Comment / Settlement freeze is like racial segregation in U.S.

Karni, there's a more accurate historical parallel for your interest in occupied land: Lebensraum.

Karni, there's a more accurate historical parallel for your interest in occupied land: Lebensraum.

Ms. Eldad is correct! Comparing Jewish struggle with the Civil Rights Movement is spot on. I have also noticed this for years - Jewish and Black communities have more in common than any other two cultures in the world. To compare supposed Muslim oppression with Black oppression in the USA is to minimize what Black people went thru and and fought for. What Black people went thru was a Holocaust - I don't see Muslims going thru a Holocaust, especially when it is more Muslims killing each other than anyone else - no other group of people outside of the Muslim Ummah comes even close to what Muslims are doing to other Muslims. Black people in America fought for and got freedom without oppressing each other and killing each other. They certainly weren't stoning their women, performing genital mutilations, etc.

?As he declared on the conference of July 16 1941, he intended to lay the foundation for a permanent settlement of the land between the Weichsel and the Urals under the guise of the occupation. Colonists from Germany and from the German minorities in other countries (Volksdeutsche) had to settle in Poland and European Russia, every settlement being connected by a network of military roads, and protected by an SS garrison in key positions, that would not only have to safeguard the new post-war borders, but also keep the indigenous population in a state of permanent submission.?

Eldad hold?s up a very flattering mirror in which to regard the settler movement of which she is part. She usurps the heroic narrative of the American blacks in the time of segregation. I normally detest comparisons of Israel?s behavior with Nazi Germany, both when people try to equate the two, but also when such comparisons are used to downplay the suffering of the Palestinians (e.g. ?You think Gaza is bad? You should have seen the Warsaw ghetto!? etc.) In this case however, I would like to quote part of what Allan Bullock (in ?Hitler, a study in tyranny? 1952) has to say on Hitler?s policy towards the Slavic peoples, in order to show Eldad that a less flattering view of the settler enterprise is also possible.

actually, the international law is not just on the side of Israel, but it is so hard on the side of Israel that the only merit to discuss is to entice people to go read.

...and totally out of touch with reality and the rule of law!

This article stand logic on its ear and is an affront to every standard of decency. Rosa Parks was a citizen whose courage made her symbol of civil rights. The West Bank settlements, which are for Jews only, connected with roads which are for Jews only, stealing most of the regions water, making it for Jews only, stealing more and more Palestinian land making it for Jews only, are thoroughly and intrinsically racist and as such are the diametric opposite of everything the name Rosa Parks stands for. The author of this piece has hit a new low, and anybody who takes the piece seriously is deluded and in his/her delusion is part of a thoroughly evil agenda. I hope you all live long enough to see yourselves on the wrong side of history, as Rosa Parks lived long enough to see herself on the right side.

The difference is that the seat Rosa Parks occupied was actually vacant and that the bus was actually in her country. If she had sat on a white guy in toronto, you would have a great point.

...but they'll be the first ones to demand protection from the IDF when the arabs take over their TA penthouses,install footbaths in their kitchen sinks,and make them cover their hair,ankles,etc. Go for it,all you Esthers... You deserve what you get.

This is what the settlers want± more land for Jews, less land for Palestinians. That's racist!

"so many calumnies, inaccuracies, & pure nonsense... in a single post... WOW!" NONE of which you bother to refute... Figures. "so what`s your point...? .. that all Pals should speak Hebrew... or Yiddish maybe... or Russian, for that matter...?" It was such a simple point. It's understandable that you didn't get it. Jews were kicked out. Jews were attacked again. Jews got to reclaim their properties and develop them. Your point is that they should have moved elsewhere. You know, the post where I demonstrated that you are basically heartless. "the safest way for a thief..... is for he himself to shout "gevalt! thief!" Such an atrocious personality. Jews get kicked out by Jordan in 1948. Jordan attacks again in 1967. Jews get to reclaim their properties after that, and this pathetic individual refers to the Jews as the thieves.

The use of Rosa Parks' example in this article is beyond brash, it is misrepresentative of Mrs. Parks' accomplishment. Mrs. Parks was defying laws that denied her basic human rights due to the color of her skin. This has nothing to do with the land grab going on in the West Bank. Your analogy is beyond strained; it is abusive. To my knowledge, Mrs. Parks never advocated that blacks in America should go steal some land from Mexico or Canada so that they could build houses.

Yaakov, You should maybe consider a debating class. The argument of contention is not what you have written in your second post, albeit your second post will come back to be the nail in the coffin for your argument. The argument in contention is as you say, that the zionist (pre Israel as you state in your second post, therefore must be 1947) would never have accepted to have Palestinians as there neighbours. As I noted this is false, you retorted by saying that when you use the word Zionist you mean pre Israel Jews in Palestine, which can only then refer to 1947-8 Partition Plan, which as you clearly state in your second post, the Jews would have surely accepted because it was the best they would get. So Learn to debate and form CLEAR ARGUMENTS, your Argument waivers across several different time periods, but is limited to a definition of persons from one time period, a time period where your argument holds no weight as it is clearly false. U should consider restructuring it.

I'll tell you what most Palestinians think about all this: at the end of the day, they tell themselves, all these houses, apartments and roads will be ours one day. So let them build and build and save us the money and effort.

I am incensed at this article by people who are so egocentric and fail to see other people's misery. Your like only see their difficulties and stop short at the pain of people you are destroying their lives. SHAME ON YOU.

It is questionable. The Geneva convention forbides countries to force its own people to settle in land of conquered countries. The logical of the law was to prevent the establishement of Nazi style concentration camps in conquered land. Israel did not force anybody to setlle in the West Bank, which also is not a conquered land, but a land of dispute. It did not belong to any country, and it does not belong to Israel either. It is is not an annexed territory so what that means is that the fate of settlers will be decided in negotiations. By the way also the 67 borders will be decided in negotiations. It could be both ways. The border could be moved in both directions.

It must really end in all forms. It leads to one country for all people living on this land regarding of their religion and race(the country that Arabs tried to convince you and the security council in 1947). There will be nothing called a Jewish state of Israel or a Muslim state or a Christian state in the lands cause it will deny the fundamental rights of many people. 2:)But if you want 2 states based on 1967 borders you have to remove settlements. Settlers are another story, they can chose to live as normal Jews citizens with all rights on the Palestinian state which will be a state not based on religion but on the Palestinians rights of having a state whether they are Muslims,Christians or Jews but not as occupiers dreaming of Eretz Israel obviously. I think any one talking about solutions rather than the 2 said above is talking about war and not peace cause the situation can't just stay like that.

To compare the settler situation to Rosa Parks' plight is insulting to everyone who fought the civil rights battle for equality. Your people CHOSE to go and squat on disputed land. They were born black and told they were less than white people. There is a stark difference and it's unjustifiable comparison. You have been abandoned by the right because you are a political liability. Israelis are sick of being put in danger by a radical minority, thus, your "rights" (more like interests) are being ignored because of the political reality. It happens everywhere in the world and Israel is no more special a place for it not to happen.

