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Israeli Land Acquisition: A Half-Century Chronicle of Confiscation, Gradually

In the 19th century, as Zionism gained prominence, land acquisitions were made for settlements. However, the rhetoric suggests a shift towards appropriation rather than legitimate purchasing of land.

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In the 19th century, the growth of Zionism saw land acquisitions for settlement. However, these...
In the 19th century, the growth of Zionism saw land acquisitions for settlement. However, these acquisitions are often disputed, with accusations that the land was being taken, rather than purchased fairly.

Israeli Land Acquisition: A Half-Century Chronicle of Confiscation, Gradually

Article: The Unsettling Story of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories

By Zena Tahhan

Fifty years ago, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242, which forms the basis for the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But since its adoption in 1967, Israel has violated the resolution by entrenching its occupation through illegal settlements.

Israeli settlers now number between 600,000-750,000, residing in at least 160 settlements and outposts. Here's a closer look at these settlements, their impact, and why they're so contentious.

The Rise of Settlements

Contrary to common belief, settlements are a legacy of pre-1948. The Zionist movement, a political ideology, began purchasing land in Palestine in the late 19th century to strengthen their claim, a strategy known as "creating facts on the ground."

Israel continued this practice after 1948, expanding settlements in the occupied territories. The 1967 war further fueled the settlement project, with Israel militarily occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Today, these settlements are the hallmark of Israel's colonial project in Palestine, with roughly 11% of the Jewish Israeli population living in occupied territories.

Under international law, an occupying power is prohibited from transferring parts of its civilian population into the territory it occupies. Israel, however, maintains that the status of the Palestinian territories is ambiguous and refuses to recognize the Fourth Geneva Convention's applicability in the West Bank.

The settlements vary in form, with settlements built by the Israeli government, outposts built without official authorization but with financial support, and Jerusalem's enclaves established in Palestinian neighborhoods. Israel denies building on private Palestinian land, but the UN and other international bodies affirm otherwise.

The Impact on Palestinians

Beyond being built on private and public Palestinian land, settlements exert a deep impact on the daily lives of Palestinians. The UN found that lifting the 50-year occupation would double the economy of the occupied Palestinian territories.

  1. Theft of Resources: Israel controls 90% of the West Bank's water resources, using six times more water than the 3.1 million Palestinians. It also operates quarries for Israeli use,Virtual ban on Palestinian permits for quarries costs the Palestinian economy at least $241 million per year.
  2. Freedom of Movement: Israel imposes restrictions on Palestinian movement through over 570 obstacles, including military checkpoints and roadblocks. The separation wall further hinders movement, causing long commutes and isolation.
  3. Settler Violence: Friction between settlers and Palestinians leads to daily incidents of violence, including property damage, physical assaults, and uprooting or damaging olive trees. The overwhelming majority of complaints pass without punishment.
  4. Home Demolitions: Israel's policy of demolishing homes, often due to lack of necessary permits, displaces Palestinians. This practice may amount to war crimes.

Conclusion

The Israeli settlement project in the occupied Palestinian territories is a contentious issue, with legal and political implications that continue to shape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The expansion of settlements undermines the viability of a two-state solution and strains diplomatic relations with the international community. As long as this issue remains unresolved, peace seems elusive.

Sources:

  1. Al Jazeera, "The Unsettling Story of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories," Nov 21, 2017.
  2. BBC News, "What are Israeli settlements?," May 10, 2017.
  3. B'Tselem, "Israel's Apartheid," Oct 10, 2018.
  4. Human Rights Watch, "Israeli Settlements," undated.
  5. Pew Research Center, "Israel and the Palestinians: Key Questions in the Conflict," Aug 9, 2017.
  6. The Zionist movement's strategy of purchasing land in Palestine from the late 19th century, a practice known as "creating facts on the ground," has eventually culminated in the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements, contributing to the tense politics and conflicts in the region.
  7. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, fueled by both pre- and post-1948 actions, has had profound impacts on the daily lives of Palestinians, including the theft of resources, restrictions on freedom of movement, escalating settler violence, and home demolitions, making a lasting peace elusive.

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