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Last update - 11:20 17/05/2008 Settlement stumbling blocs By Lara Friedman and Hagit Ofran Tags: settlements, Israel  Last month, The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration had entered into a secret agreement with Israel to permit continued construction in areas of the West Bank popularly known as "settlement blocs." The story focused on the alleged agreement (the existence of which administration officials strongly deny), but missed the real point: Secret agreement or not, Israeli construction in and around "settlement blocs" has continued without pause throughout the tenure of President George W. Bush, and continues to this day, with only token opposition from the U.S. So, too, has relentless construction of roads and other infrastructure, to facilitate the expansion of those blocs and integrate them into Israel. So, too, has the entrenchment of a comprehensive "security" regime, sealing off the West Bank from these areas and isolating the Palestinians trapped inside them. "Settlement bloc" is an informal term. Israel has never formally defined the blocs. Neither the Palestinians nor the international community (including the U.S.) recognize settlements in blocs as having any special status, compared to other settlements. And construction in the blocs is clearly barred under Phase I of the road map, which states: "[The government of Israel] freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements)." The real question, then, is not, was there a secret agreement, but rather, why has Israel felt all along that it has special license to keep building in these areas? Advertisement One answer can be found in a letter sent by Bush to then-prime minister Ariel Sharon on April 14, 2004. In it, Bush wrote, "In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949..." Settler advocates immediately seized on this statement as a quasi-official green light from the U.S. for continued expansion of Jewish communities in settlement blocs. Since then, opposition to Israeli activities in these areas almost inevitably runs into the argument: "But everyone, including President Bush, knows these places are going to remain part of Israel anyway, so why invest political capital in the issue?" The answer is simple: If Israel is serious about wanting peace, the future of the West Bank must be left to negotiations, not predetermined by unilateral acts. Today, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is trying desperately to demonstrate to his people that negotiations, not violence, are the route to achieving Palestinian aspirations. Continued settlement expansion - even in blocs - undermines him and his pro-peace position. In doing so, it threatens the two-state solution, and conflicts with the fundamental Israeli need to end the occupation and achieve real peace and security for its people. It also embarrasses the U.S. and undermines its peace efforts, while eroding goodwill toward Israel around the world. President Bush was probably correct in observing that a final peace agreement will have to take into account the situation on the ground in the West Bank, where 40 years of occupation and government-supported settlement policies have, by design, created a new and complicated reality. Indeed, under the 2003 model peace agreement called the Geneva Accords, negotiated by Israelis and Palestinians (many of whom were and remain senior political figures), the Palestinians agreed to Israel's annexing some settlements in exchange for land swaps of equal size from within Israel proper. This experience illustrated that in the context of serious peace negotiations, Israel will likely get much of what it wants when it comes to settlement blocs. But it won't get everything, in large part because "everything" - like the huge blocs Israel is unilaterally expanding and de facto annexing today - is incompatible with the establishment of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state. Getting from the current reality on the ground to a negotiated agreement will require mutual goodwill and strong, credible Palestinian leadership. If Israel continues to build in settlement blocs, it will find itself with neither, and will likely lose the best, and perhaps last, Palestinian partner for peace it will see for a very long time. Last week, during a press briefing regarding Bush's latest visit to the Middle East, National Security Advisor Steve Hadley was asked, for the umpteenth time, to clarify U.S. policy regarding Israeli settlements. His response was unequivocal: "There must be an end to settlement expansion, full stop." No mention of settlement blocs. The U.S. should stand by this message. And Israel, for its own good, should listen. Lara Friedman is the director of policy and government relations for Americans for Peace Now. Hagit Ofran is the director of Peace Now's Settlement Watch (Israel). Bookmark to del.icio.us   Knowing when to fold Ehud Olmert tells Kadima to begin preparations for party primaries. Time for vegetarianism? 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Read & React Palestinians: IDF kills girl, gunman in Gaza; Negev man wounded by mortar Responses: 158 Editorial: No good reason for broad IDF Gaza operation Responses: 65 Haniyeh aide: Hamas expects gesture in exchange for Shalit letter Responses: 71 TV: IDF reservists complain their service consists of babysitting young settlers Responses: 31 Alexander Yakobson: Religious rites not needed to join the Jewish people Responses: 51 More Headlines 02:24 Israel fears Hezbollah may try to 'settle score' over Mughniyeh 23:32 Top crime attorney dies in Tel Aviv car bombing 21:13 Olmert tells Kadima: Get ready for party primaries 22:40 EU diplomats: We're not ready for major upgrade of Israel ties 02:00 Gadaffi: We fear Israel may kill Barack Obama just as it did JFK 22:57 Report: Government panel to probe Ramon sex crime inquiry 00:04 Glasgow Rangers star denies interest in joining Maccabi T.A. 20:57 Palestinians: IDF kills 4 in Gaza; Negev man wounded by mortar 23:06 Histadrut: We'll strike unless Treasury backtracks on tax cuts 22:37 Border policeman lightly hurt at anti-fence rally 17:14 Israel: No Gaza raid, we'll give truce talks a chance 02:58 NGOs cutting back projects, dismissing staff as dollar spirals downward 02:53 Vilnai: Joseph's Tomb should be on agenda with Palestinians 02:36 Mayor of Qassam-battled Sderot questioned by police on graft suspicions Previous Editions Select Day 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may

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