1948. The day Israel declared itself a state, is the day you can go back to for what most people would consider 'legal justification'... no going back 2000-3000 years, based upon a book not everyone puts total faith in. There are fellow humans to consider with different opinions, and a desire for freedom.

That whatever Palestinian state arrives, will be as tolerant, if not more (than many so-called democracies and such have been lately), of the fact that yes, all people have a right to their lives and freedom as fellow humans. Two states, one Nation.

So the settlers are this delusional? This is very disturbing, that hell is wrong with those people? It doesn't look like peace is even an option for these people.

The Palestinians have no way to enforce any segregation. The reason Jews have been killed when venturing in to Palestinian controlled areas is because your occupation leaves them little choice but to attack any and all Jews who make the obscenely stupid mistake of entering those areas. You see, 60 years of conflict, strife, occupation, colonization, and discrimination have rightly given them a sense of anger when an Israeli does happen into an area where no IDF soldiers are present to protect them. The Palestinians have no nation, they have a brutal military occupation with an added colonial component, and if you, or any other fool were to be stupid enough to venture into THEIR world, you will get what they feel you deserve. Until your nation makes proper amends to the Palestinian people, that will be the reality. And it is not segregation , nor apartheid. It is the natural reaction any oppressed people feel towards their oppressor. Not OK, but reality.

ARE GC`s Retroactive? No. They apply from the moment they are ratified and to what the ratifier is doing at the time. At the time it was in control of territories of the non-state entity of Palestine. Common article 3 covers non-state entities. http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/genevaconventions Meanwhile. Israel's obligation to International Law applied. As it did not legally annex any territories acquired by war by 1949, it was considered the occupier. See the British recognition of Israel. http://wp.me/pDB7k-ki#defacto-dejure The GCs: Are based on the Laws of War. The majority of League of Nations States were party to the Laws of War prior to the UN, making them universally applicable, i.e., obligatory for all UN Member states, without exception. The GC's are obligatory of all UN Member states now that a majority have ratified. This is how International law is formed. Your rubbish on UNRWA is just that, rubbish.

Israel has knowingly sowed the wind and is beginning to reap the whirlwind of world condemnation. Israel WILL move settlers from the WestBank....and a Palestinian State WILL rise....Israel WILL have little choice if it seriously wants to survive. It is time for Israel to become lawful!

"As an individual who lived through the civil rights movement here in Chicago, let me say this comparison is repulsive. These settlers are not victims. " Actually, they are. They are living on their own properties and have had the right to build on their own properties suddenly taken away from them. "The benefits they reap at the expense of native Palestinians " A Jew building something on his property is at the expense of Palestinians? How does that work? If you build a structure on your own property, is it at another neighbor's expense? You know why they are victims? Because ignorant people don't understand the full history of what transpired.

ideological disdain.

RE: "There is a simple, natural solution that is full of life - continuing to build." - Karni Eldad MY COMMENT: Stated like a rabid, delusional, self-righteous colonist!

The settlement movement isn't being oppressed. It is an oppressor. If Israel does not call for a full pull out from the West Bank, they deserve exactly what they will get.

To ask where are the Jewish settlements in Arab countries is absurd. The settlements in the West Bank are NOT in Israel and no matter how many times the Zionists repeat the lie it will not change the truth. As an American, I resent that our tax dollars are being used to help the Zionist/Israelis perpetuate that lie. One of these days Americans are going to wake up and realize how they have been duped, lied to and used--forced to live in the Israeli matrix--and they will be justifiably enraged. And, being only human, they unfortunately will not necessarily confine the objects of their rage to the main perpetrators of the lie. Their rage will undoubtedly be vented on many "innocent" Israelia and Jews, who while not active concoctors of the lie, nevertheless knew of its widespread existance and sat back and did nothing.

As an individual who lived through the civil rights movement here in Chicago, let me say this comparison is repulsive. These settlers are not victims. The benefits they reap at the expense of native Palestinians (many who used to live in what is now Israel proper) is disgusting. The Palestinians have to wait for water while these settlers get clean water for their pools, etc? Jewish only roads? The American Jews stood by my people side by side during the civil rights movement. The irony is that many of these settlers are American Jews who come from New York and abroad. Eldad, my friend you have no complaint. If anyone has a complaint, it's the Palestinians. You single handedly minimize the suffering of black Americans with our null and void comparison.

Ita open that Torah of yours and read that Jews were not there first

Actually on my last visit to a Pal village plenty of Jews were there: soldiers that is harassing and terrorizing the local population. Settlers that enter Pal villages and towns do it to kill and provoke and lay claim to the land. Why are you surprised Pals don't have a welcoming committee for them? Oh I forgot to mention I am Jewish, so how come nobody butchered me? I know I must be one of those self-hating, leftist Jews right?

How many jews were living in the holy land 1920?

The "Jewish" converts of Khazarian origin has no right to build in Palestinian land. Ashkenazi "Jews" are descendant of the Khazarians and belong in European countries. LEAVE THE PALESTINIANS IN PEACE WITH THEIR LAND!!!

No one said a word when the Jewish people couldn't go to the wall to pray. The Arabs put up a fence and the jewish people could only look through it to the other side. Jerusalem is one city. The world will have to get over it.

...that you would be happier in Gaza. Then your constant bleating and whining would be justified,according to your view anyway.

You obviously don't know the facts.Palestinians CANNOT buildas much as they please.Since 1967 israel has bulldozed 24,000 plus homes in the occupied territories for two reasons 1:Built without a permit all over the west bank because their occupier would not issue one.2:To make room for jews only roads,jews only settlements,and areas confiscated for the israeli military.Nothing but racist,barbaric thieves are the "settlers" and the idf(IOF).

"so many calumnies, inaccuracies, & pure nonsense... in a single post... WOW!" NONE of which you bother to refute... Figures. "so what`s your point...? .. that all Pals should speak Hebrew... or Yiddish maybe... or Russian, for that matter...?" It was such a simple point. It's understandable that you didn't get it. Jews were kicked out. Jews were attacked again. Jews got to reclaim their properties and develop them. Your point is that they should have moved elsewhere. You know, the post where I demonstrated that you are basically heartless. "the safest way for a thief..... is for he himself to shout "gevalt! thief!" Such an atrocious personality. Jews get kicked out by Jordan in 1948. Jordan attacks again in 1967. Jews get to reclaim their properties after that, and this pathetic individual refers to the Jews as the thieves.

...Than, How is it that Israel is an Apartheid State? Than how is it that Palestinians there are part of Israel? How can Israel be an Apartheid State to WB if WB is not part of Israel??? GC 4 does not give Palestinians in WB Citizenship. If anything it stipulates that Israel does not need to repatriate them and that it can make special laws for that area, laws that pertain only to the persons in that land. (some restrictions apply, Death Penalty, is good example, must apply to occupied lands and lands of the occupyer, can't be one way). Or when you state your liabelous words, is it about Israeli Arabs? So perhaps, you can advise on your views and if what i've written is incorrect, refute and explain. Failing that, I'd appreciate it if you stop using liabelous words to describe a country that is near and dear to my heart. Unless you have some legal info to work off, please stop spreading propaganda. alwayslearning@live.ca

Not to worry Esther this woman is in dire need of medication.

one example please.it simply does not exist.

