafa Barchouthi, NY Times, Oct. 14, 2010 opinion piece in the New York Times analyzes the detrimental impact the settlements have on the peace process. more In West Bank, olive groves are on the front line in struggle over land Joel Greenberg, Washington Post, Oct. 13, 2010 Judeofascists residing in the occupied Palestinian Territory are destroying olive trees owned by Palestinians. These acts are met with silence by American Jewish leaders such as Abe Foxman. more The tragicomedy of Obama’s peace effort Lara Friedman, Foreign Policy, Oct. 12, 2010 a persuasive piece on the consequences of the failure of Obama to take the tough actions on Israel that were necessary to get Israel to freeze the settlements. As a result of his failure, Obama was criticized for being tough on Israel when he wasn't, and then took a hit for laying out a goal he was not prepared to meet. more Netanyahu: Israel, U.S. working quietly to resolve peace talks deadlock Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, Oct. 4, 2010 Netanyahu is reported to have agreed to a meaningless two month extension of the partial construction moratorium in exchange for significant diplomatic concessions by the United States more Korans Burnt In West Bank Mosque Attack Reuters, NY Times , Oct. 4, 2010 settlers who are more religious than those in Ariel, are burning a mosque and the Quran in a village near Bethlehem. more Future of vast Jewish enclave in West Bank far from settled Edmund Sanders, LA Times, Oct. 3, 2010 report on the settlement of Ariel, noting it is deep in the occupied Palestinian Territory, it is settled largely by secular Jews, and the population is stagnant more Peace talks come and go, but a settlement grows Matti Friedman, Statesman.com, Oct. 2, 2010 Profile of the settlement of Revava, near Nablus. more With freeze over, West Bank settlements ready to dive into construction Barak Ravid, Chaim Levinson, Jonathan Lis, & Avi Issacharoff , Ha'aretz<, Sept. 27, 2010 Though Israel ended the construction moratorium, Abbas will attempt to continue negotiations by seeking support and approval from the Arab League. The Palestinians also will not walk away from negotiations if Israel will simply agree to negotiate that the borders will be based on the 1949 Armistice line. Apparently, Israel won't even do that. more Netanyahu to settlers: Keep low profile as building freeze expires Avi Issacharoff & Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz<, Sept. 26, 2010 Meanwhile, Netanyahu urged the settlers to show restraint. The article also reports that Ehud Barak told the BBC that there is a 50% chance a compromise will be reached on the settlements, and negotiations will proceed more Despite Netanyahu's plea for restraint, thousands of settlers celebrate end of building freeze Jonathan Lis & Chaim Levenson, Ha'aretz<, Sept. 26, 2010 With the end of the construction moratorium, thousands of settlers celebrated more Settlers prepare to mark freeze expiration with construction surge Jonathan Lis, Ha'aretz, Sept. 26, 2010 With the end of the settlement moratorium, the settlers are planning to mark the occasion with a joyful celebration that will begin construction of 2,000 housing units. The refusal of Netanyahu to continue the moratorium shows that he is too politically weak to make the tough decisions that will result in an agreement with the Palestinians and he is insincere in negotiating one. more Settlers break freeze with 20 mobile homes Ma'an, Sept. 25, 2010 Even before the moratorium ends, settlers have moved 20 mobil homes into the northern occupied Palestinian Territory more Israel plays down scope of future settler projects Dan Williams, Reuters, Sept. 24, 2010 Israel has apparently informed the Palestinians and the United States that future settlement projects will be limited in number. more Settlers outraged by Obama's call to continue freeze AUTHOR , SOURCE , Sept. 23, 2010 In response to Obama's speech, Gershon Mesika, Shomron Regional Council head called our president "an arrogant and racist politician." Needless to say, the settlers were not pleased by Obama's speech more Obama addresses U.N. General Assembly AUTHOR , UPI, Sept. 23, 2010 President Obama called for a continuation of the settlement construction moratorium in his speech before the U.N. General Assembly more Hopes and fears as settlement freeze due to expire Yolande Knell, BBC, Sept. 22, 2010 report on the hopes of the settlers and the fears of the Palestinians as the settlement moratorium is set to expire. Hagit Ofran, from Peace Now, is quoted as saying the settlement moratorium has resulted in an unprecedented slowdown in construction and demonstrates what can be done. more Be a man, freeze the settlements Aluf Benn, Ha'aretz, Sept. 22, 2010 Argues that Netanyahu should be a man, stand up to the right, and freeze the settlements more The Guards of the Settlers Just Shoot Hagit Ofran, Huffington Post, Sept. 22, 2010 Hagit Ofran from Peace Now, posted a blog on the Huffington Post about the settler guard killing a Palestinian in the village of Silwan. more The Other West Bank Construction Freeze Mohammad Mustafa Op-Ed, NY Times, Sept. 22, 2010 Points out that Israel prevents Palestinians from building in Area C, which constitute 60% of the occupied Palestinian territory, while granting permits to build an average of 1000 housing units each year in the area. This ban on Palestinian construction constitutes a decades long construction freeze for Palestinians. more L.A. donors play role in Israeli settlement Jonah Lowen feld, Jewish Journal, Sept. 21, 2010 article about Ariel, its future in a peace agreement, and the role Los Angeles philanthropists play in funding projects in the settlement. more Not Settling For Less David Kenner, Foreign Policy, Sept. 21, 2010 an interview with Daniel Dayan, the fanatical leader of the settler movement. Dayan argues that the settlements are necessary for Israeli security. more Facts on the Ground APN, Sept. 20, 2010 A new on-line tool with a map organized by layers of different kinds of data. The website also has data on individual settlements, and news articles on the settlements. This promises to be an important reference tool for information about the settlement project. Notye - this tool did not work with Internet Explorer for JLW. It works fine using the Google Chrome browser. more Abbas: Peace talks won't continue 'a single day' if settlement freeze ends Ha'aretz, Sept. 20, 2010 In an interview with AFP, Palestinian President Abbas said the negotiations will end if the settlement moratorium is not continued. more Netherlands nixes visit by Israeli mayors JTA, Sept. 19, 2010 The Netherlands canceled a visit by Israeli mayors because it included representatives from the settlements of Kiryat Arba, Oranit, Beit El, Elkana, and Efrat more U.S. envoy: Israel, Palestinians tackling tough issues up front Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, Sept. 15, 2010 Netanyahu informed Abbas that the settlement moratorium will not continue more Sources: No compromise on settlements Ma'an, Sept. 15, 2010 Washington may present a proposal to resolve the settlement issue more The freeze as a test Editorial Ha'aretz, Sept. 15, 2010 Supports continuing the settlement freeze that Netanyahu must recognize that construction in the settlements in incompatible to a two-state solution, and if he cannot continue the freeze because of political pressure now, he will not have the political strength later to confront the right when tough decisions are made to resolve the conflict. more Analysis: PA knows must keep talking even if freeze ends Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post, Sept. 15, 2010 analysis concludes that the Palestinian Authority must remain in the direct talks even if the settlement freeze ends more Glib talk about settlements harms peace efforts (Part II) Lara Friedman , Foreign Policy, Sept. 14, 2010 Lara Friedman analyzes the settlement issue, arguing that a compromise is neither necessary nor good for Israel. Failure to extend the freeze shows among other things, how either politically weak Netanyahu is or how insincere he is in resolving the conflict. more Five largest Israeli settlements: who lives there, and why Ariel Zirulnick, Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 14, 2010 profiles the five largest settlements: Modiin Illit; Maale Adumim; Betar Illit; Gush Etzion bloc; Ariel more U.S. Jewish right muted ahead of possible extension of settlement freeze Ron Kampeas, JTA, Sept. 14, 2010 Reports that the U.S. Jewish right is muted on a possible settlement freeze extension because they support Netanyahu. He also reports that there is virtual unanimous support in Congress for the extension. more Artists fight over Israel: The sequel Ami Eden, JTA, Sept. 14, 2010 Unlike the controversy over spotlighting Tel Aviv at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009, which displayed a division among people in the arts over the issue, the support by American artists of the Israeli theater professionals who refuse to perform in the settlement of Ariel has not resulted in condemnation of the Israelis. Several people are quoted who point out that it is the settlements they oppose, and not Israel. more Settlers receive 22% more budget grants than other Israelis, probe shows Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Sept. 14, 2010 Israel, as a "belligerent occupier," violates international law by transferring its population to the occupied territory. The entire international community recognizes that Israel's financial support of the settlements constitutes "transfer" as set forth in Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention. A measure of the support was reported by Haaretz, which noted that the settlers receive 22% more "balancing grants" from the Interior Ministry than other Israelis. more Israeli enclave thrust into debate Joel Greenberg, Washington Post, Sept. 14, 2010 Profile of Ariel settlement. Since 2002, this settlement has received approximately $15 million from tax-exempt organizations in the United States. more Mitchell: Settlement freeze must continue Attila