Netanyahu's Rage To Judaize Palestine:
The Left Or The Right A Slippery Slope
21 December 2012
By Stephen Lendman
He's defiant. He deplores democratic values. He's a
serial lawbreaker.
International law is clear and unambiguous. Israeli
settlements are illegal. Fourth Geneva's Article 49
states:
"Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as
deportations of protected persons from occupied
territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or
to that of any other country, occupied or not, are
prohibited, regardless of their motive."
Israel built illegally for decades. Around 600,000
settlers occupy over half the West Bank and parts of
East Jerusalem. Netanyahu plans accelerated
construction. Doing so requires stealing Palestinian
land, demolishing private homes, and dispossessing
residents.
Netanyahu officials said 6,000 new settler homes will
be built. Controversial plans call for 2,600 in East
Jerusalem. Many more are planned for E1 Ma'aleh Adumin
development. More on that below.
Haaretz weighed in. Its December 19 editorial
headlined "Building out of spite," saying:
"The madness of construction in the territories is
blinding the government (to) the loss of our
country's" dwindling number of friends.
Controversial building assures "serious crisis"
building with important allies. At issue is what's
hard for them to countenance.
East Jerusalem and E1 construction "seem less
for….solving housing problems and more" about entirely
Judaizing East Jerusalem, spurning Palestinian
self-determination, and preventing real conflict
resolution.
Doing so punishes Palestinian officials "for daring to
ask (and) receive" upgraded UN non-member
international recognition.
Pleasure Netanyahu and likeminded hardliners derive
comes at the expense of deteriorated international
relations. Palestine's support grows. Boycott calls
increase. Spiteful construction assures "colliding
with the iceberg hovering over us."
Netanyahu shows no signs of backing off. He represents
the worst of hardline governance. He embraces terror
state policies. His rap sheet goes way beyond lawless
construction. They're bad enough.
Planned E1 construction exceeds how far most observers
imagined he'd go. His surprises further expose his
dark side. A previous article explained the following:
In 1999, Israel approved an E1 master plan. It covers
about 12,000 dunams. Israel declared them "state
land." Doing so was illegal.
In 1979, Israel's High Court Elon Moreh case decision
prohibited requisitioning private Palestinian land for
settlement construction. Israel ignored the ruling.
Straightaway it declared 900,000 dunams state land. It
steals Palestinian land with impunity.
Ma'ale Adumim settlement claims jurisdiction over
48,000 dunams. E1 construction involves stealing
private Palestinian land.
Israel wants it for residential housing, commerce,
tourism, regional services, and other Jews-only
development. Detailed plans were approved.
E1 and other settlement construction require land
theft, home demolitions, forced dispossessions, and
denying Palestinian self-determination.
In 1967, settlement construction began. It never
stopped. Washington and other Western allies express
rhetorical opposition only. Israel freely does what it
wants. It governs with impunity.
Netanyahu dismisses world condemnation he knows has no
teeth. Arrogantly he claims the right to keep
"building in Jerusalem and (all other places) on the
map of Israel's strategic interests."
International law and standards be damned. The same
goes for world opinion. He considers himself above the
law. He governs that way. Most Knesset members support
him.
On January 22, reelection looks sure. Why worry when
short-term he can do what he pleases. Longer-term
becomes someone else's problem.
Passing it on he hopes lets him off the hook. It also
helps Judaize all valued parts of Palestine Israel
wants at the expense of displaced residents.
Headlines announced the latest. On December 17, 1,500
new East Jerusalem homes were approved. Netanyahu's
office claimed it's not new construction. It's another
stage of what's ongoing.
Jerusalem's District Planning and Construction
Committee approved units in East Jerusalem's Ramat
Shlomo neighborhood.
Additional planning stages remain. Final authorization
takes time. Reports said expect additional
construction announcements.
Two days later one came. A new Jewish neighborhood
will arise, it said. It'll be built south of East
Jerusalem. It's over the Green Line.
More than 2,600 housing units are slated for what's
called Givat Hamatos. It's a mobile home site.
Unwanted Ethiopian immigrants used it.
It's near Har Homa. In 1997, it was controversial when
Netanyahu approved it. It was during his first prime
ministerial term.
Although it's south of the city, it's part of greater
East Jerusalem because it crosses the Green Line.