Who'd have thought it. Israel and al qaeda are the biggest threats to world peace.

No matter how apologists for Israeli racist housing policies try to squirm out of it, the settlements represent segregation. Tell me, how many Palestinian residents of the West Bank can move into settlement housing? How many Israeli Palestinians can live in these settlements, all of which are illegal under international law. How many Palestinians will be allowed to move into the new housing being built illegally in East Jerusalem? If it is not segregation why are Palestinians of East Jerusalem who have lived in their homes for years being kicked into the streets so that Jewish settlers can take over their homes without paying even a shekel to the rightful owners? Israel represents segregation as much, if not more, than any segregated society and it is time to put away the denials.

everywhere they went in the name of Empires. How much in reparations have ou paid to all the countries you ravaged?

... is for he himself to shout "gevalt! thief!"

'... the land you speak of "stealing," belonged exclusively to the Palestinians? You just can`t stomach Jews living on 3-5% of it.' - SDHD Israel doesn't occupy 3-5% of Palestine, it occupies 60% of it. That's rather a lot by any count, when NONE of it is legally Israel's territory and it has largely been seized by force or bent Jewish laws. I am not surprised that a rightist seeks to bend the figures, as they are an appalling testament to Israel's morality, greed and warped idea of law and justice. You forever dodge the point that Israel has NO legal standing in, or valid claim to, the land of Palestine. All you have is an army of occupation that has broken every rule in the Geneva Conventions book to seize or expropriate land that is not legally, and never can be, Israel's. The settlers that you endorse are about in the same legal and moral position that German settlers were in Poland from 1940. Not a good place to be and not one where rewards can or should be expected.

... that all Pals should speak Hebrew... or Yiddish maybe... or Russian, for that matter...?

... in a single post... WOW!

Labhras, CJ was arguing that the only borders of Israel were the 29 Nov 1947 boundaries based on Israel's 1948 declaration of Independence. The Arab member of the ICJ argued that land within the 1967 Green Line should be regarded as 'occupied territory' under the 4th Geneva Convention. The ICJ specifically refused to do that and made it clear that 'occupied territory' referred only to lands beyond the 4 June 67 Green Line boundary. The Arab judge wrote a dissenting brief arguing that accepting the Green Line as sovereign Israeli territory disrupts the Pal claim for unlimited right of return. Needless to say, this was not the position of the ICJ. International Law sometimes favors Israel and sometimes protects Israelis, sometimes favors Pals and protects Pals. That is as it should be. However, that has never been your interpretation or Johnboys.

smgxxx: explain to me how it is "national liberation" when you come from someplace else to move someone else off their property and then claim it as your own? are you saying that because of the possibility that some of your great great...great grandparents may have lived in the vicinity a couple of millenia ago it is ok to do this? What about the ancestors of the people who lived there before your ancestors moved in? Imagine what the world would look like if this logic was applied universally and in all places.

Karni, you hit a raw nerve by using Rosa Parks as an example. Yes we are apartheidist since Avraham Avinu who separated himself from his Aramean brethren and founded a new nation. You speak of Eretz Israel. We cannot have all of Eretz Israel until the Mashiach comes . Until then we can only have up until the security fence. The facts are that the Gentile world won't allow us to keep all of EI. When you suggest that we do ,it is like a red flag before a bull. We know that we are G-d's people,the priesthood of humanity. Only when Mashiach comes, will this be revealed to the entire world. Until that happens, we are alambbetween seventy wolves, and by these talkbacks, one sees them howl.

All, The Pro-Pals believe their own propaganda so completely that they are completely unable to listen to the settlers. The settlers sincerely believe that the WB is the Land of Israel. If that is true, then forbidding them to build while encouraging Pals to build is racism. You believe that the Jordanian ethnic cleansing of 1948 was valid and that a Jew-free WB (soon to be Palestine) should be the basis of the 4th Geneva Convention which forbids 'transfer of civilian population' to occupied territory. Therefore, the existence of Jewish towns there is racism. If we're ever going to get to a negotiated settlement, the other side is going to have to negotiate the Israeli claims across the Green Line - whether religious, Biblical or Historical. You may not agree with them, but they are part of the negotiation. The result will probably be some exchange of territory to keep the most populous settlements in Israel & some International guarantees of Jewish Holy Sites.

In 1947 there was not Israel. There were zionists. As for your points, let's see: zionists in 1947 accepted the partition plan because they knew full well that it was the beast offer they had on the table and barely that. They sttod to gain everything while Palestinians gained to loose everything. They were loosing areas which still had an Arab majority which would have come under zionist control and made them second class citizens as they are in Israel today. After war broke out, Israel drove out over 600,000 from those areas, Galil, Ramle, Lod, West Jerusalem. Israel was not "willing" to take in a large Arab population;it did do because it had no choice and the Revisionists have always had a policy of transferring that segment of the population from the state of Israel.It is not the Arabs turning Israel into an Arab state but rather the opposite of Israel into a State of the Jews. To deny it is to deny facts created on the ground over the past 43 yrs.

Aside from being an incredibly biased and one sided version of history, there are a few points that are made that really make no sense. So Please Explain what is wrong with the following: 3. Political Participation Section 7A(1) of the Basic Law: The Knesset (1958), passed in 1985 Bars a list of candidates from participation in elections to the Knesset "if its aims or actions, expressly or by implication" deny "the existence of the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people." The Law of Political Parties (1992) Bars the Registrar of Political Parties from registering a political party if it denies "the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State." In 2002 both Section 7A(1) of the Basic Law: the Knesset and the Law of Political Parties were amended further to bar those whose goals or actions, directly or indirectly, "support armed struggle of an enemy state or of a terror organization, against the State of Israel."

It is peculiar hearing the Americans posters criticize the settlers.You are the children of illegal settlers(pioneers)and you live on a stolen land. Labhras's great-great grand father did the same with the Aboriginal. Atleast there are some(#96 mick) who sees the hypocracy there,and thanks for that.

"What about the fact that the settlements are illegal and have been built on land stolen from Palestinians?" You mean, the settlements which were built on land owned by Jews prior to 1948 is stolen from Palestinians? According to which international law was it legal for Jordan to capture the territories, kick all the Jews out, and attack Israel again? Jordan lost that war and Jews got to move back onto lands they were only absent from for 19 years. What about Hebron? Jews lived in Hebron until they were massacred by the Arabs and the rest were removed by the British "for their own safety." Not allowed to reclaim their properties once Israel came to control? Is the international law you believe in an anti-Semitic international law, whereby Jews can be ethnically cleansed and are not allowed to return even when they are in a position to reclaim their own properties?

"Israel is only doing what America did to the Indian. Divdide and conquer. Keep in cantons and reservations." Nonsense. Israel is protecting the rights of Jews to live where they always have lived in areas where Arabs have sought to decimate them. Since you claim to be in London, and speaking of America and its treatment of the Indian, can you explain why America's primary language is English? How about Australia? New Zealand? Why so much English speaking in India? England was the most colonistic rapist of native cultures in the history of the planet.

