West Bank peace far off
Three weeks ago, I had an irresistible craving for a bagel, so
I strolled down to Barry Bagels. As I paid for my bagel
though, I noticed a tin can beside the cash register. Only
this can wasn’t for tips nor for charity.
Instead, the can displayed a picture of the Holy Land. As I
took a closer look, I realized the money collected would be
donated to support Jewish community development in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip.
Although the United States has donated billions to Israel, I
was more dismayed to find even pennies being collected for
activities that would encourage the evacuation of Palestinians
from their homeland.
With the ongoing war in Iraq and upcoming elections, the media
has failed to report on the constant Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. This inconsistent coverage has bestowed Israel with
the golden opportunity to expand Jewish settlements in the
West Bank, and to surpass any international agreements
regarding Israeli expansion in Palestinian territories.
Recently, Israel has announced its decision to expand the
Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim in the West Bank. The
expansion would include 3,700 acres of land and 600 new
housing units that would serve more than 32,000 Jewish
settlers. Such an expansion would require the expulsion and
disposition of thousands of indigenous Palestinians from their
land. Furthermore, the expansion would violate the United
States-backed road map to peace.
Many Israelis support the expansion plans into the West Bank.
Yitzhak Klein, a U.S. native who resides in Maaleh Adumim,
claimed, “I think it’s great. It shows that Jewish settlement
in Israel is expanding.”
However, major expansion is not occurring in Israel, but
rather in Palestinian territories.
Last month in the West Bank, Israel conducted an operation in
the Palestinian town of Beit Hanoun where several homes were
demolished and hundred of acres cleared. This occupied land
was cleared to make room for new Jewish settlements. Mustn’t
we be reminded that 90 Israeli settlements with a total
population of 400,000 settlers compromise 55 percent of the
entire West Bank?
In recent months, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has
proposed future plans to dismantle settlements in the Gaza
Strip. Such plans have been well received by Palestinian
authority, considering 1,780,000 Palestinians reside in 60
percent of the Gaza Strip. But the 6,000 Israeli settlers who
have managed to confiscate the remaining 40 percent of the
Gaza Strip are angered by Sharon’s proposals.
The
Jewish
settlers
believe
the
Gaza
Strip
is
their
inheritance by biblical records. Nonetheless, Sharon has
promised to relocate these Jewish settlers to the new
settlements in the West Bank.
The United States has criticized Israel’s plan to expand
Jewish settlements, including Maaleh Adumim, in the West Bank.
Criticism from the United States is ironic though, considering
President George W. Bush agreed Israel could hold on to new
Jewish settlement blocs after a final peace treaty.
Undoubtedly, such a peace agreement will delay the creation of
a Palestinian state, and ultimately deny Palestinians of their
own land.
How must a peace treaty between the Israeli and Palestinian
authorities be reached when Israel has built 34 illegal
settlements in the West Bank since February 2002? Several
Israeli officials and Jewish settlers feel no remorse for
their unjust “land grab” of Palestinian territory.
Even former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir had said he
would aim at placing Jews in negotiable Palestinian territory
until there would be nothing left to negotiate for.
Despite international pressures, Israeli politicians and
settlers alike will defend Israel’s position in the
Palestinian West Bank because it promises the expansion of a
Jewish homeland. Jews believe they’re entitled to regain the
biblical lands of Judea and Samaria because of an ancient
covenant. But as Israelis attempt to fulfill their covenant,
millions of indigenous Palestinians are unjustly being
displaced from their homeland.
Not only do Jews support Israeli expansion, but many Christian
evangelists do also. According to a new Zogby International
Poll commissioned by the Council for the National Interest in
Washington, more than 44 percent of born-again Christians
support the current U.S. policy toward Israel. Evangelists
support the state of Israel in belief that the Messiah will
return and Christianity will flourish only when all Jews have
gathered in the Holy Land.
Of course, Jewish beliefs appear to conflict with those of the
evangelists. In 2000, Sharon stated, “Israel was promised only
to the Jews.”
Moreover, the majority of Palestinians are Muslims who regard
Palestine as sacred and home to the third holiest mosque.
Contrary to media reports, Palestinians never rejected having
Jews as neighbors. However, Palestinians despised the creation
of a Jewish state because it defied them of their inherent
rights.
The fate of Israel and the Palestinian people is not being
swayed by the precincts of politics, but rather by religion.
Regardless, the road to peace in the Holy Land will be a long
and tumultuous one.
– Amal Abdullah is an IC columnist and a sophomore majoring in
early childhood education.