It is common knowledge the world over that Israel continues to enlarge its settlements in the West Bank, devouring ever more of the territory the Palestinians regard as their own. Israel is condemned for this every day of the year. Since the advent of President Obama, it has also been in a state of high tension with its only significant friend, over its insistence on not freezing construction.
The only problem with this narrative is that it's not true.
Anyone who wanders around the West Bank (admittedly a very very very small subset of the people with an opinion on the matter) knows perfectly well that the settlements aren't growing, and haven't been growing much for at least the past 5-6 years, not to mention the mildly relevant fact that there aren't any new ones being built at all.
Sadly, this is true also in Jerusalem, where Netanyahu's rhetoric has been quite decisive: Jerusalem is our capital and we'll build in it as needed. Now the minister of Housing and Construction admits as much openly. There are no large construction projects happening in East Jerusalem (and precious few small ones, either).
Yiddish has a pithy saying for such a situation, but this isn't a Yiddish blog.
Yiddish has a pithy saying for such a situation, but this isn't a Yiddish blog.
ReplyDeleteMore's the pity. Go on, tell us the saying you're thinking of.
Yes, do. I know a little Yiddish, but can't think of what the saying would be.
ReplyDeleteI was recently at a meeting of people who, in the main, claimed to be supporters of Israel,one of whom started arguing that it would be in Israel's own interest to "stop building new settlements". When I challenged the person to name one of the new settlements, or even tell us how many new settlements had been built, they were, of course unable to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that in the last year or so exactly zero new settlements have been built, which is a good thing.
Whoever, if even supposed supporters of Israel do not know this, is it any wonder its enemies keep talking about new settlements as if there is a new one springing up each day?
the settlements aren't growing, and haven't been growing much for at least the past 5-6 years, not to mention the mildly relevant fact that there aren't any new ones being built at all
ReplyDeleteMmm, I'm afraid you're not travelling around the West Bank as much as you should. Not only that; you're not even reading the newspapers. Otherwise, you would have come across a Ynet story titled New settlement being built in Jordan Valley.
Apart from that, illegal outposts are being built all the time, and the Israeli Cabinet has vowed to legalize all those outposts built on state land. That's another form of settlement growth you seem to have missed.
Troll Alert!!!
ReplyDeletethe above is referred to around here and elsewhere as Fake Ibrahim or I-ass-a-Jew Alberto for very good reasons and he shows up here with the sole intent to entice somebody to come to his blog and start debating him and his sorry admirers there which in turn may help his Google ratings to go up.
Don't do him the favour all you'll find are dirty smelly obfuscations.
If you want to know more about him click on Yaacov's profile
Tensions between Israel & Palestinians should come down with peace talks only they can gain anything with these tensions & war between them will not find any solution so peace talks should be held between them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that link just proves the point, it is from two years ago talking about a settlement that is nearly five years old.... Must try harder!
ReplyDeleteDanny