Israel’s Settlement Enterprise in Israel’s Settlement Enterprise in Gaza, the Jordan Valley, Gaza, the Jordan Valley,

Samaria, Binyamin, and JudeaSamaria, Binyamin, and Judea

Shaul ArieliShaul Arieli

www.shaularieli.comwww.shaularieli.com

January 2009January 2009

The Political Zionism and the The Political Zionism and the Religious ZionismReligious Zionism

Salvation vs. RedemptionSalvation vs. Redemption

The MotivationThe MotivationA safe refuge for the Jewish people – “Let the sovereignty be A safe refuge for the Jewish people – “Let the sovereignty be

granted us over a portion of the globe large enough to satisfy granted us over a portion of the globe large enough to satisfy the rightful requirements of a nation; the rest we shall the rightful requirements of a nation; the rest we shall

manage for ourselvesmanage for ourselves”.”.""We settled … because we were commanded to inherit the We settled … because we were commanded to inherit the

land god gave our ancestors… the settlement itself… doesn’t land god gave our ancestors… the settlement itself… doesn’t derive from security and physical necessities but from the derive from security and physical necessities but from the

power of destiny and the Jewish people’s return to its land” power of destiny and the Jewish people’s return to its land” “...for he commands us “And ye shall drive out the “...for he commands us “And ye shall drive out the

inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I given the land to possess it.” and Rashi interprets ‘Ye shall given the land to possess it.” and Rashi interprets ‘Ye shall

possess the land’ – take possession of it from its inhabitants, possess the land’ – take possession of it from its inhabitants, then ‘ye may dwell therein’ – safely exist there. Otherwise ye then ‘ye may dwell therein’ – safely exist there. Otherwise ye

shall not be able to exist thereshall not be able to exist there""

The FundationThe Fundation

…“…“By virtue of our natural and historic right and based By virtue of our natural and historic right and based on the United Nations resolutionon the United Nations resolution”…”…

““It was explained to me… that the petitioners’ It was explained to me… that the petitioners’ arguments are based on the international law arguments are based on the international law

including international treaties, they aren’t relevant including international treaties, they aren’t relevant whatsoever…: the conflict is… between the Jewish whatsoever…: the conflict is… between the Jewish people retuning to its land and Arab inhabitants that people retuning to its land and Arab inhabitants that

stole it from us while we where exiled by force of arm, stole it from us while we where exiled by force of arm, and therefore we’re not talking about an occupied and therefore we’re not talking about an occupied

territory… but about the core of Israel that belongs to territory… but about the core of Israel that belongs to us without a doubt by virtue of our rightus without a doubt by virtue of our right”.”.

Character and RegimeCharacter and Regime““The State of Israel… will be based on the principles of The State of Israel… will be based on the principles of

freedom, justice and peace… it will ensure complete freedom, justice and peace… it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights… will guarantee equality of social and political rights… will guarantee

freedom of religionfreedom of religion”…”… …“ …“The ingathering of the exiles, the rising of the state The ingathering of the exiles, the rising of the state

and its security are but first stages… Ahead of us are and its security are but first stages… Ahead of us are great objectives that are integral parts of Zionism, led by great objectives that are integral parts of Zionism, led by the establishment of ‘Kingdom of Cohenites and a Holy the establishment of ‘Kingdom of Cohenites and a Holy

Nation,’ the return of God’s Residence to Zion, the Nation,’ the return of God’s Residence to Zion, the establishment of the Kingdom of David and the building establishment of the Kingdom of David and the building of the Temple – as an opening act to Tikkun Olam (the of the Temple – as an opening act to Tikkun Olam (the correcting of the world) in the Kingdom of the Almightycorrecting of the world) in the Kingdom of the Almighty”.”.

The Separation Concept 1974-The Separation Concept 1974-19771977

““The government has adopted a defined security The government has adopted a defined security policy, where one ought to settle and where not. policy, where one ought to settle and where not.

In the Golan Heights, the Jordan Valley, the In the Golan Heights, the Jordan Valley, the Jerusalem area, the Ezion Block, and the Rafiah Jerusalem area, the Ezion Block, and the Rafiah area – yes. In Samaria – no! To the heart of the area – yes. In Samaria – no! To the heart of the

West Bank, which is densely populated by the West Bank, which is densely populated by the Arabs, we ought not to push Jewish settlers. Arabs, we ought not to push Jewish settlers. Such dramatic settlement holds the signs of Such dramatic settlement holds the signs of

arrogance and defiance vis-à-vis the Arabs and arrogance and defiance vis-à-vis the Arabs and the United States, and is unneeded and unjust the United States, and is unneeded and unjust

from the perspective of securityfrom the perspective of security”.”.

