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Last update - 03:33 25/08/2008 Let them stay in Palestine By Akiva Eldar Tags: West Bank, Settlers, Israel The question Kadima voters must ask themselves on the way to the polls is not which candidate is most qualified to order the army chief of staff, at 3 A.M., to launch strikes against Iran. That decision will in any event be made at the White House. The question they face is tenfold more difficult and no less fateful: Which candidate is capable of instructing the chief of staff, at 3 P.M., to evacuate 110 settlements in the West Bank. After all, this was Kadima's major promise to its voters. "No settlement will remain standing beyond the separation fence," Ehud Olmert promised in late March 2006, just after his party won the election. In an interview Olmert gave to Newsweek, he explained that the one threat Israel did not know how to deal with is the threat of losing its standing as a Jewish-democratic state. On paper, specifically the ones on which he has detailed his stance on Israel's permanent borders, Olmert has come a long way, even if his position is still far from satisfactory, meeting the central goal he placed before his government. Advertisement The reality on the ground has changed for the good. Of the settlers, that is. It is no coincidence that media leaks regarding the far-reaching concessions Olmert is prepared to offer go in one of the settlers' ears and out the other. There is a good reason why a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who comes "to advance the diplomatic process," is met by the settlers with indifference. When Israel Harel, a resident of the settlement of Ofra and an official with the Yesha Council of settlements, was asked for his reaction to the compromise deal whereby the Migron outpost would be relocated to a nearby settlement, he ticked off those who comprised the "triumvirate of evil": Peace Now; the European Union, which finances the group; and the High Court of Justice, which ruled against the settlers. He uttered not one word about the prime minister, who promised to evacuate the outposts. He did not mention the defense minister, who is responsible for maintaining law and order in the territories. Not one word of protest against the foreign minister, who does the absolute minimum in voicing criticism over Israel's ongoing violations of international commitments. Benny Kashriel, the mayor of Ma'aleh Adumim, does in fact aim his wrath at the government. He is not satisfied with his city's total area of municipal jurisidiction (49 square kilometers, holding within them 32,000 residents), which is nearly identical to that of Tel Aviv (51 square kilometers, with 390,000 residents). Nor does he cease to complain, even after the government approved the inclusion of Ma'aleh Adumim "within the fence" (at a cost of NIS 800 million). Kashriel is unhappy that Olmert and Barak decided to annex just four square kilometers of land to his settlement (one quarter of the total land mass of Ramallah: 16 square kilometers encompassing 125,000 residents). Kashriel is now demanding that the government add an additional four square kilometers to Ma'aleh Adumim, a risky venture that would place Israel Defense Forces soldiers in danger due to the topographical lowness of the fence route and the added expenditures that would be required just for this section of the fence (another NIS 100 million). It is high time for Olmert and those who wish to succeed him to inform Harel and Kashriel that the rules of the game have changed. State lands in the territories have never been, de jure, sovereign property of the State of Israel. From now on, they are part of the state of Palestine, and for every dunam of land that is annexed in the West Bank, we will compensate with land from Israel proper. Today, it is still possible, perhaps, to persuade the Palestinians to exchange Ma'aleh Adumim for territories in the western Negev, or between Kiryat Gat and Hebron. Conversely, annexation of Ariel, a 14-square kilometer city with a population of 16,600 residents that sits 21 kilometers from the Green Line, is not conducive to a two-state solution. The decisive test that awaits those looking to lead the country is their willingness to meet head-on a small minority that makes up less than 1 percent of the total population and for whom