And then the title should be correct :) never mind the content!

Comparing the hooligan settlers to Rosa Parks is not a Hutzpa. It is beyond it- It is a clear symptom of mental illness that results in total loss of ability to distinguish between what's right or wrong. The settlers, particularly the religio-nationalistic types lack any moral compunctions and empathy for the dowtrodden, particularly if they are not Jewish. As long as they are tolerated by the state of Israel and allowed to dictate the national agenda, israel will continue on its path to self destruction.

...scrutiny. "Like most zionists you refuse to admit one thing in your calling on Palestinians to accept their Jewish brethern as fellow citizens. The zionosts would never, ever allow that. They would not be in control and would be called upon to live as equals with their Arab neighbours" Please explain then why the "Zionists" (It would be nice if you called people by proper titles, Jews, Israeli's etc...but eh) accept the 1947 Partition Maps and Palestinians reject it. I seem to remember that at the times of the drawings it would the JEWISH STATE OF ISRAEL AS STATED IN THE 1947 PARTITION AGREEMENT (NOTE THAT IT STATES JEWISH) would be comprised of 400,000+ Arabs and 470,000+ Jews. So Your point is obviously false, Israel since its inception was willing to take a large Arab population. Yes A population that destroys the demographic balance and turns Israel, democratically into an Arab state is not feasible. But you do not state it like this, no you do your best to hide it.

What about the fact that the settlements are illegal and have been built on land stolen from Palestinians? What a lot of chutzpah to bring up the issue of racism; it's the pot calling the kettle black. I couldn't read this piece with a straight face.

"What an insult to the memory of Rosa Parks to be used by an Israeli settler in Palestine. If she were alive today and involved in this issue she would be most definitely on the side of the underdog - the Palestinian people." Your underdogs were massacring Jews for approximately 16 years before the Jews started fighting back. Your underdogs fight to have as much Jew-free land as possible. You sure Rosa Parks would side with people who have more terrorists per-capita than any other group?

ARE GC's Retroactive? GCIV Signed August 1949, final Armstice OF ISRAEL WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, JULY 1949. (remember not a peace agreement a CEASE FIRE AGREEMENT WHICH WILL COME INTO PLAY FOR 1967 REGARDING MOVEMENT OF TROOPS ON BORDER, EXPULSION OF UN PEACEKEEPERS ETC...) This is why UNRWA is required, otherwise Palestinians would have the status based on the historical revisionist argument under rights that existed at the time. These rights didn't exist at the time, hence the Arab petitioniing for a seperate indivudal agency that guaranteed they should never be forced to the pay the costs of their mistakes.

Not aware that King Abimelech defined and legalized the borders of Israel :) :) I know there is a lot of archaeology going on - did they perhaps unearth the map ? David

I just came here from Andrew Sullivan's blog. What a loony article. The equation of Rosa Parks with Israeli settlers is obscenely vile. To use the US civil rights movement to justify apartheid! So insane it's dizzy-making. Further, the whole fundamental concept of a Realtor Deity, who grants certain bits of dirt to certain ethnic groups ... I mean, how completely asinine. Deities, you know, are imaginary. So they cannot very well hand out real estate titles.

to the Indian. Divdide and conquer. Keep in cantons and reservations. And live happily ever after. What's all the complaing about. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.By the way we built an empire like this.

What an insult to the memory of Rosa Parks to be used by an Israeli settler in Palestine. If she were alive today and involved in this issue she would be most definitely on the side of the underdog - the Palestinian people. Karni uses the hackneyed phrase that Israel is surrounded 'by enemies who are big and strong'. What rubbish! It is the IDF that is big and strong. It has invaded its neighbours, some of them (such as Lebanon) three times. Eretz Israel is an apartheid state with literally one law for Jews and another for non-Jews in the WB and Gaza. That constitutes apartheid. Fact.

"The boundless chutzpah of this aurthor is mind-boggling, even by Israeli standards. After 1967, steal the Palestiians land, cleanse the land of them, and then demand it as a civil right tos tael the rest." I never realized that the land you speak of "stealing," belonged exclusively to the Palestinians. When did that happen? Certainly, no one is trying to take the entire land and cleanse it of all Arabs. However, Jordan succeeded in capturing those territories and only cleaning it of Jews for 19 years. That's something you can stomach though, right? You just can't stomach Jews living on 3-5% of it.

"a convenient 19 yr history made up to `justify`... ongoing daylight robbery of Pal WB lands, both private and public.." I'm sure all the tens of thousands of Jews who were kicked out of East Jerusalem and the West Bank didn't find it so convenient back in 1948. Kind of a cold-hearted one toward your own people, aren't you? "there was no existential necessity for this blatant robbery... " Was there a necessity to have removed all the Jews in the first place? If someone kicked you out of your house, you wouldn't find it "necessary" to move back in if you had the opportunity? You wouldn't find it necessary to develop and sell your land if you had the opportunity? "Israel has more than enough arable land in the Galilee, as well as land and resources in the Negev, that are crying out for habitation and development..." Someone should jack you out of your house and tell you that there is more than enough land for you to find another property elsewhere. What a callous soul.

segregation goes both ways- would you Karni Eldad let Palestinians build settlements in Tel Aviv?!

You mean the former residents of Talbieh, Bram, Ikrit, Katamon, Ba'aqa? You mean ther residents of Sheik Jarreh and Silwan? What nation recognises the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel? What international law condones that action?

They could be easily assimilated throughout the other 20 or so Arab countries in the region. Because lets face it, they will probably never retrieve thier lost land (assuming it was theirs in the first place). And it would be a good chance for the greater Arab world to show how much they loved their brothers and how really peace loving they are.

Not only has the intl cout of Justice ruled the territories occupied , but the Israeli High Court of Justice agrees. See case # 2056/04. But why would we expect a 17 year old to understand the law. Unless he /she is over 17 but is just a little slow on the uptake---or is just plain dishonest. My money in on the latter.

The Arab lust for land will never be satiated nor will there desire for blood, war, jihad and martyrdom. They have stolen land all around and they want the Jews land as well. These Arab squatters must go if there is any chance for peace.

Even the doomed from the penning OSLO did not forbid Jews from building homes and Bibi has failed Israel by agreeing to such a racist policy that will not lead to peace only more terrorism. We must destroy the trend to make Israel smaller and be brave, proud and tell the world that the land from the Jordan to the med sea is ALL Israel and there is no Palestinian state to be formed, not now and not ever. Palestinian state is and always has been a code word for destroying Israel.

Even the doomed from the penning OSLO did not forbid Jews from building homes and Bibi has failed Israel by agreeing to such a racist policy that will not lead to peace only more terrorism. We must destroy the trend to make Israel smaller and be brave, proud and tell the world that the land from the Jordan to the med sea is ALL Israel and there is no Palestinian state to be formed, not now and not ever. Palestinian state is and always has been a code word for destroying Israel.

