New settlements propel Israeli gov’t away from peace


October 18, 2017
Sarah Benton


A picture taken from Ramallah shows Israel’s separation barrier and Beit El behind it. The settlement is handsomely funded by the Friedman family through AFBE -American Friends of Beit El. Son David was president of AFBE and now is the American ambassador to Israel. His parents were ardent supports of the settlement’s schools. The computer science school is named after his father, Rabbi Morris Friedman. In addition, David Friedman dedicated the Friedman Faculty House to his father.

Friedman is also a frequent contributor to Arutz Sheva, the conservative news outlet run from Beit El and partially funded by AFBE. In his articles, he has advocated for settlements and against a Palestinian state. Photo and caption from CNN

Plans for 2,646 Housing Units in The Settlements Advanced This Week

Peace Now
October 18, 2017

“The Israeli government has lost all its inhibitions, while promoting settlement expansion in a record pace for recent years and distancing us daily from the possibility of a two state solution. The government is sending a clear message to settlers – build illegally and anywhere and we will find a solution for you. It is clear that Netanyahu is prioritizing his settler constituency over the rule of law and the possibility for peace.”

For a list of the plans click on headline above and follow the links.


Israel advances more than 2,000 settlement housing units in one week

By Ma’an news
October 18, 2017

BETHLEHEM — The Israeli Civil Administration’s High Planning Committee convened on Tuesday and Thursday, and advanced plans for 2,615 housing units in illegal Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank, according to settlement watchdog Peace Now.

Peace Now released a statement on Thursday detailing the committee’s decisions, saying that over the course of two days of meetings, the civil administration promoted 2,615 housing units, bringing the total number of units promoted through plans this week to 2,646, after 31 construction permits were approved for settlers in Hebron on October 16th.

Of the 2,615 housing units promoted, 1,508 were approved for depositing, while 1,323 were approved for validation.

“It is clear that Netanyahu is prioritizing his settler constituency over the rule of law and the possibility for peace.”

Meanwhile, the civil administration issued on Tuesday a tender for 296 units in the Beit El settlement, located in the Ramallah district of the central West Bank.

Since the beginning of the year, Peace Now reported that 6,742 settlement housing units have been promoted by Israeli authorities. “The Israeli government has lost all its inhibitions, while promoting settlement expansion in a record pace for recent years and distancing us daily from the possibility of a two state solution,” Peace Now said.

“The government is sending a clear message to settlers – build illegally and anywhere and we will find a solution for you. It is clear that Netanyahu is prioritizing his settler constituency over the rule of law and the possibility for peace.”

Earlier this month, Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to approve the construction of 3,829 settlements, causing outrage among Palestinian leaders.

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi condemned Israel’s plans, saying “clearly, Israel is bent on entrenching the military occupation and its illegal settlement enterprise, further reaffirming its intentions of displacing Palestine and replacing it with ‘Greater Israel’.”

Since the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis have moved into Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.

The estimated 196 government-recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.

Meanwhile, Israeli rights group B’Tselem reported that in 2016 Palestinians experienced the highest number of Israeli demolitions since the group began recording the incidents.

At the same time, Peace now reported that Israel’s illegal settlement construction in the West Bank increased by 34 percent in 2016, with Israeli authorities initiating construction on 1,814 new settler housing units.

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