Settlements | The American Task Force on Palestine

U.S. congresswomen see Israel, Palestinians in the eyes of J Street
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Linda Gradstein - February 27, 2012 - 1:00am

KALANDIYA, West Bank (JTA) -- The U.S. congresswomen get off the bus and stand in the chilly shadows of the Kalandiya crossing point between the West Bank and Jerusalem. It’s late morning, well past the rush hour when thousands of Palestinians congregate here, and only a few dozen Palestinians stand in line. To cross, the Palestinians go through a series of metal turnstiles and wait with their documents until they are called, one by one, to approach the Israeli soldiers sitting behind bullet-proof barriers. One Palestinian man strikes up a conversation.

'Israel should annex 60% of Area C'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Moran Azulay - February 23, 2012 - 1:00am

Former Yesha Council Director Naftali Bennett has presented a new initiative meant to conquer the prolonged stalemate plaguing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Bennett explained Thursday that he met with dozens of military, political and defense experts prior to formulating what has been dubbed the "mollification plan," adding that it is meant to serve as a "band-aid" of sorts – a way for Israel to maintain peace and order in the West Bank, while it both deals with international pressure and protect its "critical principles."

State Approves Housing Units in Shilo Post Factum
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Israel News
by Yair Altman - February 22, 2012 - 1:00am

The Civil Administration approved Wednesday the construction of 505 new housing units and legalized 190 units previously built in the West Bank settlement of Shilo. A Defense Ministry official said that any further construction would call for the government's approval and therefore they do not expect any other units to be built anytime soon. The ministry also stated that the existing housing units were not built on private lands but rather on State-owned land.

Israel demolishes West Bank villages as Jewish outposts remains untouched
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Akiva Eldar - (Analysis) February 21, 2012 - 1:00am

It is doubtful whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has expressed great concern over the fate of Migron's residents, has heard of Tha'lah. Unfortunately for the village's residents, Tha'lah is situated in Area C, which is under Israel jurisdiction. Minister Benny Begin, who worked so tirelessly on the questionable "agreement" that will leave the Migron criminals on stolen land for a few more years (if it is ever implemented ), presumably does not know what happened to the residents of this tiny village in the Southern Hebron Hills.

A Divided Town, Where the Pursuit of Bargains Brings Together Israelis and Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
by Linda Gradstein - February 17, 2012 - 1:00am

BARTA'A, West Bank (JTA) -- In these days of frozen peace negotiations, most Israelis and Palestinians have little contact. Palestinians need a special permit to enter Israel, and Israelis need army permission to enter the parts of the West Bank controlled by the Palestinian Authority. In fact, just a mile north of this small West Bank town, a large yellow sign reminds drivers that “it is illegal to hand over cars for repair to the Palestinian Authority or to enter Palestinian areas.”

Yalla Peace: Hope for Peace at a Roadblock
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Ray Hanania - (Opinion) February 14, 2012 - 1:00am

It’s almost become normal for Palestinians and Israelis who support peace to find themselves at the same old roadblock, going nowhere fast. The only things moving are the extremists who continue to pave the way to the mutual destruction of both sides. Israeli and Palestinian leaders refuse to take the steps necessary to make peace.

Settlers: Israel drafts deal to delay evacuating rogue settlement, despite eviction order
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
February 13, 2012 - 1:00am

JERUSALEM — Israeli settlers from an unauthorized West Bank outpost said Monday they reached a deal with the country’s government to allow them to stay put for two more years, despite Israeli Supreme Court orders to evacuate them next month. The Migron settlement, built in 2001 on what authorities say is private Palestinian land, is seen as a test case for the Israeli government’s resolve — or lack thereof — concerning unauthorized settlement outposts.

Israeli demolition 'displaces 120' in Hebron village
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 13, 2012 - 1:00am

HEBRON (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces demolished 22 buildings in a Palestinian village south of Hebron on Monday, displacing 120 villagers, residents told Ma'an. Twenty Israeli military vehicles accompanied bulldozers to raze the 16 domestic tents and six animal shelters in Khirbet al-Rahwa, they said. Villager Salim Salem al-Tal told Ma'an forces also demolished a well that was the village's only water source. Soldiers did not give the villagers any time to remove their possessions from their homes, he said.

Unequal Neighbors: Off the Grid in Area C
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
by Charlotte Alfred - February 10, 2012 - 1:00am

MASAFER YATTA (Ma'an) -- Pylons tower over South Hebron Hills village Um al-Kher, hoisting electricity cables that bisect the agricultural community. But like hundreds of their Palestinian neighbors, this tiny hamlet has no access to the power grid. The cables running above the heads of the 150 Um al-Kher residents supply a chicken farm set up a decade ago by the adjacent Karmel settlement, wedging the village on both sides. "They give electricity to the chickens but not to us," says Aziz Muhammad Hadhalin, 26, an engineer and community activist.

Settlers ‘Raid Nablus Village’
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
February 10, 2012 - 1:00am

NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Settlers raided a Nablus-district village overnight Thursday, sparking clashes with residents, a PA official said. Dozens of Israelis from Yitzhar settlement threw stones at a number of homes in Burin, Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settler activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an. No injuries have been reported. They smashed car windows on the main road from the Jewish-only settlement, he added. Youth from Burin gathered at the home of Ayman Sufan after it came under attack, and clashed with the group of settlers, Daghlas said.

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