Like most zionists you refuse to admit one thing in your calling on Palestinians to accept their Jewish brethern as fellow citizens. The zionosts would never, ever allow that. They would not be in control and would be called upon to live as equals with their Arab neighbours. That is anathema to them. Who in their right mind would want any of these usurping colonists that destroys livestock, burns fields and cuts down trees, as a neighbour, anymore than a non-Muslim would want the Taliban or Al Queda as neighbours? You seem not to make that distinction, that wih zionists there can be no equality between those from the tribe and those outside the tribe.

The boundless chutzpah of this aurthor is mind-boggling, even by Israeli standards. After 1967, steal the Palestiians land, cleanse the land of them, and then demand it as a civil right tos tael the rest.

"What does your statement have to do with INTERNATIONAL LAWS?" Name the international law which states that you can kick people out of a territory, attack them again, and that they're not allowed to move back in.

How can you not understand, Eldad, why it is just fine that 18% of the population of Israel is Arab, but the biblical homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria - if many of your critics on the Left have their way - must become Judenrein? It all has to do, of course, with who the Jews are. Only in the state of Jews are religious Jews treated as pariahs, whose settlement communities must be stifled. How sad: once upon a time, Zionist "settlers" were national heroes. But they were, of course, secular. Jerry

Karni Eldad makes the analogy between West Bank settlement expansion and the US civil rights movement. The real analogy is the expropriation of land from Native Americans by the US government in the nineteenth century.

Mr. Mark Lewiston: I am John Brown of Kansas. The hero of the American civil rights movement is Dr. Martin Luther King. The jews you speak of forced their way in. If you recall, jews were asked to stay out of the civil rights fight. Only two jewish boys were killed in Missisippi. You make it sound like hundreds of jews died. Once again, only two jewish boys were killed. On the other hand hundreds of African Americans were maimed and/or MURDERED by angry white mobs. Most jews living in the deep south supported the principals of segregation and became furious when outside agitators came to their synagogues to solicit their help. The jews of Charleston rioted when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered FORCED SCHOOL BUSING. Your version of history is a DISTORTION of the truth.

If Arab Palestinians have a right of return, so do Jewish Palestinians. Taking the racist import out of the so-called Palestine National Covenant, and using the natural implications of statements by Yasser Arafat during a feel-good interview he gave on the Baton Broadcasting network (CTV) in Canada, all Jews are Palestinians. I look forward to protests by anti-racists demanding the right of return for Jewish Palestinians.

The original article is holier than thou, and makes no sense at all considering the context. It's self-absorbed gibberish on the part of Settlers, who are rabidly bigoted against "Gentiles" themselves yet seem overly concerned with anti-Semitism.

To compare what Rosa Parks experienced to the temporary inconvenience now being felt by some criminal, racist colonists is too twisted an assertion even for an Israeli rightist to make. Sick, sick, sick.

... ongoing daylight robbery of Pal WB lands, both private and public... there was no existential necessity for this blatant robbery... Israel has more than enough arable land in the Galilee, as well as land and resources in the Negev, that are crying out for habitation and development...

Iran has quite a big Jewish population,Irainian Jews are protected by Iranian law as a minority religon.Iranian Jews dont want to live in Israel because they love Iran.Iran is not against Jews it just hates Israel.Why? I dont know,may be because of the occupation

At least in Saudi they discriminate across the board. In Israel, Jews are public enemy #1.

The israelis are enforcing their "Jim Crow" laws on arabic residents living in Jerusalem and other West Bank locations. God has planted the seed of a young Palestinian woman who will stand up alone; to shake the foundations of the israeli empire.

What does your statement have to do with INTERNATIONAL LAWS?

How about letting Arabs move into those settlements? Here is an offer, Palestinians can agree to unfreeze the settlements if Jews agree to allow Palestinians to live in them? - and to make sure Jews play fair - the dreaded quota system will be used - if it was good enough for America and Rosa Parks why not for Arabs? Let these settlements reflect the demographics in the area? I say let the Jews build but let them not discriminate on who lives in them? Well, we all know this is fantasy. Israel was based on the principle of discrimination between Jew and gentile. Interestingly enough, in America the issue was about race - between the black and white divide - and it took centuries to resolve itself. I'm guessing the issue of religion will prove to be a tougher nut to crack. In fact, we have historical precedents, when Israel faced the challenges of pluralism and inclusion - according to the Torah - it chose to self-destruct, resist or split rather than accept the "other". Jews can have Israel without the "Jewish state" but can't have both Israel and the "Jewish state". The "Jewish state" (of mind) pre-existed Israel for millenniums and survived under totalitarianism and oppression , so surely it can survive the threat of democracy and equality?

What you write is a serious insult to the memory of Mrs. Rosa Park, and Martin L. King and so many others - and a distortion of history which cannot not remain unanswered. I'm ashamed such comments are published by Ha'aretz. Rosa Park and so many black people with her never denied the rights of others, be they white or whatever. She did not take the land of others,nor their bus places nor their olive plantations, nor water nor any other thing. There is no point of comparison between the usurpation you want to continue without shame, and the courage of the poor black from Alabama which led to the end of segregation. Shuvu shuvu midarcheichem hara'im! u lamah tamutu beit israel? Willibald Feinig (Austria)

Israel is a high contracting power. The Arab states are high contracting powers. The wars have been between Israel and the Arab states over territories the Arab states represented. Which is why the UNSC, the UN, the ICRC, all consider the Geneva Conventions to be applicable. If the GC's were not applicable, why has the UNSC said in it's resolutions 'territories occupied'? UNSC Res 242 'territories occupied' 8 January 2009 - UNSC Res 1860- 'territories occupied' Can you explain this?

There is no comparison--Rosa Parks symbolized the extreme injustice of laws that resulted in the Civil Rights movement. The settlements are illegal. that's been decided in courts, and the Israeli government also acknowledge that the territories are "occupied." Settlements will be expensive in money and lives displaced when it all gets sorted out.

This woman seems to dsitort history on more than one level. First, she speaks of "The Land of Israel" rather than the "State of Israel". The first term is a religious term that has no validity in international law or the international community. That of course only drives her on further,as it does all of her ilk. The international community recognises the State of Israel within the borders of pre June 6, 1967.It recognises that those borders should serve as the basis for fair and equitable land adjustments through a negotiated settlement. The Land of Israel is a term connoting diviner right of one group over the other, of one group disenfranchising the other and for her to make herself or the colonists out as Rosa Paris is a gross distortion of the historical record. It is rather she and her colonists who lay claim to a territory not part of their state that are doing the segregating. Israel's enslavement of another people and the continuous theft of their land exhibits another reality

?Few of us,? wrote Arthur Miller, ?can easily surrender our belief that society must somehow make sense. The thought that the State has lost its mind and is punishing so many innocent people is intolerable. And so the evidence has to be internally denied.?

That not only European socialists want peace on the Middle East. However only Jewish construction is frozen while Pals can bult as much as they pleased. And that is called "racism" when the law deferentiate between people according to their ethicity or religion. Even if some European socialist thinks that the land belongs to Arabs, even under such loony condition, even if this land belongs to Europe, the prohibition of building permits depending on the person's religion or ethnicity is still a racism. The ignorance of European socialists does not excuse them from being racists, unfortunately

Where are the Jewish settlements in Syria,Egypt,Lebanon,Iran,Iraq,Saudi Arabia...Oh yea it only goes 1 way. While they can't live in any Arab country, why can't they live where they want in Israel? Why the cry for this homeland now when before 1967 Jordan and Egypt ruled these areas? The answer - Because Israel controls it. It's not about the settlements, but about destroying Israel.