Discussion about an additional 900 units suggests
these and more to come.
Deliberations were postponed, not cancelled. Netanyahu
plans accelerated construction. Expect new
announcements to follow current ones.
They won't stop until virtually all Palestine is
colonized. Israel planned it long ago. Netanyahu's
expediting what most Knesset members approve.
In early December, Israel signaled plans for 3,000 new
East Jerusalem and West Bank units. International
reaction was harsh.
The State Department's response was surprising. It
accused Israel of engaging in "a pattern of
provocative action." It runs counter to claims about
conflict resolution commitments.
Netanyahu dismissed it out of hand. Rhetoric has no
teeth. He's free to do what he pleases. Perhaps one
day things will change. Action may back up talk.
What better time than on December 19 after Maan News
headlined "Israel presses on with plans for 6,000 new
settler homes."
Israeli officials defied international criticism
announcing them. Settlements across the West Bank and
East Jerusalem will be expanded.
Besides numbers already approved, discussions head
toward authorizing thousands more. PA unelected Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad said:
"Settlement activity is unilateral and is completely
adverse to the continued viability of a two-state
solution and the possibility for our people to
continue to exist. It's an attack on our people's
right to life."
Years ago two states were possible. No longer. Fayyad
and other PA officials know but won't say. One state
for all its people is today's only option.
It's too obvious to ignore. It's impossible. Perhaps
it will become internationally recognized.
Don't expect acknowledgement enough to shift the
dynamic on the ground. Hardline Israeli obstinacy
prevents it.
Netanyahu, of course, and most Knesset members reject
it. Palestinians are considered sub-human. They're
denied fundamental rights.
Nothing ahead suggests change. Conflict resolution
remains distant. Netanyahu and likeminded hardliners
stand firm on hidebound obstinancy. International
disapproval is dismissed.
A Final Comment
In mid-July 2010, Knesset members stripped MK Hanin
Zoabi of key parliamentary rights and privileges. They
did so for participating in the May 2010 Freedom
Flotilla. It tried bringing vital humanitarian aid to
Gaza.
Arab MKs are accustomed to marginalization, threats,
abuse, and lawless actions against them.
Zoabi's called a "traitor. She's been vilified and
threatened. On December 19, Haaretz announced the
latest. Israel's election committee disqualified her
from seeking reelection.
Doing so is lawless. Israel's High Court will have
final say. It's likely to overturn the disgraceful
ruling. Ten previous election committee rulings
attempted to disqualify parties or candidates. Only
three party disqualifications were upheld.
In 1964, the Socialist Party was banned. Kach's turn
came in 1988 and Kahana Chai in 1992. Disqualified
candidates were reinstated.
Knesset debate included hardline MK David Rotem
claiming:
"To say that a member of Knesset was aboard the Mavi
Marmara does not constitute the critical mass equaling
support for a terrorist organization reflects a lack
of understanding of what happened aboard that ship."
MK Aryeh Eldad added:
"I am a doctor and believe in preventive medicine. You
don't have to wait for people to be caught spying or
committing treason before barring them from running."
Arab MK Ahmed Tibi's rejoinder said Israel's election
committee is politically motivated. It's comprised of
"third-rate politicians and frustrated lawyers looking
to make headlines at our expense."
Minutes before the meeting started, Balad party
members held a press conference.
Chairman Jamal Zahalks said:
"If Zuabi is disqualified, I will not run in this
election and will advise the party to boycott it.
Disqualifying me means disqualifying an entire
generation of young Arabs."
The Adalah Legal Center for Arab minority Rights in
Israel denounced hardline MKs, saying:
"The petitions are based on isolated and inaccurate
quotations published on various websites and therefore
do not justify a serious debate."
Labor and Meretz parties said they won't support
disqualification petitions. Labor MK Isaac Herzog
said:
"We view freedom of expression and freedom of opinion
as the very lifeblood of Israel's democracy and we
firmly believe in this principle."
"Any disqualification, whether from the left or the
right, is a slippery slope, especially at a time when
we must stand firm to ensure the existence of
democracy, despite our disgust with many of the
statements and positions expressed by various parties
and Knesset members whose banning is under
discussion."
"They may be very far from our own philosophy but
barring them would be a dangerous mistake."
Expect High Court reinstatement but no softening in
hardline MK views.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit his
blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
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