The AP is out with a report today on the decision by Israel to begin construction on just under 1200 new apartments in various locations. Here is how the AP describes this:
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's housing minister on Sunday gave final approval for building nearly 1,200 new settlement apartments on lands the Palestinians want for their state, just three days before U.S.-sponsored talks on the borders of such a state are to begin in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians said they would complain to the U.S. and Europe. Negotiator Mohammed Shtayyeh said Israel's latest announcement on promoting settlement plans, the third over the course of a week, "is clear proof that the Israeli government is not serious about the talks."
If one read only this report, one would assume that these apartments were somehow throwing Palestinians off their lands and pushing Israelis deep into the West Bank. The truth, however, is quite different from the propaganda being pushed by the AP.
First of all, nearly three quarters of these apartments are in the city of Jerusalem, Israel's capital. What the Palestinians and the AP (it seems) want is for sections of that city to be kept free from Jews. Imagine what would happen if someone promoted neighborhoods in the USA that would be kept free from one religion, race or ethnic group.
Second, a big chunk of the rest of the apartments are in Maale Adumim which is a very close in suburb of Jerusalem. It is about three miles from the center of Jerusalem to Maale Adumim. Further, this town was built on some hills on the edge of the desert which were uninhabited when construction began. No Palestinians were forced from this land. All that happened was that homes occupied mostly by Jews were built.
Third, before the latest "peace negotiations" began, the Palestinians wanted Israel to agree that it would not build any further structures in the so called "settlements". The Israelis refused and made clear that they would continue with everyday construction in these locations. This means that the claim that this shows Israel is not "serious" about the talks is a ploy, but the AP puts it forth as a valid statement, nevertheless.
While we are at it, we also ought to discuss what it means to be a "settlement". These are not dusty outposts in the middle of nowhere. Here is a picture of Maale Adumim which shows it to be a town that is quite modern and urban.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's housing minister on Sunday gave final approval for building nearly 1,200 new settlement apartments on lands the Palestinians want for their state, just three days before U.S.-sponsored talks on the borders of such a state are to begin in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians said they would complain to the U.S. and Europe. Negotiator Mohammed Shtayyeh said Israel's latest announcement on promoting settlement plans, the third over the course of a week, "is clear proof that the Israeli government is not serious about the talks."
If one read only this report, one would assume that these apartments were somehow throwing Palestinians off their lands and pushing Israelis deep into the West Bank. The truth, however, is quite different from the propaganda being pushed by the AP.
First of all, nearly three quarters of these apartments are in the city of Jerusalem, Israel's capital. What the Palestinians and the AP (it seems) want is for sections of that city to be kept free from Jews. Imagine what would happen if someone promoted neighborhoods in the USA that would be kept free from one religion, race or ethnic group.
Second, a big chunk of the rest of the apartments are in Maale Adumim which is a very close in suburb of Jerusalem. It is about three miles from the center of Jerusalem to Maale Adumim. Further, this town was built on some hills on the edge of the desert which were uninhabited when construction began. No Palestinians were forced from this land. All that happened was that homes occupied mostly by Jews were built.
Third, before the latest "peace negotiations" began, the Palestinians wanted Israel to agree that it would not build any further structures in the so called "settlements". The Israelis refused and made clear that they would continue with everyday construction in these locations. This means that the claim that this shows Israel is not "serious" about the talks is a ploy, but the AP puts it forth as a valid statement, nevertheless.
While we are at it, we also ought to discuss what it means to be a "settlement". These are not dusty outposts in the middle of nowhere. Here is a picture of Maale Adumim which shows it to be a town that is quite modern and urban.
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