Somfaivi, YNet, Sept. 14, 2010 After the first negotiating session, George Mitchell had a press briefing in which he reaffirmed the United States position that the settlement moratorium should continue more East Jerusalem housing plans cast new shadow over Israel-Palestinian peace talks Nir Hasson, Ha'aretz, Sept. 13, 2010 While negotiations have started between Israel and the Palestinians, plans are proceeding to build 1,362 housing units in the annexed section of Jerusalem. more Why the Israeli 'consensus' on settlements is not so simple Jushua Mitnick, SOURCE , Sept. 13, 2010 Report that in Israel, there is no solid consensus on what are the "settlement blocks" that Israel will keep. more Israel Bends Slightly on Settlement Building Isabel Kershner, NY Times, Sept. 12, 2010 Settlements are one of the core issues that need to be resolved to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their impact is being seen in the peace process. The New York Times reports that Netanyahu supports a limitation on construction but not a complete elimination. The article also reports that both the Israelis and Palestinians are trying to resolve the matter, with "a lot of creative thinking going on." The article also quoted Michael Eitan, a minister in Netanyahu's cabinet, as saying any future construction will require a cabinet discussion, which will have to take into consideration the changed political conditions. more Peace Now: 2,066 settlement homes to be built as soon as freeze ends Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Sept. 12, 2010 Peace Now reports as soon as the moritorium ends, 2,066 housing units would be ready to resume construction more West Bank settlements seek to revolutionize image with a new kind of tour Chaim levinson, Ha'aretz, Sept. 12, 2010 In an effort to entrench the settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory, settlers are conducting warm and friendly tours for media personalities and opinion makers. The tours do not mention that the settlements are illegal under international law, undermine the peace process, and prevent the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Nor do the tours discuss what the consequences will be to Israel if a Palestinian state is not created. more Palestinian federation launches campaign against settlement products Mohammed Mar'i, Arab News, Sept. 11, 2010 The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions announced that they were launching an international campaign to boycott products from the settlements more Obama: Israeli-Palestinian peace talks might focus first on possible border Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, Sept. 10, 2010 Report that Obama would like the negotiations to focus on determining the border as a way overcoming the settlement issue more Netanyahu: New settlement freeze unlikely - but compromise possible Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, Sept. 9, 2010 Netanyahu said that the settlement moratorium will end on September 30, however he hinted that construction will not be unlimited more Settler leader: Extending West Bank freeze will end Netanyahu gov't Chasim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Sept. 9, 2010 A leader of the settlers predicted that continuation of the moratorium will be the demise of the Netanyahu government. more A West Bank Enclave Is on Edge Isabel Kershner, NY Times, Sept. 9, 2010 The boycott of the Ariel settlement by Israelis in theater, the arts and academia, and the divided opinion of residents to relocate back to Israel, highlights the settlement's uncertain future as the result of the creation of a Palestinian state. What the article did not say is that 16 foundations in the United States have provided material support for projects in Ariel with tax-exempt funds. more Glib talk about settlements harms peace efforts Lara Friedman, Foreign Policy, Aug. 30, 2010 The Israeli settlements in the OPT remain the sticking point on wheither negotiations for a final resolution of the conflict will proceed. Lara Friedman, the director of policy and government relations for Americans for Peace Now, posted a blog on the Foreign Policy Middle East Channel pointing out that Israel should commit to taking a hard decision and extend the settlement freeze with no qualifications. more 53 theater figures vow not to perform in settlements Chiam Levinson, Ha'aretz, Aug. 29, 2010 53 performers, playwrights, and directors signed a petition that they would not appear in any settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including the new cultural center in the settlement of Ariel. more US 'mindful' of Palestinian stance on settlements Ma'an, Aug. 24, 2010, 2010 State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley, told reporters at the Daily Press Briefing on August 23 that the United States is mindeful of the importance of the settlement issue on the negotiations. more State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley, told reporters at the Daily Press Briefing on August 23 that the United States is mindeful of the importance of the settlement issue on the negotiations. Ynet, Aug. 24, 2010, 2010 The United States and Israel are having discussions to develop a creative solution to the settlement issue that will enable Israel to continue construction after the ending of the temporary moratorium on September 26 and thereby allow Israel to continue violating international law and ignore its obligations under the Road Map to freeze all settlement activity and dismantle outposts more U.S. warns Israel, Palestinians: Refrain from harming peace talks Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, Aug. 24, 2010 An unidentified Senior American official reiterated the United States position that the settlements are "illegitimate." more Netanyahu approves building new classrooms in settlements Chiam Levinson, Ha'aretz, Aug. 15, 2010 Israel once again demonstrated that what it says is not what it does, and the rule of law when it comes to the occupied Palestinian Territory is fragile at best. Though there is suppose to be a freeze on construction, the government of Israel approved 23 new structures, ostensibly to be used as classrooms, for settlements. This support is in violation of the universal interpretation that Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention prevents Israel from facilitating the transfer of its population into occupied territory more Settlers Assault A Palestinian Woman In Hebron George Rishmawi, IMECM, Aug. 6, 2010 The continuing violence by settlers against Palestinians continues unabated, while the IDF, which is responsible for the security of the occupied population is nowhere to be seen more Violence as Hebron outpost evacuated Ma'an, Aug. 5, 2010 In an unusual action, the Government of Israel dismantled an outpost near the settlement of Kiyrat Arba, sparking the usual settler violence. more Settlers attack Burin village, fires spread A Ma'an, July 30, 2010 The settlers continue their rampage in the occupied Palestinians Territory Palestinians on Friday by raiding the Palestinian village of Burin, by setting fields on fire and damaging a house. While the PA is strengthening its security forces and increasingly controlling violence emanating from Palestinians, Israel is turning a blind eye to settler initiated violence. more Police, settlers take over Jerusalem home Ma'an, July 29, 2010 Israel continues its slow ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem when the government evicted families from three buildings and turned them over to settlers. more Pre-state Jewish undergrounds enjoy a renaissance among settlers Chaim Levinson , Ha'aretz, July 30, 2010 Preparing for possible evacuation from settlements, youth from the settlements are laying the ground to resist by studying Jewish terrorists from the pre-state era as role models and for inspiration to engage in violence against Palestinians more Settlements in Focus: Top 6 Bogus Arguments for Opposing Extension of the Settlement Moratorium (or for Adding Loopholes) Lara Friedman, APN , July 29, 2010 A succinct response to claims that Israel's settlement moratorium cannot be extended. "Top 6 Bogus Arguments for Opposing Extension of the Settlement Moratorium (or for Adding Loopholes)" more Roadblocks continue to halt life in West Bank AUTHOR , Ma'an, July 29, 2010 The roadblocks and checkpoints in the Jordan Valley, erected to protect the settlements in the area, continue having a detrimental economic and medical impact on the Palestinians more Why a young Israeli woman spies on Israeli settlements in West Bank Ben Lynfield, Christian Science Monitor, July 28, 2010 Profile on Hagit Ofran, the Peace Now monitor of the settlements more Settlers block West Bank roads to protest construction freeze AUTHOR , Ha'aretz, July 27, 2010 Settlers also blocked 11 intersections in the occupied territory. more Settlers riot near Nablus Ma'an, July 26, 2010 Settlers damaged a Palestinian bus near the Huwwara checkpoint, and stoned Palestinian cars travelling between Nablus and Ramallah. more IDF: Curb 'price tag' violence Aviel Magnezi , Ynet, July 26, 2010 Settlers continue their rampage against Palestinians, as they torched fields, damaged a house, and attacked residents of the Palestinian village of Burin. While this went on, the IDF looked on and did nothing to protect the Palestinians. more Settler runs down 11-year-old Hebron boy Ma'an, July 18, 2010 The settlers in Hebron are now applying a new weapon against Palestinians. On Sunday, an 11 year old Palestinian boy was struck by a settler operated motorbike more Barghouthi: 100 settlement units underway in Beit Jala Ma'an, July 18, 2010 The sham nature of the settlement moratorium continues to be on display as Israel began constructing 100 housing units near Bethlehem. more PA official: Settlers torch Nablus lands Ma'an, July 15, 2010 Settlers continue their guerrilla warfare against the Paletinian population by torching olive orchards to deny the Palestinians their livelihood. The IDF did nothing to prevent it, nor are they investigating it to bring charges against the settlers more Despite Settlement