Op-Ed: Israel’s Urgent Need for Zero-Tolerance on Illegal Palestinian Settlements
This is Part 8 of a 10-part series exposing the underreported joint European and Palestinian program to bypass international law and establish a de facto Palestinian state on Israeli land.
Those in Israel who are part of the movement dedicated to the protection of Israel’s national lands and resources have called to disband Israel’s Civil Administration entirely.
They demand a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal Palestinian construction, regardless of European Union funding and lawsuits, and have called on the Israeli government to initiate a long-overdue diplomatic effort to make it clear to the EU that it has established red lines that will be enforced.
“Israeli leadership as a whole is failing to behave like a sovereign government with a backbone that enforces the law and protects the security and national interests of the people,” argues Naomi Kahn, international director of the Israeli NGO Regavim.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party had initially expressed interest in solving the issue, and during Bennett’s tenure as defense minister, he began referring to Area C in the West Bank as a battleground and Palestinian Authority mass illegal land use as a strategic military threat. With an uptick in enforcement, mild progress was made.
Still, it was always a matter of scale. A shed would be knocked down, while the illicit electricity and water systems would be ignored because of humanitarian issues the EU would draw attention to.
Avigdor Lieberman similarly spoke out, but encountered disinterested bureaucrats and pushback from the Europeans, who have a direct line to their political counterparts in the Israeli government.
Though the Ministry of Intelligence published a full report in June 2021 that presented a comprehensive analysis of the illegal Palestinian land grabs and demographic saturation of Area C, since the publication’s report, little has changed.
Part 9 will be published next week.
Previous Parts:
- Part 7 can be read here.
- Part 6 can be read here.
- Part 5 can be read here.
- Part 4 can be read here.
- Part 3 can be read here.
- Part 2 can be read here.
- Part 1 can be read here.
The post Op-Ed: Israel Must Adopt a Zero-Tolerance Policy Toward Illegal Palestinian Settlements appeared first on The Western Journal.
How does the joint European-Palestinian program violate international law and undermine Israeli sovereignty?
In the Israeli government and media. The Europeans used their institutions and funding channels to circumvent the Israeli Civil Administration, laying the groundwork for a de facto Palestinian state on Israeli land.
The joint European-Palestinian program operates through various deceptive means. One of the tactics employed is the establishment of illegal Palestinian structures and settlements in Area C of the West Bank, which falls under Israeli control according to the Oslo Accords. This violates international law and undermines Israeli sovereignty. Despite this, the European Union provides direct funding, encouragement, and legal assistance to these illegal activities.
Furthermore, European organizations actively support and promote Palestinian expansion into Israeli-controlled territories. These organizations provide financial aid for the construction of infrastructure, such as water and electricity systems, thereby bolstering the Palestinian presence in these areas. This deliberate action sends a message that the Europeans do not recognize Israeli sovereignty and are actively working towards establishing a Palestinian state on Israeli land.
Israeli activists and organizations dedicated to protecting Israel’s national lands and resources have voiced their outrage at this joint European-Palestinian venture. They argue that Israel must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal Palestinian construction, regardless of European Union funding and lawsuits. They call on the Israeli government to take a firm stand and enforce red lines, making it clear to the EU that such actions will not be tolerated.
Naomi Kahn, the international director of the Israeli NGO Regavim, criticizes Israeli leadership for failing to behave like a sovereign government that enforces the law and protects national interests. She emphasizes that it is crucial for Israel to exercise its sovereignty and take decisive action to counter the underreported European-Palestinian program.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his right-wing Yamina party initially showed interest in addressing the issue. During Bennett’s tenure as defense minister, he referred to Area C as a battleground and highlighted the Palestinian Authority’s illegal land use as a strategic military threat. Some progress was made in terms of enforcement, but it was limited in scope.
Avigdor Lieberman, another prominent figure in Israeli politics, also spoke out against the joint program. However, his efforts were met with disinterest and pushback from European bureaucrats and politicians who have direct connections within the Israeli government and media.
This joint European-Palestinian program, if left unchecked, poses a significant threat to Israel’s territorial integrity and national security. It is imperative for the Israeli government to assert its sovereignty, enforce the law, and protect its national interests. Only through decisive action can Israel prevent the establishment of a de facto Palestinian state on its land and safeguard its future.
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