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Last update - 19:30 17/08/2008 Ofra first By Haaretz Editorial Tags: settlements, israel For two years now, a raging debate has centered on the question of when, if ever, the government will evacuate the illegal outpost of Migron. Meanwhile, observe as the settlers add yet another caravan to the outpost, Peace Now monitors warn us. Watch as the Americans pressure the government to evacuate the outposts immediately. See the High Court of Justice instruct the state to clear out the buildings because they were built on private land owned by Palestinians who filed the court petition. Then we hear the state prosecutors announce that the evacuation will be carried out no later than August. The settlers, meanwhile, take pains to remind us of the bloody riots at Amona and threaten an encore. And Defense Minister Ehud Barak cooks up a deal to relocate Migron a few hundred meters away in exchange for "legalizing" the outpost and turning it into a settlement. Shifting the discussion on the future of the settlements from the political arena into the realm of law, thus changing the crux of the matter from setting a border between us and the Palestinians to the legality of the settlements themselves, does not bring us closer to a diplomatic solution. Rather, it moves us further away. Focusing public attention on marginal issues, sending paperwork that proves property ownership from one lawyer to the next and distinguishing between a legal settlement and an illegal outpost are all means designed to preserve the status quo. After all, from a political point of view, it makes no difference whatsoever if the caravan at Migron was legally added or whether it was placed closer or further away from Ofra and Ma'aleh Mikhmash. What matters is how the State of Israel will look in another 50 years, after a continued occupation of the territories - when it will be impossible to divide the land into two states, when the nationalist conflict will be even more tinged with hatred and bloodshed, with armed militias roaming the land, with Hamas strengthened, as the government's control over the territories becomes impossible to maintain. Advertisement At present we are witnessing the final days of yet another government that failed to promote a political solution. Moving a few homes from Migron does not absolve it from its historic miss. Another government that held peace talks is gasping its final breaths. The next government that takes its place will find itself faced with more settlers on the same patch of land that is slated for partition, whether they reside in Migron or in another settlement. Migron is no more legal or illegal than Ofra, located beside it. It was Ofra's residents who founded Migron, for the purpose of housing the next generation of settlers, all the while grasping for another hilltop. Itai Harel (from Migron) is no different than his father Israel Harel (from Ofra). Both of them are guided by the same lunacy according to which the entire Land of Israel, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, is ours. Both men built their settlements on private and public Palestinian land, with the state's financial and political support. Public opinion polls and the current distribution of Knesset seats point to a consensus that this territory is meant to serve as the foundation for a future Palestinian state. The settlers and the government have rendered the possibility of implementing such a scenario more remote. The High Court ruled that Migron was built on private lands and thus needs to relocate sooner or later. Yet, one Migron less or one Migron more will not alter the overall picture. Circumstances in the West Bank are conspiring to create one state with greater rights for Jews. Partition is becoming impossible to implement. This is the future toward which the Israeli public - both right and left - is marching while it obsesses over a caravan in Migron. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Poor sports Here are the top 10 excuses for Israel's poor Olympics showing. Kafka the Zionist Remnants of Kafka's estate found in T.A. raise questions of his belief in Zionism.   1.   "Creation of one state with greater rights for Jews"? NO! WORSE! 09:30  |  S 17/08/08   2.   It`s a hijacking! 09:32  |  sh 17/08/08   3.   Right, it is a purely political issue 09:57  |  Ilan 17/08/08   4.   Re S #1 09:58  |  Esther 17/08/08   5.   Binational State ensured by Settler Enterprise 10:00  |  Ivar 17/08/08   6.   Haaretz claims Judaism is lunacy 10:13  |  Moshe 17/08/08   7.   The Arab "Peace initiative" will bring the binational state 10:48  |  Alex 17/08/08   8.   Time to reclaim our banner 11:15  |  Tzfonit 17/08/08   9.   #8 sophistry? 12:11  |  Yitz 17/08/08   10.   Holding territory never imposed "binational state" on any nation! 12:14  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/08/08   11.   Governm. of the settlers 12:23  |  dardcan 17/08/08   12.   