Freeze, Buildings Rise Ethan Bronner, NY Times, July 14, 2010 The Israeli construction freeze, which has bben called “exceptional” and “extraordinary,” amounts to something less significant. In many West Bank settlements, building is proceeding apace. Dozens of construction sites with scores of Palestinian workers are active. more State Department Briefing U.S. State Department, July 14, 2010 At todays State Department daily briefing, the following exhange took place, in which the spokesperson for the State Department stated that the destruction of Palestinian housing in occupied East Jerusalem undermines trust. QUESTION: Prime Minister – the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies seems to continue to speak from the two sides of his mouth. You expressed hopes yesterday that what Senator Mitchell would find on the ground in his trip will be hopeful for a resumption of direct negotiations. Yet we see that beside the demolitions of houses by Israelis in Jerusalem and having the kids and babies and families staying out in the open, now we see Palestinians from behind the green line – those are the territories that – of the Palestinians that were exist in the territories before the creation of Israel in 1948. These – one of these towns is going to be razed from the ground by the Israeli policy that is asking the Palestinians to show proof of their ownership of these houses. These Palestinians were on the TVs all across the Arab world and on al-Jazeera showing their documents that they have since the 1930s of their ownerships of these houses in this town before the creation of Israel. Now, this could go into the category of ethnic cleansing by Israel. How conducive this kind of policy is going to be for peace in the Middle East? How helpful to your attempts to get to the point where you can actually make circumstances viable for peace in the Middle East? MR. CROWLEY: I think you captured the essence of the challenge that we face, which is why George Mitchell will leave tonight and be in the region tomorrow and will have meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials before the end of the week. As we said yesterday, the kinds of actions that we saw yesterday in the demolition of houses, we understand fully that this raises the emotions understandably so. It is exactly the kind of unilateral action that undermines trust. It is the very kind of action that poses a potential obstacle to direct negotiations, which we think is the only route to addressing the final status issues, whether it’s the status of Jerusalem, borders of a viable Palestinian state, security for the people of Israel, and resolution of refugees in these territories and throughout the region.
That’s what we’re trying to do. That’s why George is going back to the region this week. And as we continue to say, any steps that the Israelis, Palestinians, or other parties take that change the facts on the ground, we think, is unhelpful.
Police delaying evacuation of settlers from controversial East Jerusalem building Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, July 14, 2010 After demolishing the myth that Israel is in favor of peace, the settlement enterprise has demolished another one--Israel is guided by the rule of law. Two years and a half years after the Supreme Court ordered the evaculation of the settlers in the illegally constructed building Beit Yonatan, named after the American traitor Jonathan Pollard, the Jerusalem police continue to refuse to carry out the order. more East Jerusalem homes demolished BBC, July 13, 2010 While the Jerusalem police refuse to evacuate Israel squatters in Silwan, they proceeded to demolish the homes of Palestinian residents. more Pisgat Ze'ev in the Headlines - What does it mean? Lara Friedman, Amer. Peace Now , July 12, 2010 Details of plan described below more 32 homes approved in Pisgat Ze'ev Ronen Medzini , Y-Net, July 12, 2010 One week after Netanyahu, armed with the financial power of the Israel Lobby, beat the President of the United States of America, Barak Obama, into silence about the settlement enterprise, the Jerusalem Planning Committee approved the construction of 32 housing units exclusively for Jews in the occupied East Jerusalem settlement of Pisgat Ze'ev. more Netanyahu hints he won't extend temporary settlement freeze Ha'aretz, july 8, 2010 In a speech before the Council of Foreign Relations, Netanyahu has begun laying the ground to end the temporary settlement moratorium that ends on September 26. Fresh from his meeting with President Obama, in which Obama caved to the Israel Lobby, he is emboldened to stiff the United States and undermine its interests. more Tax-Exempt Funds Aid Settlements in West Bank JIM RUTENBERG, MIKE McINTIRE and ETHAN BRONNER, NY Times, July 6, 2010 Dertailed discussion of how tax-exempt American funds support the settlements, in opposition to U.S. policy. more TITLE Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, July 4, 2010 As the Knesset proceeds with a vote to give it veto power over an extension of the settlement moratorium, Netanyahu phoned Likud members to oppose the legislation. Passage will display that the vision of Israelis for a greater israel has not died, that they continue to show contempt for international law, their acceptance of agreements, such as the Road Map, are worthless, and they are not a partner for peace. more Jerusalem master plan: Expansion of Jewish enclaves across the city Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, June 28, 2010 The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee is about to approve a master plan that will expand Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem more Israel's chief justice lashes out over illegal West Bank building Chiam Levinson, Ha'aretz, June 27, 2010 In an another example of how Israel and its settlers do not share western values concerning the rule of law, the government has refused to enforce a demolition order for a waste purification facility in the settlement of Ofra. more Netanyahu drops opposition to Likud plan for renewed settlement building Mazal Mualem, Ha'aretz, June 21, 2010 As the date for the temporary and partial settlement moratorium approaches, the Israeli government is setting the stage to resume construction in occupied East Jerusalem and in the occupied Palestinian Territory. Netanyahu has dropped opposition to plans by his party, Likkud, to resume settlement construction in violation of international law. Resumption will undermine America's national interest by destroying the peace process, strengthen the occupation, and make it more difficult to resolve the conflict on the basis of a two state solution. Resumption will also demonstrate that Israel does not adhere to its committments, as it agreed to freeze all settlement activity under the Road Map. more Settlements in Focus (June 14, 2010): The Settlements Moratorium- A Six-Month Accounting Lara Friedman , APN , June 14, 2010 Americans for Peace Now six month assessment of Israel's settlement moratorium. Among the numerous points raised in this very comprehensive report is the question whether Netanyahu will extend the moratorium based on the assumption that Obama will not make an issue of it because of the power of the Israel Lobby during the upcoming elections. more Israeli security forces clash with settlers while enforcing construction freeze Chiam Levinson, Ha'aretz, June 8, 2010 Settlers in the settlement of Beit El clashed with Israeli border police who were attempting to enforce the construction moratorium by demolishing a structure built without a permit more The colors of racism Sami Michael, Ha'aretz, June 2, 2010 The settlement of Immanuel, which is funded by the state of Israel and protected by the IDF, two girls can no longer have contact with each other and must wear different uniforms because one is an Ashkenazi Jew and the other is a Mizrahi Jew. more Zero housing starts in W. Bank Tovah Lazaroff, Jerusalem Post, June 1, 2010 President Obama's pressure on Israel to stop settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian Territory appears to have an effect. According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, there were no housing starts during the first three months of 2010. more East Jerusalem eviction orders threaten new embarrassment for Netanyahu Nir Hasson, Ha'arest, May 29, 2010 On the eve of Netanyahu's meeting with President Obama, two Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah section of occupied East Jerusalem were served notices that they have to vacate their homes within 45 days. The instigator of the evictions is Irving Moskowitz, who funds his activities through tax exempt foundations in the United States. more Rabbis, settlement leaders: Prevent demolitions, even at cost of confrontation Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, May 27, 2010 As a reflection that the strong stance President Obama took regarding the settlements is paying off at least a little, the settlers are becoming more desperate. Spiritual leaders and secretary generals of settlements signed a letter calling for blockage of junctions in the occupied Palestinian Territory to prevent the demolition of 46 structures by the IDF. more IDF fears battle as extremist settler violence escalates Chian Levinson, Ha-arets, May 27, 2010 The settlers in Yitzhar are increasingly directing their violence to the IDF in addition to maintaining a pattern of terrorist acts against the Palestinians more Top Israeli judge slams state for building West Bank road against court order Chian Levinson, Ha'aretz , May 26 , 2010 Road being built, apparently by settlements, in defiance of High Court Order and on private Palestinian land. more Four week gap in coverage IDF: Settlers beat soldier, hurl stones Ynet, April 20, 2010 Marking Israel's independence day, the settlers escalated their violence by not only attacking Palestinians, but also beating up a soldier of the IDF. more Illegal outposts marked for destruction got millions in state funding Chaim Levinson, Ma'aretz, April 16, 2010 Haaretz reported that an "illegal settlements" received support from the