Not Good News At All
It's not dreadfully encouraging for the prosecution of a solution to the murderous hostilities emanating from Palestinian groups against Israel to know that Israel has announced plans to build hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement within the West Bank, distinctly outside of Israel's borders.Where hopes for a nascent Palestinian state are placed. This most certainly compromises Israel even further than she already is. It's plain enough that Israel should be committed to pulling all Israeli settlements out of the West Bank. Their presence is intolerable, given the situation of the embattlement of the country in the face of resurgent Palestinian terror, and the remote potential for peace.
Is is necessary to leave that geography in its entirety, along with that of the Gaza Strip, to an eventual Palestinian State. Israel loses her moral authority when she engages in this type of activity. It's clear enough that if two states are to become a reality, living side by side in peace - if ever such a miracle could be achieved - a divided geography will be required.
Israeli settlements in the midst of a majority Palestinian population - existing on what will then unequivocally be Palestinian land in a Palestinian state - would go beyond provocation.
Israel cannot exert her authority beyond her borders. The Palestinian Authority must be permitted to reclaim the land that the West Bank settlements are on, as horrendously painful as that will be to the settlers, and to the consciousness of their supporters.
None more so than the recently victimized students and their esteemed rabbis and teachers at the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva. From which source have emanated so many of the dedicated West Bank settlers. The yeshiva, a hotbed of Zionist appeal and determination, will itself have to come to terms with reality. Beyond the reality of the murders which took place there this past week, an adjustment in their thought process too will be required.
A direct reading of the Talmud entitling Jewish settlement in all the historical and traditional lands of Israel is simply not possible in today's world. Rail against the government of Israel as they will, the simple facts are there: the State can no longer afford to support the will of the illegal settlers determined to re-occupy the lands their ancestors were allotted by the Almighty.
This has become a political problem of great moment to the current government, fearful of losing its religious right, Orthodox support. Expressing a willingness to support the construction of an additional 750 homes for a settlement close to Jerusalem.
If it were possible to receive the assent of a bargaining Palestinian Authority to legalize the settlement, it might be feasible. But a Palestinian Authority intent on dividing the sacred city of Jerusalem, is not one that will be amenable to dividing its own territory.
Territory lying outside the boundaries of the State of Israel is committed elsewhere. This is a simple reality.
Labels: Israel, Justice, Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Monday, March 10, 2008
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