Could Rosa Parks and her family get a house within your settlement? and what if she had turned muslim?

I don't even know where to begin. Thousands of Jews are driven out of Arab lands but that's OK. Many of these so called occupied places in Israel were inhabited by Jews but because of the Arab pogroms of 1929 and 39 were either killed or driven out. There are 22 Arab countries and Israel, smaller than New Jersey are expected to negotiate with a ficticious people called Palestinians who deon't even recognize their right to exist. Palis are Jordanian or Egyptian but have not shown the world that they have earned the right to a homeland. Israel only controlled this area post '67. Where was homeland desire prior this?

on by Israelis, by displacing and disposessing Pals already on those lands (because as Israelis argue, it is fair game until final agreement, because it is "disputed territory") then Pals can settle anywhere within Israel, set up towns from Tel Aviv to Ashkelon, and then the future of those settlements can also be determined whether they stay or go when the final agreement talks conclude. It seems what Israel declared as Israel only Israel may build in. And what Pals consides Palestine (what's left of it anyway) can also be built on by Israel, while displacement of Pals of those lands continues. Why should Pals be displaced within Palestine, when the same doesn't happen with Israelis in Israel? Oh that's right, the Pals don't exist! And what warped thinking is behind "Lets build first & decide wat we keep later"? You're obviously building because you intend to keep! To Israel "final agreement" talks is a euphemism for "this is the rest we mannaged to grab, now recognise it as our".

That these are not just European socialists who want peace on the Middle East. However only Jewish construction is frozen while Pals can bult as much as they pleased. And that is called "racism" when the law deferentiate beteen people according to their ethicity or religion. Even if some European socialist thinks that the land belongs to Arabs, even under such loony condition, even if this land belongs to Europe, the prohibition of building permits depending on the person's religion or ethnicity is still a racism. The ignorance of such basic notion does not excuse European socialists from being racists, unfortunately

By any measure of ethical thought and feeling, it is time that we acknowledge that, in large part we are responsible for their current unfortunate social, economic, and political situation. Rather than accept our culpability we hide behind shallow legalisms and harden our hearts and minds to their suffering. I do not accept for a minute that their extremist terrorists have any right to murder innocent civilians. I deny as well any legitimacy to our extremist settler movement. War without end; death and destruction; increasing pain and degradation await both our peoples if we do not in common rein in our hate, and our fanatics. That's it then ; no other peace choice but war or peace. Choose!

What non-Israelis need to understand is that Eldad actually believes this nonsense. Such is the depth of the 'victim mentality' that many thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of settlers and their supporters can convince themselves that they are modern-day defenders of civil rights a la Rosa Parks. Simply arguing with them is not sufficient - since it only reinforces their sense that the 'world is against us'. These people need education, therapy, a long time to reflect in a quiet room back home in New Jersey. Their minds are warped to an extent that is hard to imagine.

I'm glad that Haaretz has published this important article. Given the facts that are described, it does appear that the gov't is acting in a non-democratic way. The many anti-settler responses to this thread never address that issue - isn't it relevant that many settlers are actually following the law and that the gov't doesn't seem to be playing fair? It appears that the author is simply asking for all parties, including the powerful one (ie the govt) to follow the rules. Oh yeah, and secondarily, I think the comparison to Rosa Parks is certainly worth exploring. When Pres. Carter throws out the word apartheid its seen as an acceptable comparison for many people. So now that the door is open those same people should be willing to accept the comparison from the other side. Even if they do not feel its on point it seems like a reasonable and sincere effort on the part of the author to express her opinion using an historical metaphor. If its OK for Pres. Carter, its OK for Ms. Karni.

Give me a break. This "argument" couldn't be more absurd. It's an insult to everything that the US Civil Rights movement stood for. At one time this sounded funny, the fact that people are acually buying into this crap is very sad. Steve G

Israel has many laws which openly discriminate against non-Jews. You can?t call Israel a democracy if it has one law for one person and a different law for his/her neighbor. Check out some of your laws which discriminate in favor of Jewish people and remember that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - it?s a DUCK! http://www.divestmentproject.org/apartheid_laws.shtml

Israel presents itself to the world as a secular democracy, where people of all religions have equal rights. But in reality, it?s just a theocracy that discriminates against anyone not Jewish, especially those who follow the religion of Islam.

Like most Zionists, you extend logic only so far as fits your prejudices. The Bible and Torah are clear: the Israelites seized or "stole" what you now call Israel, Judea and Sumaria from the Canaanites. Do you deny the truth of the Torah? In reality, the illegality of acquiring land by war was established after WW II and after the creation of the state of Israel (1948 borders). The world got tired of endemic warfare and mass destruction and created an entire new world order. By 1967, taking land by war was absolutely illegal and remains so to this day. That's why Sadaam Hussein was pushed out of Kuwait. Obviously, you've never read the Geneva Conventions or the UN Charter. Your comments show an appalling ignorance. By the way, neither document refers specifically to Israel. In your apparent worship of war, you are in a tiny minority.

Settlers build and expand on the backs of Palestinians and then deny Palestinians their basic rights. Settlers are righteous and self-serving in a world of diversity and compassion where others recognize the dignity of all peoples. Settlers and their excesses have been a threat to peaceful cohabitation with the Arabs.

That these are not just European socialists who want peace on the Middle East. However only Jewish construction is frozen while Pals can bult as much as they pleased. The name of such condition is a racism since the law deferentiate people according to their ethicity or religion. Even if some European socialist thinks that the land belongs to Arabs, even under such loony condition to prohibit building permits depending on the person's religion or ethnicity is still a racism. Many European socialists don't realize that but their ignorance does not excuse them from being racists, unfortunately.

Did you forget already, Israel has no borders! This is for a reason, of course. To be able to steal more and more Palestinian land for your racist vision!

Palestinians are living on that land for more than 2 thousand years since the Roman expelled jews. Many jews who remained there, were converted to Christianity and Islam.

This is truly doublespeak. When racial purists like the settlers engage in violence to prevent reconciliation between 2 peoples, they are the precise equivalent of the US Ku Klux Klan and the diametric opposite of Rosa Parks and all who fought and continue to fight for civil rights and racial equality. The KKK also claimed to speak for God and to have divine authority for their actions. They too used violence and claimed support from the majority. They lost. The "discrimination" the settlers whine about is nothing less than trivial limits on their supposed right to steal from other people of the "wrong" race. That is racism of the second most vicious kind (second only to the Holocaust) How dare anyone compare such bigots to civil rights advocates? When this gets out in US media, and I'm sending copies of this article to local news media, support for Israel will plummet. How dare you steal, pervert and distort some of our greatest history?