government of Israel for mortgages and infrastructure. While the settlers claim the settlement is therefore legal, what it really shows is the settlement is illegal under international law because it violates Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention. more No-one saw, no-one heard: 300 Palestinian olive trees uprooted Avi Issacharoff, Na'aretz, April 15, 2010 It is an old story that keeps repeating itself: the settlers are not only violating international law by living in the occupied Palestinian Territory, but they continue conducting themselves in a manner that speaks loudly on their moral and ethical values. The latest is the uprooting of olive trees, the economic livelihood of the Palestinians, by people of the Torah, the settlers of Migron. more Settlers push to evict two more East Jerusalem families Nir Hasson, Ha'aretz, April 7, 2010 The Israeli government continues to protect settlers who are carrying out their long-range plan to evict Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem. The latest manifestation of this is the eviction of two Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah section in occupied East Jerusalem. more U.S. seeks 4-month East Jerusalem building freeze in return for direct talks Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, March 31, 2010 It was reported that the United States has requested Israel to completely freeze settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem in exchange for getting the Palestinians to begin direct talks. more Poll: 21% of settlers back resisting evacuation 'by any means' Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, March 31, 2010 The Hebrew University's Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace conducted a survey of the settlers, and found that 63% believe an evaluation of the occupied Palestinian Territory can only be carried out after a national referendum rather than a Knesset vote. But even if the referendum found a majority of Israelis favor evacuation, 49% would not accept it. more 55% of Israeli settlers in Jerusalem AUTHOR , Ma'an, March 30, 2010 The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that 85% of Palestian land is under Israeli control, and 55% of the settlers live in the Jerusalem governorate. Approximately 17.2% of the people living in the occupied Palestinian Territory are now settlers more US 'may not veto UN resolution on Jerusalem' BBC, March 28, 2010 Report that the United States is considering abstaining on a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. This would represent a return to a policy that the United States last followed over 30 years ago when it abstained on Security Council Resolutions 446 and 452, which reaffirmed that applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to Jerusalem. more PM Netanyahu’s trap Ron Ben-Yishai et al., Ynet, March 27, 2010 When Netanyahu was in Washington D.C. and attempting to appease the US Administration over the expansion of Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, someone in the Jerusalem City Hall removed the remaining obstacles to Irving Moscowitz's construction of 20 housing units at the Shepherd Hotel. more Israeli PM says Jerusalem policy will not change BBC, March 26, 2010 After Netanyahu met with his coalition partners, the Israeli government vowed to continue its provocative policy of expanding Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem more Settlements in Focus: Top 6 Bogus Excuses for East Jerusalem Settlement Expansion Lara Friedman , APN, March 25, 2010 An extremely useful list more Netanyahu holds talks with Obama amid settlement row BBC, March 24, 2010 After getting control of the approval process for new construction for settlers in all the occupied Palestinian Territory, Netanyahu's government showed what they think of the United States of America by approving 20 more housing units in the occupied East Jerusalem, just hours before meeting with President Obama. more Israeli settlements an economic choice, says study Reuters, Y-Net, March 23, 2010 The Macro Center reported that between 2004 and 2008, Israel constructed 6,657 new structures in the occupied Palestinian Territory, most were constructed west of the separation barrier, and most new settlers are drawn by economic benefits. more INTERVIEW-Jewish settler leader sees building boom AUTHOR , AlterNet, March 23, 2010 Settlers envision 1 million Jews could be living in the occupied Palestinian Territory more Settlements have cost Israel $17 billion, study finds Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, March 23, 2010 Using satellite imagery and other technology, the Macro Center for Political Ecnomics valued the Israeli settlements and roads in the occupied Palestinian territory at more than $17 billion. more Silwan settlers plan Passover festival in bid to curry favor with public Nir Hasson, Ha'aretz, March 23, 2010 Settlers, funded by Atereet Cohanim which spent nearly $8.3 million dollars in tax free money between 2002 and 2003, are planning a Passover festival to promote the opening of a building that the Israeli Supreme Court has ordered to be evacuated and sealed. more Netanyahu reaffirms 'right to build' in Jerusalem BBC, March 23 , 2010 Addressing the AIPAC conference, Israeli PM Netanyahu said he would defy the Quartet and would continue to build and expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. more Frankly, Clinton's right AUTHOR , LA Times, March 22, 2010 Editorial says that Israel's expansion of Jewish housing in occupied East Jerusalem hurts the peace process. more Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at AIPAC Convention State Department , March 22 , 2010 Clinton laid out part of the detrimental impact the continuing settlement enterprise. "New construction in East Jerusalem or the West Bank undermines that mutual trust and endangers the proximity talks that are the first step toward the full negotiations that both sides say want and need. And it exposes daylight between Israel and the United States that others in the region hope to exploit. It undermines America’s unique ability to play a role – an essential role – in the peace process. Our credibility in this process depends in part on our willingness to praise both sides when they are courageous, and when we don’t agree, to say so, and say so unequivocally." full text of speech Netanyahu bows to U.S. demands ahead of Washington visit Barak Ravid et al. , Ha'aretz, March 21 , 2010 Netanyahu promised to ease the Gaza siege and to make other goodwill gestures. Also, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, while in Ramallah, said "The world has condemned Israel's settlement plans in East Jerusalem...Let us be clear, all settlement activity is illegal anywhere in occupied territory and must be stopped." more Jerusalem, settlements, and the "everybody knows" fallacy Lara Friedman and Daniel Seidemann, Foreign Policy, March 19, 2010 Analysis of the fallacious claim by successive Israeli governments that settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem is only in areas where "everybody knows" will be part of Israel in any agreement with the Palestinians. more Top Reform rabbi: Freeze building in ‘East Jerusalem’ Ami Eden , JTA, March 19, 2010 The president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest synagogue movement in the United States, called on Israel to enact a construction freeze in occupied East Jerusalem in order to strengthen its relations with the United States and demonstrate a firm commitment to the peace process. This call was made for pragmatic reasons - the head rabbi believes that Israel has rights to all of Jerusalem and the settlements there are not illegal. more Joint Statement by the Quartet U.S. State Department , March 19, 2010 The Quartet-the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations, issued a statement that stated: "the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognized by the international community, the Quartet underscores that the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties and condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem." more Israel Objects to U.S. Construction Demands Ethan Bronner, NY Times , March 16, 2010 The Israel Lands Authority announced that an additional 309 housing units earmarked for Jews have been authorized to be constructed in occupied East Jerusalem. more The Petraeus briefing: Biden’s embarrassment is not the whole story Mark Perry, Foreign Policy, March 13, 2010 Provides important background as to why the Obama Administration has taken a tough position on Israel for proceeding with construction of 1,600 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem. General Petraeus and JCS Chairman Michael Mullen believe the continuation of Israel's settement enterprise is damaging America's interests in the region and putting American lives at risk. more U.S. State Department Press Briefing , March 12, 2010 State Department said the United States objects not just to the timing of the announcment to construct 1,600 units in occupied East Jerusalem, but also to the substance. He also said the plan to expand the settlement undermines the peace process. more Abbas to Biden: Settlements could derail peace Ma'an, March 11, 2010 Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas told Vice President Biden that Israel's expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory "threatens efforts to resume peace talks". more Israel planning 50,000 housing units in East Jerusalem Nir Hasson, Ha'aretz, Masrch 11, 2010 Looking to the future, Israel is planning to construct 50,000 additional housing units in the occupied Palestinian Territory during the next few years. more U.S. vows to halt Israeli building in East Jerusalem Ha'aretz, March 10, 2010 Fallout continues from Israel's announcement that it plans to construct 1,600 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem. The Quartet (United States, Russia, EU, and UN) condemned Israel and stated, "Unilateral action by the Israelis or Palestinians cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community. more Joe Biden steps