settlement is the be-all and end-all. At a seminar that took place last December in Tel Aviv, the head of the Alfei Menashe settlement council, Hesdai Eliezer, estimated that at least 70 percent of those living outside of "settlement blocs" would happily accept compensation (why not an immigrant absorption basket?) and come on aliya. Those among the 115,000 settlers living outside "the blocs" (as delineated in the Geneva Initiative) who refuse to come home can remain in Palestine. If they want to come back, they will come back. If not, then they won't come back. The government will not "expel" any Jew and the IDF will not "uproot" what has been planted. Yasser Arafat at one point agreed to grant Jewish settlers Palestinian citizenship, in addition to Israeli citizenship, and to provide them with full rights, including a fair apportionment of water and land resources. We only need to make sure that the Jewish minority in Palestine receives the same treatment accorded to the Arab minority in Israel. No more, no less. Or perhaps that would be too cruel. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Beatle in Bethlehem Paul McCartney says West Bank visit shows he is carrying message of peace. Biden on the attack Democratic VP candidate says McCain presidency would benefit Iran, Hezbollah.   1.   Let them stay in Palestine 08:11  |  Mike 25/08/08   2.   Irrelevant settlers or Let the tail wag the dog? 10:04  |  Manny Goldstein 25/08/08   3.   You think the Palestinians will tolerate a Jewish minority 10:13  |  David G 25/08/08   4.   Fatah option Condi-Kadima fiction that doesn`t exist in reality 11:15  |  G Marcus 25/08/08   5.   Akive Eldar: perhaps YOU should leave and join "Palestine" 11:18  |  Yaakov 25/08/08   6.   Disgusting settlers 11:43  |  Danny 25/08/08   7.   Let them stay in Palestine 11:44  |  Real Patriot 25/08/08   8.   #4 Marcus - only 2 options exist 11:49  |  Danny 25/08/08   9.   What Makes You Think The Palestinians Will Allow Them To Stay 11:51  |  Johan Odin 25/08/08   10.   Brilliant solution... The Pals deserve it... 12:01  |  Esther 25/08/08   11.   Very funny 12:31  |  Ofer Maimon 25/08/08   12.   Johan Odin - and the brave Norwegians 12:55  |  Ofer Maimon 25/08/08   13.   #8 Danny: Only 2 options exist 12:57  |  G Marcus 25/08/08   14.   Re Johan #12 13:14  |  Esther 25/08/08   15.   #13 G.Marcus that will never happen 13:16  |  abraham 25/08/08   16.   Yes, a democratic, multi-cultural PA with Jewish MPs too! 13:41  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/08/08   17.   #3 David, are you saying PA `d become an apartheid state? 13:53  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/08/08   18.   #13 Marcus: here`s the third option 14:08  |  AliciaYasmeen 25/08/08   19.   David G. 14:59  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 25/08/08   20.   "Read my lips: NO MORE SETTLEMENTS!" 15:01  |  Ivar 25/08/08   21.   #20 Ivar. You have serious power delusions. 15:26  |  Chaim 25/08/08   22.   IVAR NEEDS TO STUDY MODERN HISTORY OF WHICH HE KNOWS ZILCH 15:29  |  sabrahal 25/08/08   23.   # 4 g marcus dreaming the Zionist daydream 15:32  |  Axel 25/08/08   24.   what`s your problem, Johan Odin? 16:53  |  ivo 25/08/08   25.   Under Pals rule, intermixed neighborhoods 17:16  |  Deal 25/08/08   26.   Maybe one day Israel will have Pals, PM and Palestine Jew PM! 17:17  |  :) PEACE 25/08/08   27.   To Esther #10 &14 17:19  |  S 25/08/08   28.   The Settlemants are ILLEGAL 17:26  |  dan 25/08/08   29.   9 Johan Odin, 3 David G. johan,exactly my thoughts! 17:27  |  lakshmi 25/08/08   30.   These 70% who are prepared to come back home voluntarily , 17:44  |  Sheik Ali 25/08/08   31.   Sheik Ali 18:17  |  Ofer Maimon 25/08/08   32.   The Golem of Israel 18:18  |  David 25/08/08   33.   Alaska is Israel! 18:26  |  To Alaska! 25/08/08   34.   A Jew in Palestine will be an instant Gilad Shalit & Worse. 18:48  |  Akram Zekaria 25/08/08   35.   19 18:51  |  Dave Duncan 25/08/08   36.   Johan Odin 18:52  |  Berker 25/08/08   37.   to david g #3 19:02  |  Canderra 25/08/08   38.   #6 Danny Re: "Disgusting Settlers" 19:43  |  Gray 25/08/08   39.   Like their terrorist leader once said "Jordan is Palestine" 19:43  |  JP 25/08/08   40.   #9, J Odin, Jews were there before Arabs 19:58  |  David 25/08/08   41.   40 David, no one has to leave what is rightfully theirs.In 1947 20:57  |  lakshmi 25/08/08   42.   