There is a basic point that people like Karni don't seem to grasp - they live in an area that is not part of the sovereign state of Israel, but is instead a military occupation. It was a mistake for civilians to ever build in an area that was supposedly only occupied as a bargaining chip for peace (obviously a lie).

To me the question should be : how long do you want to stay at war to come back to these territories ? It's pretty clear that over time both arabics and jews occupied these. It's pretty clear that over time, boths population suffered. It's also clear that some people from both comunities committed terrible crimes. I see a big problems in an interpretation solely based on ethnicity. If one jew commit a crime, should this mean all jews are criminals ? I don't think so. But, if one's hope is for an homogeneus state, a one ethnic only state, there will be problems. On the other hand, everyone know that a single state for both arabics and jews will condemn jews to minority over time. So, pretty much everyone see that a two state solution is the only issue. And, according to this, settlement in the West Bank is clearly an other way to stage war, an other way to try to get the most out of a future peace agreement. Still, I can feel how huge would be the price of peace...

The prensence of Israeli civilians on territory military occupied by Israel is per definition illegal.

Settlement freeze (and removal) is anti-segregation and pro-peace. Building for more illegal Israeli immigrants is pro-apartheid and anti-peace.

Talking about warped thinking! Living selfrighteously on stolen land- after all the world owes you- toting guns and wanting more? Have generations of getting away with theft done this to you? Who are you to be so arrogant and sure of yourself? If you and yours are the future of Israel-then good night to a reasonable Israel.

The real problem is not the occupied territory on the West Bank. As so many have already concretely established in their responses, the biblical claim of the Jews to this land is meaningless. If it were meaningful, then Ofra would be no different than Tel Aviv. The peaceful solution is simple and self evident. All Jews need to move to the left, to the left. First, out of the West Bank. Then, just a little bit more to the left. The Palestinians have the right to live here and they have a monopoly on the moral highground. This is why you will never hear Shalom Achshav or Yesh Din or Gush Shalom complain when an Arab kills a Jew. After all, the Jews have been colonizing this foreign land since time immemorial. It is pure arrogance for Jews to think that they can buy land which doesn't belong to them!

... as used in Karni's tirade... ... nobody who merely falls-in-love with Israel or an Israeli can ever hope for citizenship here, unless they prove themselves a glatt-kosher Jew or undergo a via-de-la-rosa conversion... ... is there another country on earth that implements such draconic religious segregation laws...?

The day that an Arab couple can buy a house in a Jewish settlement, then maybe your argument has a leg to stand on, but someone who lives in strictly segregated Jewish settlements where Arabs are not allowed to live is really out of his mind if he thinks placing a freeze on such settlements is equivalent to racism. This "blind spot" is indicative of a racism so deep, it's not even perceived by the perpetrator. It's not a good thing to see in a people that suffered so from racism.

The writer of this article makes me cringe! How can he be so blind to the factsa,to other human beings. I am a recent immigrant to Israel but I wish to state that I and many like me completely disagree with his attitude. Can he not see that all people should have a right to work,marry,have kids and live a peaceful life of coexistence. For every person like the writer of the article,former desperate palastinians/arabs/muslims(and dont play the semantics game)will become radicalized against Israel.And this has knock on effects all over the world.But of course the writer and his buddies are so insular that they dont see or dont care. Come on Eldad, be pragmatic.Maybe our west bank friends are not perfect ..but I know you are not

What comes next, apples and oranges? And he is a dangerous nut. He is not merely calling for civil disobedience... This reminds me the days that led to Rabin assassination.

You contradict yourself when you say that the Jews acquired the land illegally in 1967 and cite the 1945 UN rules. Jordan took tthe lands from the Jews in 1948 under an army led by a British officer. Jordan held the land for 19 years, illegally according to your own rules of war. Israel merely regained what was originally Jewish held land.

Dear Ryan, The answer is out there, actually, if your mind is open enough to see the larger picture. No one will dispute that the Palestinians are a part of the larger Arab nation (be their majority largely Egyptian Bedouins who migrated to this region in recent generations or otherwise). Thus the Palestinians are part of the greater Arab populace, that being a part of the greater Middle East. The greater Middle East spans 9.7 million sq Km, whereas Israel's current borders of 20,000 squared kilometers is only 0.21 percent of this total size. In other words, Israel fits 500 times into the rest of this region. Yet the Arabs and other Muslim nations have no room for the Palestinian people. Where they have taken them, it has largely been as non-national refugees, where they live in squalor and as 2nd class citizens, and rot there waiting to enter the only place in the region that is not Muslim dominated. The facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East#Greater_Middle_East

I'm not sure why this is posted in Haaretz which is supposed to be liberal right? Unless this article is meant to be ironic? ( but I don't think so) The freeze is legal, but that doesn't mean the settlements are. Israel has formally annexed East Jerusalem but NOT the Westbank! Yet in violation of amongst others the Geneva-convention Israel planted it's civilians in Westbank territory. Obviously the Palestinians did not take that kindly. So Israel took rigourous securitymeasurements which have been mostly on for decades and severely limit the freedom of the Westbank Palestinians in every way. And despite this all Karni Eldad has the gall to compare the plight of the settlers with that of a brave struggle for civil liberties in the 1950's. It is quite sickening

All settlers should understand that they are living in a non annexed land. They are legally settled because the West Bank was not stolen from no country and no Palestine state ever existed. That is a disputed land, whose final fate will be defined in negotiations. In the meantime, settlements in non private land are legal. However, the Israel governmment has also the right to dismantle setlements for political reasons. Peace is a good political reason and dismantling of setlements might be the right price for real peace and recognition of the jewish state.

Joe, You are really mixed up in your history. Palestinians were in palestine before the Jews came from Egypt. The Massacre in Hebron was against Moslems as they were praying, and by an Israeli Jew. Get your facts straight, All the Land of Historic Paletine is for Palestinians, but they are willing to share it with Israel as a compromise for peace. Theft of land that is for Palesitnians is not acceptable, and the settlement industry is illegal and segregationist by nature, since it is only for Jews. Israeli are not prevented from going to Palestinian controlled areas by Palestinians, but by the Israeli government. Again a ploy of enforcing segregationist defacto policy.

If you are building in the territories you are not in Israel...it is Palestinian Territory. Settlements are unlawful under International Law. Israel has a clear choice....it is either a law abiding nation or it is an illegal outlaw....that is Israels choice.

Israel is not allowed to build outside its borders. The West Bank is NOT Israel and you can forget about a freeze. There will only be peace when every Settler is back inside Israel for good.

Natural expansion for the Arab villages next to the expanding Settlements, is building upwards on the family house. The surrounding land is being gobbled up for the Settlers to expand by building more single houses. Water? Once every 2 weeks for the Arabs - constant and free-flowing for the Settlers. Bearing in mind that this land is NOT Israel,makes it even more infuriating! This situation will blow up again in the near future - it is so totally unbalanced and unfair and the injustice cannot be tolerated.

"Do the people supporting settlements not recognise that they are breaking international law and specifically the fourth Geneva convention?" Do you not recognize that in 1948 Jordan captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem, then kicked out every single Jew? Do you not recognize that Jordan attacked again in 1967 and lost control over the territories? Do you not recognize that Jews were only absent from those territories for that 19 year period out of the last 3000 years? Do you not recognize that Jews had the right to reclaim their properties and redevelop their old communities? Do you not recognize that saying it's illegal for Jews to live on land that they were only absent from for a 19-year period is pretty damned despicable?