up pressure on Israel over E Jerusalem AUTHOR , BBC, March 10, 2010 While in Ramallah, Vice President Biden against criticized Israel for its planned construction of 1,600 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem, saying it threatens the peace process by undermining trust. more How Does Israel Approve New Settlement Building? AUTHOR , Foreign Policy, March 9, 2010 Background piece more Biden Jerusalem Bruhaha Various, March 9, 2010 Israel continues to undermine the proximity talks between it and the Palestinians by approving, in addition to the 112 housing units in the settlement of Betar Illit approved on Monday, 1,600 housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo in occupied East Jerusalem. Israel's decision was condemned by Vice President Biden. more more more more more more more more more Israel OKs 112 new apartments in settlement Washington Post, March 8, 2010 In an effort to undermine the credibility of the Palestinian Authority on the eve of negotiations, while simultaneously undermining its own credibility that it is committed to resolving the Israeli Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two state solution, Israel approved the construction of 112 new appartments in the settlement of Beitar Illit more Settler attack sparks clashes near illegal outpost, soldiers injure 3 Ma'an, Match 6, 2010 Another report of continuing clashes triggered by Israel naming two West Bank shrines as Israeli heritage sites. more PA moves to ban Palestinians from working in settlements Ha'aretz, March 3, 2010 The Palestine Authority is drafting legislation that will attempt to: (1) stop Palestinians from working in settlement construction, and (2) ban products made in settlements from PA controlled areas. The value of these products is estimated to be $200 -$500 million each year. Identifies Beigel Beigel pretzels, Ahava beauty products, and the Barkan winery as products that will be boycotted. more Israel to compensate some West Bank settlers hurt by freeze Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, March 3, 2010 Israel is planning to compensate settlers who claim they were harmed by the temporary construction moritorium. more Nazzal: Israel to approve 30,000 housing units on occupied land Ma'an, March 3, 2010 For religious Isrealis more Are the Settlements Illegal? Nicholas Rostow, American Interest Online , March-April, 2010 Summary of legal arguments made to justify and opposethe settlements. Implies that the arguments are equal in weight and are a source of serious dispute in the international legal community. [But article fails to mention that the international legal community overwhelmingly has concluded that settlements are illegal under international law.] Concludes from his analysis that since legality is disputed, the United States, as a matter of policy, should not press the issue. more Behind the Settlements Daniel Kurtzer , American Interest Online , March-April, 2010 An important background article on settlements by former United States ambassador to Israel. recounts the Talya Sasson report that the outposts constitute wholesale vbiolations of Israeli law. Notes that despite assurances by the Israeli government to provide a timetable for the dismantling of outposts, one was never given. Also notes that in 2009 Israel failed to deliver promised data to determine the built up areas of settlements because the data showed "systematic violations of Israeli laws and regulations." more Supreme Court abetting, not curbing, illegal settlements Akiva Eldar , Ha'aretz, March 3, 2010 Another article that the settlement moratorium is a fiction, this article reports on the expansion of outposts that Talia Sasson identified in her 2005 report as representing a pervasive evasion of Israeli law and regulations. more Jerusalem mayor to retroactively legalize East Jerusalem buildings Nir Hasson , Ha'aretz , March 2, 2010 Jerusalem's Mayor, Nir Barkat, plans to: (1) legalizes housing in occupied East Jerusalem which Israel's Supreme Court has ordered to sealed and closed, and (2) demolish Palestinian housing in occupied East Jerusalem and turn the land over to a settler backed tourist organization that promotes the view that only Jews have a claim on the land. more Jerusalem Diary: Found tribe Tim Franks, BBC , March 1, 2010 Reports on immigrants from India living in Kiryat Arba, a settlement filled with extremely religious and intolerant Israelis who are constantly clashing with the Palestinians who live nearby. more EU: Goods made at Jewish settlements are not Israeli AUTHOR , BBC, Fdeb. 26, 2010 The European Court of Justice, Europe's highest judicial court, has ruled that goods made in settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory cannot be considered Israeli and are therefore subject to import duties that make them less competitive. more Settlers: New Palestinian city will harm security, the environment Chaim levinson, Ha'aretz, Feb. 24, 2010 Settlers object to Palestinians building on Palestinian land for a set of potential ills, none of which seem to matter when the building is being done by settlers. more PA official: 45 olive trees chopped down near Nablus Ma'an, Feb. 25, 2010 Going beyond just living in settlements that are illegal under international law, residents of the illegal settlement of Yitzhar engaged in criminal activity by destroying olive trees of the Palestinian village of Burin, near Nablus. The Israeli Civil Administration sent a representative to investigate the incident. more Settlers: New Palestinian city will harm security, the environment Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Feb. 24, 2010 captures the feeling of entitlement that settlers feel, by quoting a resident of the illegal settlement of Ateret for being concerned that the planned Palestinian city of Rawabi will cause a traffic jam, preventing his wife from working in the illegal settlement of Shiloh. more Israel plans new Jerusalem-area settlement Ma'an, Feb. 23, 2010 Israel has approved the construction of 549 homes for settlers to live in the Palestinian town of Beit Safafa, near Jerusalem more n pictures: Life in the shadow of Israeli settlements BBC, Feb. 22, 2010 Eight pictures that were originally posted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, showing the difficulties faced by many Palestinians who live near settlements more PA official: Setters assault doctor, damage cars Ma'an, Feb. 21, 2010 Lawlessness by the settlers continued on Sunday as they stoned Palestinian cars traveling between Nablus and Jenin, injuring a Palestinian doctor and damaging his car as well as other cars. more Meretz's Oron: Netanyahu blurring Israel's borders Amnon Meranda, Ynet, Feb. 21, 2010 In an attempt to legalize and legitimize the settlements by eliminating the 1949 Armistice Line, Israel has declared the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem as national heritage sites of Israel. more Defense Ministry reveals West Bank settlement freeze abuses Chiam Levenson, Ha'aretz, Feb. 15, 2010 Israel's Defense Ministry reported on 28 settlement violations, while Peace Now identified additional ones. These violations did not include the continuing construction of outposts. Together, they represent an unhealthy disrespect for Israeli law among the settlers as well as a continuing security threat to the United States by blocking the resolution of the conflict on the basis of a two-state solution. more Distribution of Beit Yehonatan evacuation orders called off AUTHOR , Ynet, Feb. 8, 2010 The plan to serve an evalcuation order on settlers living in a seven story building constructed without a permit in a Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem was called off more What to Do With the Settlements Hillel Halkin, Wall St. Jour., Feb. 4, 2010 Op-ed piece proposes that consideration be given to keeping the settlements as part of an independent Palestine more Under pressure from settlers, IDF rebuilding West Bank watchtower Amira Hass , Ha'aretz , Feb. 4, 2010 The IDF reestablished a military base it evacuated nearly four years ago at Beit Sahur. Though the IDF denies this is a prelude to establishing a Jewish only city at a place that will link the settlements of Gush Etzion and Har Homa, settlers are optimistic that this base will later be converted into a settlement more Mayor bows to pressure, pledges to remove E. Jerusalem settlers Nir Hasson, Ha'aretz , Feb. 3, 2010 After thumbing his nose at a court order to evacuate some settlers in Silwan, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat agreed to enforce the order under protest. He also announced that he is proceeding to demolish 70 Palestinian houses. more Settlement growth slows as building freeze starts to bite Chiam Levinson, Ha'aretz, Feb. 2, 2010 An analyis of population data shows that, 38 of the 120 settlements recognized by Israel experienced a growth rate lower than the growth of the Jewish population in Israel during the last half of 2009. more Settlers attack Palestinians to avenge West Bank outpost demolition Chiam Levinson, Ha'aretz, Jan. 27, 2010 Israel government demolishes an illegal outpost, settler riot. more Only an idiot would say Israel has frozen settlement activity Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, Jan. 26, 2010 Israel continues construction that further entrenches the occupation more Not all settlers and Palestinians want each other to disappear Linoy Bar-Gefen , Ha'aretz, Jan. 22, 2010 Reports on Jerushalom, a group of religious settlers who are reaching out to their Palestinian neighbors, meeting with them, learning about their experiences under the occupation, and empathizing with their lives. This group represents a segment of the religious settlers who are attached to the land and could live in a bi-national or Palestinian state. more Israel considers giving legal status to two illegal West Bank outposts Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Jan. 11, 2010 Israelis demolish 14 Palestinian buildings in the occupied Palestinian Territory and are planning to convert to "outposts" into legal "settlements". more US: East J'lem housing hampers