Labhras (Post No. 10) 12:27  |  Johnny Weintraub 17/08/08   13.   victor hardman 2 13:06  |  potobac 17/08/08   14.   Relax Haaretz, don`t worry. Daddy will take care of it. 13:12  |  Sam 17/08/08   15.   Empty trailers do not matter 13:50  |  Natallie Durson 17/08/08   16.   #19 potobac has difficulty with the english language 14:15  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   17.   The question of settlements must only be resolved as part of... 15:03  |  Nadav 17/08/08   18.   OFRA= Migron= Sheich Munis (TA university) 15:31  |  Ahmed 17/08/08   19.   Ramat Aviv Gimmel First 15:33  |  Israeli Leftist 17/08/08   20.   JEWS HAVE RIGHT TO SETTLE ALL ISRAEL 15:53  |  B 17/08/08   21.   The settlers are the enemy of Israel and a cause of insecurity 15:54  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 17/08/08   22.   Labhras # 10 How Wrong Can You Get? 16:14  |  Jeff Northridge 17/08/08   23.   I think Nadav is right. The settlement issue should be 16:23  |  Albert 17/08/08   24.   The US lobby and enablers will force the Binational nightmare 16:40  |  Sam 17/08/08   25.   FATAH OPTION IS CONDI-OLMERT FICTION AND DOESN`T EXIST IN REALITY 16:41  |  G Marcus 17/08/08   26.   Int`l law, blah,blah,blah 16:48  |  Sam 17/08/08   27.   Ofra First 16:59  |  Oskar Prager 17/08/08   28.   Dr. L. Brnd # 15 That`s A Good Point 17:07  |  Jeff Northridge 17/08/08   29.   Apropos Ivar #7 17:08  |  Esther 17/08/08   30.   Re #25, #26 et al... all written by the same hand... 17:15  |  Esther 17/08/08   31.   Settlers and Israeli Government in limbo over West Bank... 17:17  |  Smadar 17/08/08   32.   #29 mystery to be explained if i write in detail its never posted 17:21  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   33.   haaretz editorial position is more dangerous to israel! 17:36  |  ralph 17/08/08   34.   victor hardman 22 17:50  |  potobac 17/08/08   35.   l brnd 15 17:55  |  potobac 17/08/08   36.   victor hardman # 39 The Vienna Convention? 17:58  |  Jeff Northridge 17/08/08   37.   #46 potobac still has problems with history 18:11  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   38.   "From River to Sea" 18:24  |  Yehuda 17/08/08   39.   How come haaretz NEVER squawks about illegal Arab building? 18:26  |  Israel King 17/08/08   40.   #43 HARD`MAN` and Mr Northridge - BALFOUR 18:28  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   41.   International law 18:37  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   42.   This tiny land is ours and we aren`t going anywhere ever! 18:40  |  Chaim 17/08/08   43.   #45 Yehuda - when did you last speak to a Palestinian? 18:41  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   44.   #46 - Because, `Israel King` ..... 18:47  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   45.   To Abba 18:48  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   46.   To Abba 18:48  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   47.   victor hardman # 39 The Vienna Convention (1969) 18:53  |  Jeff Northridge 17/08/08   48.   #47 ANOTHER IDIOT LOOKS BACKWARDS 18:56  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   49.   In Case Y`all Missed It 18:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/08/08   50.   #52 Lady from USA - So annex the West Bank and be done with it.. 18:59  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   51.   Above and beyond the law 19:05  |  Mark Lincoln 17/08/08   52.   #55 As usual Hard `child` you ignore the point 19:16  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   53.   Ofra and One State... 19:54  |  Edithann, USA 17/08/08   54.   Removing 80,000 settlers unrealistic 19:58  |  Stanley 17/08/08   55.   To Don Camillo 20:10  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   56.   In 50 years ?? 20:12  |  David 17/08/08   57.   To Mark of Lewiston 20:14  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   58.   THOUSANDS of Jews Maimed & MURDERED for WICKED LIE of Occupation 20:17  |  Linda Rivera 17/08/08   59.   Jew-HATERS DECEIVE for Expansionist Islam. Already ARAB Pal State 20:19  |  Linda Rivera 17/08/08   60.   Jew-HATERS WICKEDLY Ignore Justice for One Million JEWISH REFUGEE 20:20  |  Linda Rivera 17/08/08   61.   Don Camillo # 52 Since When Has Israel Ignored It? 20:22  |  Jeff Northridge 17/08/08   62.   To Don Camillo again 20:24  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   63.   Don Camillo - nice try!! 20:29  |  Yehuda 17/08/08   64.   Manifest Destiny 20:45  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   65.   %2 CAMILLO IS UNABLE TO ABSORBE FACT AND SHOULD BE SENT ATIME MAC 20:45  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   66.   Yehuda - the UN would step in. 20:52  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   67.   Re- Linda Rivera again 20:56  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   68.   #61 Mr Northridge and Balfour 21:00  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   69.   #65 Hardman you remain abusive so I will ignore you from now on. 21:02  |  Don Camillo 17/08/08   70.   Excuses 21:16  |  To Don Camillo 3rd x 17/08/08   71.   To Don Camillo 4th x 21:19  |  lady from USA 17/08/08   72.   #28 Jeff,a myth that huge Israeli forces protect W. Bank Jews. 21:24  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/08/08   73.   Israel should cosider the Jordanian option and then deal with 21:31  |  Abe 17/08/08   74.   Multi ethnic state always existed 22:07  |  Daniel 17/08/08   75.   victor hardman 37 22:36  |  potobac 17/08/08   76.   sh and tzfonit encourage hamas 22:48  |  peter 17/08/08   77.   #69 dont ignore me camillo prove me wrong 22:49  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   78.   #70 potobac the english teacher doesnt know language progresses 22:59  |  victor hardman 17/08/08   79.   57 Lady from USA - Was an Offer Made? 23:14  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/08/08   80.   Sh and Tzfonit Argue for Israelis to Obey Israeli Law 23:22  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/08/08   81.   Don Camillo # 68 Things Were Ill-Defined In 1917 23:27  |  Jeff Northridge 17/08/08   82.   Don`t ignore stuff and nonsense 23:36  |  x-ray 17/08/08   83.   All of Palestine is Arab 23:41  |  Micha 17/08/08   84.   41 Lady from USA - International Law Evolved 23:41  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/08/08   85.   Maybe Labhras was Wrong 23:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/08/08   86.   Blow Hamas 00:20  |  sh 18/08/08   87.   dc 00:20  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 18/08/08   88.   The Republic of Samaria 00:24  |  lady from USA 18/08/08   89.   Daniel might not have noticed that Israel`s already multiethnic 00:25  |  x-ray 18/08/08   90.   Holding on to Sheikh Bader and Sheikh Munis 00:33  |  Me 18/08/08   91.   laws of nature vs. international law 00:36  |  lady from USA 18/08/08   92.   Jews are wimps 00:46  |  lady from USA 18/08/08   93.   settlers 01:08  |  Christopher Millsap 18/08/08   94.   Dr. L. Brnd # 72 Let`s Be Reasonable Here 01:21  |  Jeff Northridge 18/08/08   95.   #10, Doc, who is Israel`s northern neighbor? 01:49  |  newageblues 18/08/08   96.   Re- Jeff Northridge 01:51  |  lady from USA 18/08/08   97.   to Moshe #6 - contemptible 01:52  |  zeev 18/08/08   98.   sh # 86 The Honest Question Is... 02:37  |  Jeff Northridge 18/08/08   99.   We Jews are not the exclusive owners of the land 02:41  |  Meir 18/08/08   100.   #94 Jeff N. Apparently the Palestinians won`t sign without... 02:56  |  Smadar 18/08/08   101.   As a gay orthodox `Jew I like the idea of bi- national state 03:05  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/08/08   102.   Lady from USA - Thank You 03:12  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/08/08   103.   #94 This is not the Christian way..Jerusalem is` Palestinian 03:14  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/08/08   104.   Israeli Covetnous Will Lead To the Disappearance Of Israel 03:26  |  chet 18/08/08   105.   victor hardman 78 03:32  |  potobac 18/08/08   106.   Settler criminals 03:48  |  Mike Katz 18/08/08   107.   Good article, but ... 04:12  |  roberto 18/08/08   108.   #10 Your comparison is invalid, Brnd 04:35  |  Johnboy 18/08/08   109.   Wrong: ignorance and apathy of ordinary Israelis is the problem 05:07  |  peacelover 18/08/08   110.   To Moshe #6 05:25  |  Otto Rand 18/08/08   111.   Dr.L.Brnd 05:38  |  Otto Rand 18/08/08   112.   Don Camillo 05:53  |  Danite 18/08/08   113.   Don Camillo 05:54  |  Danite 18/08/08   114.   Yaakov Sullivan # 101 They Are Two Different Situations 05:57  |  Jeff Northridge 18/08/08   115.   Don Camillo 06:04  |  Danite 18/08/08   116.   Don-about the UN stepping in 06:18  |  Yehuda 18/08/08   117.   C`mon Johnboy #108, how stupid do you think we all are? 06:26  |  Dr. L. Brnd 18/08/08   118.   Peacelover #109 06:31  |  Stanley 18/08/08   119.   Mark #94, what I described was the "contiguous" Allon Plan 06:50  |  Dr. L. Brnd 18/08/08   120.   Johnboy # 108 That Does Not Follow 06:53  |  Jeff Northridge 18/08/08   121.   to Peacelover 07:03  |  Otto Rand 18/08/08   122.   2 State solution - Judea and Israel 07:17  |  Ben Plonie 18/08/08   123.   #120 Jeff, it will be inevitable 07:36  |  Johnboy 18/08/08   124.   Brnd, Israel can never be a "State for the Jews"... 07:58  |  BBSNews 18/08/08   125.   LINDA RIVERA 08:22  |  shoshanna 18/08/08   126.   Bowing down to the nations 09:41  |  Moshe 18/08/08   127.   Tzfonit brands all "settlers" as criminals 10:57  |  Settler Babe 18/08/08   128.   Shoshana of Haifa 11:31  |  x-ray 18/08/08   129.   # 1 to "S" re: one state (2nd try) 22:11  |  eric 18/08/08   130.   # 4 to esther re: alternatives (2nd try) 22:12  |  eric 18/08/08   131.   to Moshe #126 (2nd try) 13:13  |  zeev 19/08/08

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