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See the original image at news.bbc.co.uk —

Israel 'worry' at settler attacks

news.bbc.co.uk — Israeli security officials are reported to have raised concerns about an increase in violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank. The Israeli Haaretz newspaper said officials had found an increase in incidents of settlers causing harm to Palestinians and to Israeli soldiers. There were 429 incidents in the first half of 2008, against 551 in 2007.

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  • Jektal, on 08/15/2008, -1/+5But settlers are non-combat units? And besides, this late in the game they won't find any valid regions to build a city, so they'll just end up scouting around some and then joining another city in the area.
  • writie, on 08/15/2008, -0/+7From a progress report about the Annapolis agreement: "Of the approximately 110 settlement outposts in the West Bank, 58 of which were established since March 2001, only three were dismantled since Annapolis. Moreover, Israel continues to speak of removing only “unauthorized” outposts (i.e., those established in violation of domestic Israeli law), having identified only 26 such outposts, although the Road Map contains no such distinction.
    • In April, Israeli military forces evacuated the outposts of ‘Harhivi’ and ‘Shvut Ami’ in the northern West Bank, as well as the Mevo Horon‐Tzafon outpost in the Ramallah governorate. The evacuations are reportedly part of an agreement reached between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and settler leaders to dismantle some of the 26 designated outposts and relocate the settlers to the large settlement “blocs” or to settlements near Jerusalem, in addition to government assurances to approve building permits and other expansion plans in the more established settlements.
    • In the meantime, outposts continued to be established and expanded, including:
    o A new winery currently being set up some 3 km from Migron outpost, which the Israeli government promised the Israeli Supreme Court would be removed by August. (Ha’aretz)
    o A new outpost established in May in the southwest Hebron governorate between Negohot settlement and Mitzpe Lachish outpost. (Peace Now; Ynetnews)"

    So the settlement is continuing apace, I'm afraid, despite what Olmert's team told the US and Palestine. There are also clear plans to keep the settlers in the West Bank, rather than being moved to Israel.
  • zombies187, on 08/16/2008, -2/+5Allowing illegal settlements gives Israel so many headaches that its a shame the settlers are essential to Israel colonizing the entire Westbank. If Israel had some other plan, they could stop the new constructions and dismantle the old ones. This would go along way toward putting Israel on the moral high ground. Oh well, carry on...
    • writie, on 08/16/2008, -0/+4It's not just the moral high ground that is at stake. Ongoing settlements and the continued occupation are making it increasingly difficult to perceive the whole are as two separate countries. So the risk is that Israel will have to bite the bullet and become a federation, with Israelis becoming a minority in the new country.
      • zombies187, on 08/16/2008, -0/+2Exactly, but what is their plan to resolve this problem? I can't believe that they are too dumb to have one.
      • writie, on 08/17/2008, -0/+1Z187: I wish I had an answer for you, pal. There are no lack of Israelis that want to move to a more stable and just situation. There are very many that resent the settlers' blackmail. I don't know what the overall plan is. Is there one? Israeli politics is very short-term, as governments come and go with depressing frequency.
  • kojaa, on 08/16/2008, -0/+4this is why they do it
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S1ujv5tKag&feature ...
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