peace Tovah Lazaroff , Jerusalem Post, Jan. 6, 2010 The United States protested the construction of new buildings in the occupied East Jerusalem because they damage the peace process. more Fayyad: PA will clear West Bank of settlement products Ma'an, Jan. 5, 2010 The Palestinian Authority has initiated a national effort to prevent products made in the settlements from being sold in the occupied Palestinian Territory more TITLE Amos Harel, Ha'aretz, Jan. 5, 2009 Settlers are sending death threats to Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Police Commissioner David Cohen more How Israel is implementing the settlement freeze Marcy Oster, Jewish Telegraph Agency, Jan. 4, 2009 reports that "construction in many Jewish West Bank towns has ground to a halt." This conflicts with other news stories (Dec. 30 & Jan. 1) that say the settlement moritorium is a farce. more Settlers, tell us, what do you think will happen? Gideon Levy, Ha'aretz, Jan. 3, 2009 Points out that settlers live in a different world and the settlers are leading Israel into an nknown future. Asks what will happen when the world will no long turn a blind eye to the treatment of Palestinians, when the Palestinians become the majority in the area of the Mandated Palestine, and when America stops being Israel's patron. more Comment / Settlers can stay, but only as citizens of Palestine Alexander Yakobson, Ha'aretz, Jan. 2, 2009 Says it will be impossible to remove settlers, but settlers may remain in settlements as citizens of Palestine. Suggests drawing a smooth border and going ahead with a Palestinian state without separation. more Construction in West Bank settlements booming despite declared freeze Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, Jan. 2, 2009 Despite the announced temporary partial construction moratorium in the occupied Palestinian Territory, settlement construction is booming, particularly east of the separation barrier. more Construction in West Bank settlements booming despite declared freeze Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, Jan. 1, 2009 Despite the construction freeze, dozens of settlements in the West Bank are experiencing a building boom more Israel approves new building plan for West Bank settlement Ha'aretz, Dec. 30, 2009 Israel announced on Tuesday its plan to promote planning and construction in the northern West Bank settlement of Kiryat Netafim more Settler activist: 'We are preparing a series of surprises' for the army Chiam Levenson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 21, 2009 In preparation for war against the Netanyahu government's partial and temporary construction moratorium in the occupied Palestinian Territory, settlers announced that they are preparing surprises for the IDF. more Israel vows action against settlers Al Jazeera, Dec. 20, 2009 A draft of an IDF memo outlining plans for dealing with settlers resisting the construction moratorium included using spy planes and damming mobile phones. more Palestinians spend $500 million yearly on settlement goods Ma'an, Dec. 20, 2009 According to the Palestinian MInister of Economy, Hassan Abu Libdeh, Palestinians spend about $500 million each year buying products made in Israeli settlements more Akiva Eldar / U.S. tax dollars fund rabbi who excused killing gentile babies Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, Dec. 20, 2009 The Central Fund of Israel, a non-profit organization in the United States which has given $37,663,055 to support settlers and settlement enterprise in the occupied Palestinian Territory between 2002 and 2007, has funded the Od Yosef Chai Shechem Yeshiva whose rabbi promotes the killing of non-Jewish babies. more Middle East peace efforts face race against time, UN envoy warns UN News Center, Dec. 17, 2009 Special UN coordinator for the Mideast peace process, Robert Serry, said that Israel's settlement freeze fell short of its 2003 Road Map commitments. more The Settlement Freeze That Isn't Gershom Gorenberg, American Prospect, Dec. 17, 2009 If there were any doubt of Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to the settlement enterprise, he dispelled it this week. "The freeze is really a very thin layer of ice atop the river of settlement growth." more Yesh Din: Ofra uses dogs to keep Palestinians off their own farmland Dan Izenberg, Jerusalem Post, Dec. 17, 2009 Settlers from Ofra (built on private Palestinian land) are using attack dogs to keep Palestinians from cultivating land that they own. more Barak: Freeze to be enforced without hesitation Amnon Meranda , Ynet, Dec. 17, 2009 Israeli Defense minister, Barak pledged to enforce the partial temporary moratorium of construction "without blinking." more International community must act against Israeli settlements – UN committee UN News Center, Dec. 15, 2009 The UN Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People urged the international community "to take urgent and decisive action against the continued illegal" settlement activity. more Analysis on the Israeli settlement construction freeze: Bitterlemons, Dec. 14, 2009 "The ball is now with the international community" by Ghassan Khatib "Dealing with Mr. Yes and No" by Yossi Alpher "The moment of truth" by Issa Samander "Rupture and its rewards" by Yisrael Harel Far-right yeshiva head: My duty is to tell troops to refuse orders Anshel Pfeffer, Ha'aretz, Dec. 14, 2009 Head rabbi of the Har Bracha Yeshiva in the occupied Palestinian Territory, encourages his students to refuse settlement evacuation orders. more Palestinians: National priority map is blueprint for settlement expansion Barak Bavid, Ha'aretz, Dec. 14, 2009 Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said thast the Israeli map of national priority areas that includes many settlements is a "blueprint for future settlement expansion." more High tension after West Bank mosque attack AUTHOR , Ma'an, Dec. 13, 2009 A delegation from the Gush Etzion settlement block brought copies of the Koran to the Palestinian village of Yasuf to replace those that were destroyed two days earlier when settlers torched and vandalized the community's mosque. They were denied entry by Israeli security forces because of the fear that their presence would inflame the situation further. more Netanyahu to officials: Catch 'criminals' behind mosque attack Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 13, 2009 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday ordered Israel's security branches to find the "criminals" who vandalized a mosque in a West Bank village, joining other Israeli leaders in condemning the incident. The Palestinian governor of the district where vandelized mosque is located said, "Israeli security forces have done little to protect Palestinian civilians from the settlers." more Lawless settlers are an inseparable part of Israel Gideon Levy , Ha'aretz, Dec. 12, 2009 more http://xx Israel settlement freeze shields dismantling of illegal outposts Joshua Mitnick, Christian Scvience Monitor, Dec. 11, 2009 By enforcing the partial and temporary moratorium on construction in the occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel told the Supreme Court that it was too busy to fulfill its 2003 Road Map obligation of immediately dismantling settlement outposts. more Fire attack on West Bank mosque AUTHOR , BBC, Dec. 11, 2009 Settlers in the occupied Palestinian Territory damaged a mosque in the village of Yasuf, south of Nablus. The settlers set fire to the bookshelves and the carpet, and sprayed graffiti in Hebrew on the wall saying "Get ready to pay the price" and "We will burn you all." Settler attacks on Palestinians are increasing as part of the "price-tag" policy advocated by settler leaders. more Likud minister: Settler population could grow by 10,000 in next year Ha'aretz, Dec. 11, 2009 Benny Begin, Likud minister, declared the temporary partial moratorium will be painful, but it does not consist of a "freeze" because 3,000 homes under construction will be completed and 10,000 settlers will move in during the year. more U.S. not opposed to Israel pumping more funds into settlements Mazal Mualem, Ha'aretz, Dec. 11, 2009 Netanyahu will to seek cabinet approval for a new map of "national priority" zones that will enable another 110,000 settlers - most of whom live outside the major settlement blocs - special economic benefits. The U.S. is not objecting because Netanyahu says the money will not violate the building moritorium. more U.K. government urges businesses: Label products from settlements Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, Dec. 11, 2009 As part of the growing international pressure on Israel's settlements, the British govenment issued an official recommendation to businesses to mark Israeli products produced in the settlements so consumers who want to boycott the products will be able to identify them. more Implementation of settlement freeze couldn't have waited Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 10, 2009 The Government of Israel responded in court to petitions filed against the temporary partial moratorium on construction in the occupied Palestinian Territory. more Israel must crack down on settler lawlessness Ha'aretz, Dec. 7, 2009 Ha'aretz editorial. more Settlers reject Netanyahu plea to respect settlement freeze Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 3, 2009 "Barak softens terms of building freeze in bid to appease settlers" by allowing mayors to approve "minor renovation projects". more What Netanyahu really thinks about settlements Aluf Benn, Ha'aretz, Dec. 3, 2009 Does not include the belief they contribute to Israel's security; knows that most Israelis feel the settlers are a nuisance; concludes that "the decision to freeze settlement construction for 10 months is just the first taste of domestic confrontation." more 'Okay for new West Bank homes isn't bid to appease settlers' Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 2, 2009 Describes a government effort to lower tensions amid a showdown between security forces and settlers over the partial and temporary construction moratorium. more Israel Arrests Settlers Fighting