In an effort to distract the world from the impending deal between the USA and Iran under which Iran gets to continue with its nuclear program and the USA gets to weaken the sanctions it has imposed, the issue of Israeli "settlements" is once again being brought to a boil. The problem is this, however; calling apartment buildings in Jerusalem "settlements" is completely inaccurate.
Let's back up a bit and go through the real facts. The main area of contention at the moment is designated E1 and it runs between the old city of Jerusalem and a suburb called Maale Adumim. This area is not currently home to many people. While the word "settlement" conjures up images of some dusty town in the old West, the buildings at issue here are modern garden apartment complexes. They are not far out in the countryside. They are not deep in areas where the Palestinians live. The apartments in question are all within two and a half miles of the Israeli parliament building in the capital of Jerusalem.
Think about that for a moment. Imagine someone criticizing the USA because the federal government was planning for construction of apartment buildings within three miles of Capitol Hill in DC. It's the same thing in Jerusalem, Israel's capital.
Then there's the need for an explanation as to why it is wrong for their to be Jewish residents living in this area adjacent to the nation's capital. Indeed, imagine for a moment the reaction if Israel decided to ban Arabs from living in certain sections of the country. The outcry about apartheid would be instantaneous and enormous. So why would banning the Arabs be apartheid but banning the Jews is good policy?
The real truth is that the Israelis are right to go ahead with the development of their capital city.
Let's back up a bit and go through the real facts. The main area of contention at the moment is designated E1 and it runs between the old city of Jerusalem and a suburb called Maale Adumim. This area is not currently home to many people. While the word "settlement" conjures up images of some dusty town in the old West, the buildings at issue here are modern garden apartment complexes. They are not far out in the countryside. They are not deep in areas where the Palestinians live. The apartments in question are all within two and a half miles of the Israeli parliament building in the capital of Jerusalem.
Think about that for a moment. Imagine someone criticizing the USA because the federal government was planning for construction of apartment buildings within three miles of Capitol Hill in DC. It's the same thing in Jerusalem, Israel's capital.
Then there's the need for an explanation as to why it is wrong for their to be Jewish residents living in this area adjacent to the nation's capital. Indeed, imagine for a moment the reaction if Israel decided to ban Arabs from living in certain sections of the country. The outcry about apartheid would be instantaneous and enormous. So why would banning the Arabs be apartheid but banning the Jews is good policy?
The real truth is that the Israelis are right to go ahead with the development of their capital city.
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