Sharon's Latest Settlement Move

[Violet_Crumble]

By Ali Abunimah & Hussein Ibish

The Chicago Tribune,
09 February 2004

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's announcement that he plans to remove virtually all Israeli settlers from the occupied Gaza Strip has caused a shock wave in Israel.

Has some sudden epiphany convinced Sharon that the settlements are the key obstacle to peace and that Israel's future is jeopardized by the continued attempt to incorporate occupied Palestinian territories into a greater Israel?

Many Israelis, especially in the military, have long felt that the Gaza settlements are pointless, and a massive drain on national resources for no serious purpose. The small Gaza settlements are purely symbolic, in stark contrast to the massive settlements on the West Bank, which have literally reshaped the landscape and are designed also to transform its demographic and political realities, making Israel's control permanent.

While Sharon talks about removing settlements in Gaza, he is continuing to build them all over the West Bank, because he has no intention of permitting a real Palestinian state to be constructed.

http://www.countercurrents.org/pa-abunimah090204.htm

[onebigbadwulf]

1. Where does the giant 20ft tall concrete wall fit into this?

[Violet_Crumble]

2. The article mentioned the fence/wall in passing...

His announcement has the affect of deflecting international attention away from the thing and the upcoming court case. Many politicians try this sort of ploy when they're trying to get attention away from things they'd rather not have much scrutiny of....

Violet...

[Rhiannon12866]

3. The settlements need to be removed if there is going to be any hope

of peace. Both on in Gaza and on the West Bank. It's all a matter of money. If it was more lucrative for Israeli settlers to live elsewhere, they would do so. I cannot imagine them living in Gaza by choice. Sharon has the power to change the demographics. Whether he is willing to do so, or will give in to the hard-liners that oppose a peaceful solution to this conflict, remains to be seen.