Freeze Isabel Kershner, NY Times, Dec. 2, 2009 For were blocking inspectors enforcing the partial construction moratorium in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Since Monday, inspectors have issued 60 stop-work orders and have impounded heavy construction equipment more Middle East conflict played out in the olive groves Bethany Bell, BBC, Dec. 1, 2009 Describes the destruction of Palestinian livelihood by settlers cutting down olive trees. more Jewish Nationalists Clash With Palestinians Isabel Kershner, NY Times, Dec. 1, 2009 Occurred after Israel evicted three Palestinian families in the Sheik Jarrah area of East Jerusalem, and installed Jewish families in their place. more Settlers: We'll prevent inspectors from enforcing construction freeze Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 1, 2009 Israel has "begun enforcing a limited government moratorium on new building in West Bank settlements." more Israeli settlers block government inspectors NY Times, Dec. 1, 2009 more Netanyahu: Settlement freeze is 'one-time, temporary' move Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Dec. 1, 2009 Netanyahu confirmed that the partial moratorium of construction in the occupied Palestinian Territory is "one-time, temporary" and when it ends, construction will resume. more Israeli right, settlers seethe over settlement ease Ron Bousso, AFP, Nov. 29, 2009 Settlers and members of Israel's ruling rightwing party were seething on Sunday over a government decision to impose a temporary ease on West Bank settlement building after months of US pressure. more Israeli forces close Huwwara as settlers demand access to Nablus Ma'an, Nov. 29, 2009 http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=243007 Settlers vow to defy crackdown on West Bank construction BarakRavid, Ha'aretz, Nov. 29, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131438.html Likud ministers intensify backlash over Netanyahu's settlement freeze Ha'aretz, Nov. 29, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131433.html Israel okays 28 new settlement buildings, despite freeze Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Nov. 29, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131124.html No easy settlement for West Bank tensions Alan Johnston, BBC, Nov. 28, 2009 Quotes an American born settler who claims he has a right to land which Palestinians have lived on for generations. Also reports on the criminality of the settlers destroying the livelihood and homes of Palestinians. more Tourism Min. pledges to keep developing West Bank sites, despite freeze Ha'aretz, Nov. 28, 2009 Despite the temporarily settlement freeze, the Israeli tourism ministry would continue to develop tourist sites in the West Bank. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131240.html Where is our honor? Yoel Ben-Nun, Ynet News, Nov. 27, 2009 Latest construction freeze yet another ‘peace move’ on way to nowhere http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3811466,00.html Abbas says settlement freeze insufficient Ynet News, Nov. 27, 2009 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3811758,00.html Civil Administration distributes freeze orders Roni Sofer, Ynet News, Nov. 27, 2009 But Judea and Samaria council heads protest settlement freeze before information minister who says, 'I don't see anything in this decision that brings us closer to peace' http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3811686,00.html Israel approves 28 schools for West Bank settlements BBC, Nov. 27, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8382207.stm ANALYSIS / Settlers have been working for months to undermine construction freeze Amos Harel, Ha'aretz, Nov. 27, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131086.html Barak: Settlement halt will lead to renewed PA talks Ha'aretz, Nov. 26, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1130869.html Likud Min.: We are in the hands of a terrible U.S. government Ha'aretz, Nov. 26, 2009 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1130936.html The Settlement Freeze - What does it mean? Peace Now, Nov. 26, 2009 http://www.peacenow.org.il/site/en/peace.asp?pi=608&docid=4478 Analysis of the Settlement Moratorium Noam Shelef, Ame4ricans for Peace Now, Nov. 25, 2009 The first big question, looking ahead, will be whether Israel implements this announcement in good faith. Will Israel look for loopholes to build in a fashion that emasculates this announcement? Will Israel refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem? How will Israel manage settlers that try to lash out violently or try to create new facts on the ground? more Netanyahu's Stubbornness on Settlements Produces American Call for 1967 Borders Daniel Levy, Levy's blog , Nov. 25, 2009 http://www.prospectsforpeace.com/ Statement by PM Netanyahu on the Cabinet Decision to suspend new construction in Judea and Samaria Israeli Ministry Foreign Affairs, Nov. 25, 2009 http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/ Statement+by+PM_Netanyahu_suspend_new_construction_Judea_Samaria_25-Nov-2009.htm U.S. State Department Daily Press Briefing Ian kelly, U.S. State Department, Nov. 25, 2009 Transcript of discusses settlement moratorium. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/nov/132433.htm Briefing by Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell George Mitchell, U.S. State Department, Nov. 25, 2009 Transcript of Mitchell's press conference. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/nov/132447.htm APN Welcomes Settlement Moratorium Announcement, Urges Good Faith Noam Shelef, Americans for Peace Now, Nov. 25, 2009 APN's analysis of the unfolding about the settlement moratorium. http://peacenow.org/entries/apn_welcomes_settlement_moratorium Report: US officials survey settlements Ma'an, Nov. 26, 2009 Citing an article in the Israeli newspaper, Ma'ariv, this article reports that US officials are surveying settlements to determine whether the boundaries are expanding. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=242589 Israel's pro-settlement soldiers worry leaders BBC, Nov. 25, 2009 Religious Zionist soldiers are being encouraged by rabbis to refuse orders to dismantle settlement outposts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8376631.stm Secretary Clinton's statement on Israel's Announcement Regarding Settlements Hillary Clinton, U.S. State Department , Nov. 25, 2009 Israel's announcment "helps move forward toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/11/132434.htm Rights group cries selective justice: Damage to Palestinian olive groves not prosecuted Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz, Nov. 25, 2009 Settler criminality in destroying Palestinian olive groves goes unpunished as 69 complaints filed during the past four years by the human rights organization Yesh Din did not result in one indictment. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1130480.html Fayyad: Israeli stubbornness impeding peace process AUTHOR , Ma'an News, Nov. 24, 2009 During a news conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said the "Israeli refusal to bring settlement construction and activity to a complete standstill as the central reason for the stall in peace talks." http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=242393 Netanyahu to tout 10-month settlement freeze, save East Jerusalem Barak Ravid, Ha'aretz, Nov. 24, 2009 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering seeking either cabinet or governmental approval for a 10-month freeze in West Bank settlement construction, in a bid to relaunch stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1130136.html Palestinian Children Face Daily Settler Attacks Getting to School Mel Frykberg, Inter-Press Service, Nov. 23, 2009 Reports on criminal activities of the settlers and the impact they have on the lives of Palestinians. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49378 Two alternatives: backward or forward Ghassan Khatib, BitterLemons.org, Nov. 23, 2009 "The prolonged process has enabled Israel to expand its control over most of the occupied territories through the illegal settling of Jewish populations in those territories, contrary to international law." http://www.bitterlemons.org/issue/pal1.php Where next for Palestinians? Ghada Karmi, BitterLemons.org, Nov. 23, 2009 "The consensus about the two-state solution, which was nearly universal, has been shaken by the logistical reality of Israeli settlement expansion, but the alternatives have not solidified." http://www.bitterlemons.org/issue/pal2.php Peres: Israel to halt settlements once peace talks begin Jonathan Lis, Ha'aretz, Nov. 22, 2009 Shimon Peres said that Netanyahu "has pledged to halt West Bank settlement construction once peace talks with the Palestinians are renewed." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129820.html Obama must deal with important questions of the Mideast conflict Zvi Bar'el , Ha'aretz, Nov. 22, 2009 Argues that while Obama's demand for a settlement freeze is "proper", when standing alone and without the context of being part of "a solid American diplomatic plan", it "is a hollow gesture." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129738.html The situation, in a nutshell Mondoweiss.net, Nov. 21, 2009  http://mondoweiss.net/2009/11/the-situation-in-a-nutshell.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feedburner%2FWDBc+%28Mondoweiss%29 Palestinian MK: 15,000 settlement homes awaiting approval in Jlem [Jerusalem] Ma'an News, Nov. 21, 2009 Member of the Knesset, Ahmad Tibi, reported that Israel's Jerusalem municipality is preparing to construct 15,000 housing units, mainly in the occupied Palestinian Territory http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=241386 Mourning uprooted olive trees in West Bank villages Gideon Levy, Ha'aretz, Nov. 21, 2009 With the settlements and their infrastructure restricting the available land for Palestinians to develop their economy, settlers are acting as criminal bands uprooting olive trees that are destroying the livlihood of families and undermining the capacity to create a viable Palestinian state. Haaretz reports on the latest incident. