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To the Media, Building Settlements in Israel's a Crime

(Huffington Post-Canada) Michelle Whiteman - Whatever one's opinion about the wisdom of building in disputed areas, the Oslo Accords do not prohibit Israel from building homes or "settlements." According to international law, the status of the settlements is "disputed," though the media routinely defines it as "occupied Palestinian territory." Abbas recently acknowledged the disputed status when he admitted going the UN route was meant to transform the Palestinian territories from the status of disputed lands to a state under occupation. Abbas has also acknowledged that settlements take up approximately 1.1% of the pre-1967 West Bank territory. Yet the media reinforced the fable that settlements "eat away at land meant for a future Palestinian state." The firestorm over building in the E1 corridor is particularly instructive of the double standard applied to Israel. E1 is in Area C which, by virtue of the Oslo Accords, allows Israel to retain full control of the area. This includes zoning and planning. E1 construction plans include a new Palestinian bypass road which would actually decrease, rather than impede, the driving time in the north-south direction. In addition, without E1, Israel's own contiguity would be compromised. But expect to continue reading all about how building homes in 1.1% of the West Bank puts a wrench to all hope of peace. The writer is Regional Director for HonestReporting Canada.
2012-12-21 00:00:00
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