David - Strange 21:19  |  Historian 25/08/08   43.   Akiva is a radical self hating leftist 21:31  |  Ken Jurist 25/08/08   44.   Eldar`s waning dreams 21:40  |  ZADOK 25/08/08   45.   #28 dan according to whom ? ther are no such edicts 21:56  |  sabrahal 25/08/08   46.   Settlers in Palestine 22:15  |  Johan 25/08/08   47.   Is Akiva Eldar Willing To Be a Citizen Of Gaza-Hamas ? 22:28  |  Joseph.E 25/08/08   48.   The Golem 22:43  |  Johan 25/08/08   49.   If they stay in Palestine, can Palestinians move to Israel? 22:43  |  Silvienne 25/08/08   50.   #6, Danny... 22:45  |  Silvienne 25/08/08   51.   #38, Gray, same here... 22:48  |  Silvienne 25/08/08   52.   One state with everyone enjoying ALL of the land 23:00  |  UN Man 25/08/08   53.   stay in Palestine 23:01  |  rm 25/08/08   54.   NOBODY NEEDS TO MOVE 23:06  |  tad chase 25/08/08   55.   David 23:09  |  Johan 25/08/08   56.   to yaakov #4 23:15  |  Dr Eric 25/08/08   57.   Silvienne aka Laila aka Su Su aka,aka kaka ! 23:19  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 25/08/08   58.   # 51 tad 23:20  |  Axel 25/08/08   59.   another cracked record called lackschmi playing the same bad tune 23:21  |  vhardman 25/08/08   60.   silvienne 23:23  |  shlomo 25/08/08   61.   # 40 david 23:25  |  Axel 25/08/08   62.   to Silvienne 23:25  |  Petro 25/08/08   63.   ODIN using Your humanitarian values,take Your "trash" home 23:29  |  PETER SM 25/08/08   64.   Tad 23:33  |  Johan 25/08/08   65.   Silvienne 46 00:09  |  ChanahS 26/08/08   66.   Silvienne; Our Mutual Albatross 00:27  |  Gray 26/08/08   67.   51 tad chase, UN Man, Silvienne : tad chase the question of 00:35  |  lakshmi 26/08/08   68.   Tad Chase 51 00:40  |  Harvey 26/08/08   69.   #23 Axel. Occupying our own land is no "burden". 00:56  |  Chaim 26/08/08   70.   A just solution 01:43  |  Rachel Carter 26/08/08   71.   #40 DAVID 01:58  |  Courcey 26/08/08   72.   ONE STATE! AND WITH EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.. 02:32  |  Edithann, USA 26/08/08   73.   Settlers 02:45  |  Truth 26/08/08   74.   NO, NO, NO to Akiva`s proposal 02:48  |  yuval 26/08/08   75.   Interesting point at the end 02:52  |  Johnboy 26/08/08   76.   TRUTH "Settlers ". Arabs who immigrated from sorrounding 02:59  |  PETER SM 26/08/08   77.   #41 Lakshmi 03:07  |  Moshe 26/08/08   78.   EDITHANN.Arafat wanted Jews out of Gaza but wanted1 state for all 03:15  |  PETER SM 26/08/08   79.   #53 Dare I point out, Chaim..... 03:22  |  Johnboy 26/08/08   80.   #41 Lakshmi 03:33  |  Moshe 26/08/08   81.   #54 No, it isn`t, Rachel Carter 03:33  |  Johnboy 26/08/08   82.   #46 You already have your answer, Silvienne 03:40  |  Johnboy 26/08/08   83.   # 41 lakshmi - great sense of historical humor 03:42  |  17 26/08/08   84.   #46 Silvienne 03:46  |  Moshe 26/08/08   85.   david 40 04:51  |  potobac 26/08/08   86.   simple they can become palestinian citizenship or leave to israel 04:57  |  antoine 26/08/08   87.   TO EVERYBODY 05:05  |  judith 26/08/08   88.   #33 Alaska 05:38  |  judith 26/08/08   89.   41# lakshmi. The only thing you forget to mention 05:54  |  Akram Zekaria 26/08/08   90.   settler space vs Palestinian space 06:52  |  roberto 26/08/08   91.   # 10 hey? wait a minute, esther? 06:57  |  eric 26/08/08   92.   # 24 very well said, ivo 07:03  |  eric 26/08/08   93.   Sounds Fair 07:12  |  Bernie 26/08/08   94.   # 52 to harvey in london re: the conflict 07:14  |  eric 26/08/08   95.   EDITHAN.Arafat wanted Jews out of Gaza but wanted1 state for all? 07:31  |  PETER SM 26/08/08   96.   UN Man One state with everyone enjoying ALL of the land 07:39  |  , D 26/08/08   97.   No Scholarship at all! 07:45  |  Howard 26/08/08   98.   Let Them... 07:51  |  Earthling 26/08/08   99.   Yes, one state & peace for all 07:53  |  JordanisPalestine 26/08/08   100.   edithann and confusion which muslim state has equal rights for al 08:14  |  vhardman 26/08/08   101.   JEWS must leave but millions of Arabs should be forced on Israel? 08:15  |  PETER SM 26/08/08   102.   #2 There already is a Jewish minority in Palestine 09:47  |  Tarik 26/08/08   103.   # 97 to howard re: scholarship (last try) 13:50  |  eric 27/08/08   104.   Land in Israel in exchange for the Settlement Blocks 22:40  |  Slibovitz 24/09/08

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