Israel's threat to achieving real peace

[Violet_Crumble]

WHILE the world keeps talking about the new opportunity presented by the Gaza evacuation, Israel is unilaterally imposing its agenda.

As Israel was completing its evacuation of 9000 settlers in the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank, it embarked on plans to make room for 25,000 more settlers in Maale Adumim, a settlement east of Jerusalem. If enacted, this plan will mean an end to the two-state solution.

Maale Adumim lies 4.5 kilometres east of the 1967 pre-occupation border and two kilometres east of the Israeli-defined municipal boundary of Jerusalem — a boundary deemed illegal by the international community. About 30,000 settlers live in Maale Adumim. While construction was under way on hundreds of new units tendered last year, the Israeli Government approved construction of an additional 2100 units this year, which could house another 10,000 new settlers. All these plans defy international law and are a direct challenge to President George Bush's "road map".

Another 3500 units, which could house more than 15,000 new settlers, have been approved in the so-called E-1 Plan. This plan aims to link Maale Adumim to Jerusalem, at the direct expense of the Christian and Muslim Palestinian communities between.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on August 24 that when complete, Israel's wall around Maale Adumim would put the easternmost point of the barrier 25 kilometres from the green line, or about half the width of the West Bank. Both the Palestinians and the international community say it would therefore prevent the establishment of a viable Palestinian state, as it would impede territorial contiguity between the southern and northern West Bank, staking out an area for the Adumim settlements larger than that of Tel Aviv.

Ali Kazak is head of the general Palestinian delegation to Australia and New Zealand and ambassador of Palestine to Vanuatu and East Timor.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/israels-threat-to-achieving-real-peace/2005/09/04/1125772409121.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Israel should defy US on settlement blocs - minister

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A88679

<snip>

"Israel should build up Jewish settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank in defiance of US misgivings at a move contravening the "road map" to Palestinian statehood, a senior Israeli cabinet minister said today.

Education Minister Limor Livnat’s remarks appeared to back Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s drive to settle more Jews in the West Bank after quitting the Gaza Strip last month.

"I’ll say this clearly: We are a sovereign nation. The great US is our friend, but there are times when we have to say, even to the US, that we will act in accordance with our interests," Livnat told Israel Radio.

"We should demand of the Americans that they do not pressure us on this matter," she said. Washington, Israel’s closest ally, supplies $2,8bn in aid each year."

[Scurrilous]

2. Sharon: “Maali Adumim settlement to be linked to Jerusalem”

http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13943&Itemid=1

<snip>

"Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon told U.S Jewish figures that the West Bank settlement of Maali Adumim will be linked to Jerusalem.

“Maali Adumim, the most beautiful town, will be connected to Jerusalem”, Sharon said.

Sharon uttered his statements after the outgoing U.S ambassador Daniel Kurtzer stated that the American president George W. Bush would back the Israeli request to keep the biggest settlement in the occupied West Bank under Israeli control in any permanent peace deal with the Palestinians."

<snip>

"Palestinian officials repeatedly warned that this project kills any chances of a future Palestinian state with geographical unity.

Sharon claimed that the project will not cut of the West Bank.

“They will be connected, I do not think that there will be any problem”, Sharon added.

Sharon claimed that Israel is examining several options to maintain unity between north of the West Bank and the south, but did not elaborate of this issue."