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129358.html Israel building Jewish homes with one hand, destroying Arab homes with the other Nir Hasson, Ha'aretz, Nov. 21, 2009 "The World Likud movement held a cornerstone-laying ceremony yesterday for the expansion of the neighborhood of Nof Zion, despite - or possibly because of - American pressure against building in East Jerusalem. The Jewish settlement is in the middle of the Arab village of Jabal Mukkaber. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem municipality razed two Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem yesterday." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129190.html Why Gilo Matters David Halperin, Israel Policy Forum, Nov. 20, 2009 Argues that President Obama's strong statement against the construction of 900 housing units in the settlement of Gilo demonstrates that his administration is not giving up on the peace process. http://xx Will Netanyahu's behavior push Obama into Abbas' arms? Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, Nov. 20, 2009 Discusses how Israel's plans to build 900 housing units in the settlement of Gilo is undermining America's credibility in the region as well as undermining the abililty of Abbas to represent the Palestinian people. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129196.html Palin On Israel Andrew Sullivan , Atlantic blog , Nov. 19, 2009 Calls fellow Atlantic writer Jeffrey Goldberg wrong on settlements. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/11/palin-on-israel.html Palestinians accuse Israel settlements of diverting water Joshua Mitnick, Christan Science Monitor , Nov. 19, 2009 report on the detrimental impact the settlers have on the indigenous Palestinian population. Israel settlement use more than four times as much water as Palestinians and the absence of a peace agreement is stalling negotiations to improve the situation." http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1119/p06s07-wome.html China joins world condemnation of East Jerusalem building plan Ha'aretz, Nov. 19, 2009 China tells Israel to stop settlement expansion in East Jerusalem, bu the French says that the "East Jerusalem building plan doesn't hamper peace talks." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129187.html 'Netanyahu to propose 10-month settlement freez Ha'aretz, Nov. 19, 2009 Yossi Beilin says Netanyahu will propose a 10-month settlement freeze. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129104.html Fox News Interviews President Obama Fox News, Nov. 18, 2009 President Obama said the settlements do not contribute to Israel's security, they make it more difficult to make peace with their neighbors, they embitter the Palestinians, and make it more difficult to re-launch negotiations. http://politics.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=21292&content=26332772&pageNum=12 Chastened in China Stephen Walt, Foreign Policy, Nov. 18, 2009 Blog about the inadequacy of the Obama administration's response to the expansion of the settlement at Gilo. Includes exchange at the State Department Briefing on November 17 in which State Department spokesman Ian Kelly was questioned about the adequacy of the word "dismayed" and whether Special Envoy Mitchell has accomplished anything. http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/ Real Estate Shopping Is Used as Political Theater on Jerusalem’s Contested Ground Isabel Kershner, NY Times , Nov. 18, 2009 Report on the ground breaking at the settlement of Nof Zion led by New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/middleeast/19mideast.html Israel Brushes Off Obama Criticism Over Jerusalem Associated Press, NY Times , Nov. 18, 2009 Another version of the Gilo expansion story http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/18/world/AP-ML-Israel-Palestinians.html?_r=2 Israeli settlement plan denounced BBC News , Nov. 18, 2009 The most prominent news item on the BBC website reports on the denunciation by the U.S. and U.N. of Israel's planned construction of 900 housing units in the occupied Palestinian Territory. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8364815.stm U.S. 'dismayed' at Israel plan to build 900 homes beyond Green Line Nir Hasson and Natasha Mozgovaya, Ha'aretz , Nov. 18, 2009 Israel, despite its commitment to freeze all settlement activity, announced today that 900 more housing units will be constructed in the occupied Palestinian Territory. Each housing unit will have 4-5 bedroom apartments to attract wealthy residents http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128814.html Al-Jazeera video showing Israeli settlers evicting a Palestinian family in East Jerusalem Nov. 17, 2009 Bibi Goes Nuclear on Jerusalem Settlements Lara Friedman & Danny Seidemann, Amerricans for Peace Now , Nov. 17, 2009 Analysis of the settlement expansion in Gilo, East Jerusalem, and how this incident was meant to cause a rift with the United States and gain politoical points within the Israeli right wing. http://peacenow.org/entries/bibi_goes_nuclear_on_jerusalem_settlements Statement by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Jerusalem Whitehouse Press Office , Nov. 17, 2009 Israel's plans to construct 900 housing units in the Israeli settlement of Gilo generated a statement from Presidential Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, stating that the administration is "dismayed" by action and reaffirming the position that "the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties." http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/statement-white-house-press-secretary-robert-gibbs-on-jerusalem State Department Daily Briefing full transcript Ian Kelly, State Department spokesman, Nov. 17, 2009 The planned construction also came up at the State Department's Daily Briefing, with Spokesman Ian Kelly facing unusally hard-hitting questions ranging from the inadaquacy of the word "dismayed" to the failure of the Obama administration to accomplish anything with respect to the Israel-Palestine conflict. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/nov/132024.htm No freeze in east Jerusalem building AUTHOR, Jerusalem Post , Nov. 13, 2009 Settlement construction is continuing throughout the Palestinian area annexed to Jerusalem after the 1967 war. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258027279034&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Top U.S. official: We won't accept partial settlement freeze Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz , November 13, 2009 Burns addressed the Middle East Institute on "America and the Middle East in a New Era" on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. In his remarks, he said "We do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements; we consider the Israeli offer to restrain settlement activity to be a potentially important step, but it obviously falls short of the continuing Roadmap obligation for a full settlement freeze." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128034.html Full text of speech:
Palestinians say dozens of trees cut down by settlers Ali Waked, YNet Nov. 12, 2009 Settlers from Burin cut down 97 olive trees, some over 60 years old. In July, the settlers cut down 22 trees as the "price tag" policy of the settlers to punish Palestinians for the dismantling of settlement outposts. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3804302,00.html Yesh Din: Settlers build fences to keep Palestinian landowners off their own land Dan Izenberg, Jerusalem Post Nov. 11, 2009 Settlers have prevented Palestinians from cultivating almost 400 dunams of their farmland by fencing off the area and the authorities have done nothing to stop them, two Palestinian farmers charged Wednesday in a High Court petition filed by the Yesh Din. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1257770043654&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Abbas repeats demand for Jewish settlements freeze Ian Black, Guardian, Nov. 11, 2009 Mahmoud Abbas today underlined the stark reality of the stalemate in the Middle East peace process by again demanding a complete halt to settlement building in the West Bank before talks with Israel can resume. The Palestinian president used the fifth anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat, his predecessor, to warn that he would not return to negotiations unless Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, changed tack. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/11/abbas-calls-for-settlement-halt After Abu Mazin? Letting the Scales Fall From Our Eyes Nathan Brown, Carnegie Endownment, Nov. 10, 2009 Brown wrote in his web commentary that settlements matter as an issue that has to be dealt with. His commentary can be read at: http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24131 How Israel Won the Settlement Battle...Again Ramzy Baroud CounterPunch November 10, 2009 When British Foreign Secretary David Miliband uttered a few words regarding the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, many wanted to believe that London was taking a sharp stance against Israel’s continued violations of international law. Alas, they were wrong. http://www.counterpunch.org/baroud11102009.html Bitterlemons Debate: The settlement freeze and the peace process Bitterlemons , Nov. 9, 2009 "Settlement construction contradicts negotiations" by Ghassan Khatib http://www.bitterlemons.org/issue/pal1.php "From settlement freeze to baby steps" by Yossi Alpher
"Credit where it's due" by Joharah Baker
"The deep freeze" by Amnon Lord
Abbas will not seek re-election BBC News November 5, 2009 Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that he will not seek re-election in polls in January. In a televised speech, Mr Abbas said the impasse in efforts to resume peace negotiations with Israel had prompted his decision not to run again. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8344687.stm
Video of Mahmoud Abbas making announcement that he will not run
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