On August 16, 2011, The Israeli Minister of Defense Ehude Barak approved plan for the construction of 277 housing units in Ariel Settlement in Salfeet Governorate, and an additional 100 housing units for a later stage. The sanctioning of the construction comes at a time when the international community; including the United States continue to criticize Israel for its construction in the settlements at a time when efforts are being coordinated to revive and resume peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
It is reported that 100 of the housing units are designated to house Israeli settlers evacuated from Netzarim settlement previously in Gaza in 2005. The housing units are going to be structured in Noyman neighborhood. Barak claimed that these additional housing units will be designated to resolve the current housing crisis in Israel. The Israeli Internal Affairs Minister also sanctioned some 4300 housing units to be constructed in various settlements in the West Bank; on the 13th of August 2011.
MAP 01: areas that are planned to be included in the master plan for Ariel settlement, and confiscated
Ariel is one of the most controversial settlements in the West Bank. It was declared an Israeli city in 2004. It is one of the settlements’ blocks that the former US President George W. Bush, acknowledged to be determinate factors of the final status agreement, where there will be no Israeli withdrawal to the ’67 lines; underlying the concept of ‘defensible borders’.
Israel remains determine to stand defiance to the international community well to freeze settlements’ planning and construction in the West Bank; and evermore to force facts on the ground to which it believes that will determine the outcome of the final status negotiation to its own interests. Moreover, Israel is using the escalating housing crisis in Israel to pass many of the construction plans in the settlements in a way to justify its illegal construction; making it look like a natural consequence to the needs of the population.
However, the construction plans in the West Bank are clearly politically motivated as the response to the claimed Israeli housing crisis in taking place in the West Bank settlements and not fully in Israel, through which the Israeli government may encourage Israelis to take residency in the settlements rather than inside Israel; where they should be and not on Palestinian occupied territory.
Ariel Settlement
Ariel settlement was established in 1978. It is located 22 Km east of the Armistice line (Green line) and it is connected to Israel by the Trans Samaria Highway. The settlement expanded over the years from the east and south on lands confiscated from Marda, Kafl Haris and Iskaka villages located in Salfit governorate. Ariel settlement is considered one of the biggest settlements in the West Bank in terms of area (5.18Km² and accommodates more than 18,000 Israeli settlers); the second largest Israeli settlement after Ma’ale Adumim in Jerusalem.
Ariel settlement is part of a larger settlements’ block that holds the name “Ariel Block”, it starches across three Palestinian governorates (Ramallah, Salfit, and Qalqilyia) where it encompasses 18 Israeli built-up area; 12 of which are Israeli settlements, 1 collage, I quarry, and 4 industrial zones. See following table.
|
Name
|
District
|
Date
|
Area in Dunum
|
|
Sha’are Tikva
|
Qalqilyia
|
1982
|
1063
|
|
Oranit
|
Qalqilyia
|
1983
|
1289
|
|
Zamarot
|
Qalqilyia
|
1985
|
310
|
|
Beit Arye
|
Ramallah
|
1981
|
1420
|
|
Ofarim
|
Ramallah
|
1988
|
545
|
|
Alei Zahav (Yoezer)
|
Salfit
|
1982
|
352
|
|
Barqan
|
Salfit
|
1981
|
649
|
|
Benot Orot Yisra’el
|
Salfit
|
1989
|
158
|
|
Elkana
|
Salfit
|
1977
|
1515
|
|
Industrial Zone (Near Peduel)
|
Salfit
|
1991
|
246
|
|
Pedu’el
|
Salfit
|
1984
|
539
|
|
Revava
|
Salfit
|
1991
|
399
|
|
Etz Efrayim
|
Salfit
|
1985
|
566
|
|
Barqan industrial Zone
|
Salfit
|
1981
|
1417
|
|
Qiryat Netafim
|
Salfit
|
1982
|
386
|
|
Ariel
|
Salfit
|
1978
|
5184
|
|
Mazor Atiqa (Israeli Quarry)
|
Salfit
|
1986
|
707
|
|
Ariel West Park Industrial Zone
|
Salfit
|
1998
|
1728
|
In Image 01, and image 02, it shows a general view for the settlement, and the second shows the expansions of the settlement bloc.
Image 01 Image 02
Conclusion:
Israel persistence to continue with the settlement program at all cost in spite of the international efforts to regenerate life in the peace process indicates a clear sign of Israel intention to force its well at the final negotiation to determine the ground rules at the negotiation if and when it takes place. Israel continues to utilize the housing crisis to justify the illegal construction in the settlements. Statements made by the Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai “The lack of real estate is severe and we will not stop projects.” & “We are continuing to build in Jerusalem and in all of Israel,” clearly reflects Israel’s agenda toward the possibility to resume negotiations with the Palestinian, which clearly says that construction in large settlements’ blocks and Jerusalem will continue under any circumstances and the settlement program shall continue at all costs.
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