Colonialism continues apace in the Palestinian territories as Israel defies its agreement to conform its actions to the Road Map and stop settlement activity. But when did the Israeli government ever care about agreements with anyone, including its greatest financial and military supporter, the United States, but also, in this case, the EU, Russia, and other signatories. These violations occurred in Har Homa, only one of several settlements, i.e., villages and towns, built by Israel on Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, and in Maaleh Adumim, a long established settlement (large city) built on Palestinian land just outside of Jerusalem (see map).
The BBC ran this story yesterday:
Israel confirms settlement plans
Israel plans to build 740 new homes in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, a minister said, despite its commitment to freeze all settlement activity.
Rafi Eitan, minister for Jerusalem affairs, said Israel had never promised to stop building within Jerusalem and had a duty to house its citizens. It is budgeting to build 500 new homes in Har Homa and 240 in Maaleh Adumim.
A Palestinian spokesman condemned the plans, accusing Israel of seeking to destroy renewed peace talks.
The two sides agreed at a peace conference in Annapolis in the US in late November to revive the 2003 peace plan known as the roadmap. According to the plan, Israel must halt all settlement activity and the Palestinians must rein in militants. But soon after the Annapolis conference, Israel announced a tender for 300 homes in Har Homa. Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East War, a move not recognised internationally.
News about the planned construction was reported by the Israeli settlement watchdog, Peace Now.
Har Homa stands on “disputed territories,” a propaganda line picked up by the press apparently, as East Jerusalem is considered “occupied” territory according to International Law. The phrase “disputed territory” was a recommended hasbara (propaganda) talking point recommended by the Republican pollster, Frank Luntz, in his consultation to The Israel Project, a right wing Likud supported website.
The Israeli government provided several arguments. The new homes in Har Homa, it claimed, were part of plans drawn up seven years ago, and that the area was in any case not covered by the roadmap.
Palestinians argue that the network of settlements will undermine future attempts to make East Jerusalem capital of a Palestinian state. Perhaps, that is Israel’s point.
Mr Eitan said on Israeli Army Radio that “Har Homa is an integral part of Jerusalem and Israel will not stop building there. It is Israel’s duty to provide its citizens with a place to live.” Although Maaleh Adumim (see map) stands further out of the city, Mr Eitan also insisted it was “an integral part of Jerusalem in any peace accord”.
Saeb Erekat said Israel was undermining efforts to renew peacemaking. “This is a totally destructive policy. Every day we hear a new settlement expansion plan,” he said.
So, like Oslo before it, one can readily say that the era of the Bush Road Map is over.
Given that settlements also continued under Oslo in the 1990s, in fact, doubled at a time when Clinton was purportedly negotiating peace at Camp David in 2000, can anyone expect that the next era, probably Hillary Clinton’s, will be any different?