“Wherever the war allows us we shall act to re-establish the wholeness of the land”

(1966)

“Today they justify the settlement as a security measure. But this is ridiculous. Security is to serve the settlement, and not vice versa.”

(1968)

Policy of Separation

• In Gush Emunim I have seen a terrible phenomenon – a cancer in the body of Israeli democracy. Against their basic perception, which contradicts the democratic foundation of Israel, one had to wage an ideological struggle that exposes the real meaning of the movement’s psitions and methods.”

Itzhak Rabin

Elon MorehElon Moreh

Security – the emptying of the landSecurity – the emptying of the land““State LandState Land””Character of the settlementsCharacter of the settlements

The Yesha Council’s Founding The Yesha Council’s Founding Covenant (1981)Covenant (1981)

Ongoing action to enforce Israeli sovereignty over all parts of the Ongoing action to enforce Israeli sovereignty over all parts of the land of Israelland of Israel..

Resisting any other political solutionResisting any other political solution..The Council rejects the establishment of a non-Israeli soveregin The Council rejects the establishment of a non-Israeli soveregin

administration in parts of the land of Israel… State lands and administration in parts of the land of Israel… State lands and water resources are national assets of the Jewish people and water resources are national assets of the Jewish people and therefore the Council rejects and denounces any proposal to therefore the Council rejects and denounces any proposal to

share control over such assets with a foreign element. The share control over such assets with a foreign element. The Council will act to thwart such proposalsCouncil will act to thwart such proposals..

The Council considers any proposal whose purpose is to transfer The Council considers any proposal whose purpose is to transfer parts of the land of Israel to a foreign sovereign element a denial parts of the land of Israel to a foreign sovereign element a denial

of the designation of the Jewish People, the missions of the of the designation of the Jewish People, the missions of the Jewish people, and an illegal actJewish people, and an illegal act”…”…

Government BypassesGovernment Bypasses

““Ha’marchiv” – a governmental company for Ha’marchiv” – a governmental company for settlement in Israel and abroadsettlement in Israel and abroad..

Security seizure orders, Jordanian campsSecurity seizure orders, Jordanian campsSurvey procedure (1979)Survey procedure (1979)Privately-initiated constructionPrivately-initiated constructionUnauthorized outposts (the settlement Unauthorized outposts (the settlement

division)division)

Municipal Status of Judea, Samaria Municipal Status of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valleyand the Jordan Valley

44 cities (Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, Ma’ale Adumim, and cities (Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, Ma’ale Adumim, and Ariel)Ariel)

1313 local councils (Oranit, Alfe Menashe, Elqana, Efrat, local councils (Oranit, Alfe Menashe, Elqana, Efrat, Beit El, Beit Arie, Giv’at Ze’ev, har Adar, Ma’ale Efrayim, Beit El, Beit Arie, Giv’at Ze’ev, har Adar, Ma’ale Efrayim,

Emanuel, Qarnei Shomron, Qedumim, Qiryat Arba)Emanuel, Qarnei Shomron, Qedumim, Qiryat Arba)66 regional councils (Shomron, Megilot, Mate Binyamin, regional councils (Shomron, Megilot, Mate Binyamin,

Gush Ezion, Har Hevron, Biq’at Ha’Yarden)Gush Ezion, Har Hevron, Biq’at Ha’Yarden)1/31/3 Haredic; 1/3 religious and national Haredic; 1/3 Haredic; 1/3 religious and national Haredic; 1/3

secularsecular..44 Haredic, 17 mixed, 76 religious, 26 secularHaredic, 17 mixed, 76 religious, 26 secular..

Annexation Settlements SettlersEast Jers. 14 194,000W.B 51 210,000Total 65 404,000

Evacuation Settlements SettlersEast Jers. 0 0W.B 76 66,000Total 76 66,000

National-Religious Settlements Settlers Annexation 21 23,000Evacuation 46 50,000

85%

8%

Annexation Settlements SettlersEast Jers. 13 186,000W.B 21 166,000Total 34 340,000

Evacuation Settlements SettlersEast Jers. 1 8,000W.B 106 122,000Total 107 131,000

National-Religious Settlements Settlers Annexation 8 9,000Evacuation 59 64,000

75%

2%

Israel

Palestine

Palestine

Jerusalem

77%

3.5%