Why not read this one before you whinge... Settlers to High Court: Ban opening of road to Palestinian traffic By Chaim Levinson, Haaretz Correspondent

1. Land under the control of Arabic municipalities has been cut by half since the beginning of the state of Israel, despite the fact that their population has grown by a factor of 7. 2. Israeli Arabs constitute 20% of the population yet they only live on 3.5% percent of the land. 3. Urban plans for Arabic towns take on average twice as long to be authorized compared to Urban plans for Jewish towns. 4. Land around Arabic villages in the Galilee have been confiscated by the government to build Jewish only settlements, along with industrial and other complexes to support them, leaving Arabic towns with no room to expand to, turning them to extremely crowded places. Yet no body talks about "Natural Growth" for Arabic Towns. Please stop the Hypocrisy.

I would like to know what the author thinks about segregation inside the green line between Jews and Arabs. The state of Israel confiscated vast lands in the Galilee from Arab municipalities, which was used to build Jewish only settlements, settlements which receive a preference treatment from the government compared to the neighboring Arabic towns, and are closed off for Arabic Citizens of Israel.

Many of the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, who live in refugee camps, originate from towns inside the green line, would the author agree for them to go back and rebuild their villages. Isn't that a greater injustice than, allowing settlers to continue to live and expand settlements which 70% of is build on private Palestinian land.

Your rational cry at the wall would be understood 100 years ego.In todays political reality it is simply stupidity Wake up and better find a way to live in peace with your neighbor. It will serve us all much better then the attitude of an arrogant bully.

"how is it possible that the system of government in Israel always lets down the right?", she asks. Well, very simply, because the right is more often blind than the left. Blind to others, blind to History, blind to tolerance, blind to non-Jews in this case. And the right is more often racist than the left, it seems to me.

"if it is illegal to aquire territory by war then... the muslim invasion of JEWISH land was ILLEGAL!!!!!!" Since at least 1945 (under the UN) it has been inadmissible to acquire territory by war. "The Jews have claim to this land and were here FIRST therefore the MUSLIM invasion , Roman invasion and the turks were ALL ILLEGAL!!!!" Oh, according to what International law was that? "Oh and check out the portion in the prophets.." The Bible is not International law. "..and probably the geneva convention made up those things based on prejudice not based on what the TRUTH is" Strange, the Geneva Conventions are there to protect ALL civilians, even Jewish folk. So what 'prejudice' are you waffling on about?

If Rosa Parks lived in the West Bank, she was not allowed to live in a Jewish setelement and not to go on their buses!!!

... but depending on their locality, you will probably need a laissez-faire or a passport for those in East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine...

if it is illegal to aquire territory by war then... the muslim invasion of JEWISH land was ILLEGAL!!!!!! The Jews have claim to this land and were here FIRST therefore the MUSLIM invasion , Roman invasion and the turks were ALL ILLEGAL!!!! Oh and check out the portion in the prophets where the Yevusite king handed over Jerusalem to King David-- NOT by force but by TREATY that was made by Abraham and King Abimelech.. and probably the geneva convention made up those things based on prejudice not based on what the TRUTH is.

100% agree given that the land you build on is not stolen private Palistinian land nor is it state occupied land part of a Palestinain state public land. In other words, the land should be privately owned Jewish land. On the other hand the same should apply to Palestinians and Palestinain refugees, where they should go back to their privately owned lands inside Israel and build it and live on it. I am from East Jerusalem, I still can't get back my Grand parents land and house in West Jerusalem. You want to be treated fairly Karni Eldad, you have to accept same judgement and treatement to your opponents. In other words, you can't have the cake and eat it. Welcome to the binational state.

Your response speaks for me.

... whoever it is, does she really think anyone could get away with such blatant ill-conceived propaganda...?!

... in order to justify high-handed take-over of Pal lands... making oneself comfy on stolen property... while depriving Pals of their own patrimony... and then complaining about make-believe temporary limitations on continueing this highway robbery...

the boundries of the State of Israel & you will not have a problem you criminal law-breaking settler. How dare u envoke the memory of a woman from a downtroden & discriminated people to equate yourself, when it is YOU that is the one comitting the disposession and discrimination she remained seated for. A lot of area which was in ancient times considered part of the Land of Israel is not a part of the State of Israel. Accept that fact! You can't just build & move into areas now in modern states, from the banks of Euphrates in Iraq to Syria, Lebanon, Jordan to banks of the Nile in Egypt, then analogise yourself as Rosa Parks fighting for her rights. Become their citizens or residents! Some of the north of the State of Israel wasnt a part of the Land of Israel in ancient time, it was part of Phoenicia. Let's see reactions if Lebanese start setteling there & claimin their "rights" to live freely in the Land of Phoenicia while displacing & dispossessing Israelis & claiming sovereignty

http://wp.me/PDB7k-Y Letter From the Agent of the Provisional Government of Israel to the President of the United States, May 15, 1948 ?MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to notify you that the state of Israel has been proclaimed as an independent republic within frontiers approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution of November 29, 1947, and that a provisional government has been charged to assume the rights and duties of government for preserving law and order within the boundaries of Israel, for defending the state against external aggression, and for discharging the obligations of Israel to the other nations of the world in accordance with international law.

the boundries of the State of Israel & you will not have a problem you criminal law-reaking settler. How dare you envoke the memory of a woman from a downtroden & discriminated people to equate yourself, when it is YOU that is the one comitting the disposession and discrimination she remained seated for. A lot of area which was in ancient times considered part of the Land of Israel is not a part of the State of Israel. Accept that fact! You can't just build & move into areas now parts of modern states, from the banks of the Euphrates in Iraq to Syria, Lebanon, Jordan to the banks of the Nile in Egypt, then analogise yourself as Rosa Parks fighting for her rights. Become their citizens if really you want. Some of the north of the State of Israel wasnt a part of the Land of Israel in ancient time, it was part of Phoenicia. Let's see your reaction if Lebanese start setteling there & claimin, like you, their "rights" to live freely in the Land of Phoenicia while displacing Israelis.

territory. Israel is a sovereign state. As such it has boundaries legally determined when it declared Sovereignty. No territory has ever been legally annexed to Israel It is illegal to acquire territory by war. It is illegal to institute Israeli civil law in 'territories occupied' It is illegal to build Israeli civilian structures in 'territories occupied' It is illegal for Israeli civilians to be settling in 'territories occupied' What is it about illegal you have a problem with? Time to wake up. Rosa Parks was fighting for her rights. You're not.

The Arabists who object to Eldad's analysis desperately do not want to admit that Judea and Samaria are not "occupied" territories, but instead were liberated in 1967 and belong to the Jewish state. They pretend to support the underdog but instead support the reactionary, fundamentalist Islamists and corrupt desert sheiks who cannot tolerate the national liberation movement of the Jews.

a rant from a settler living on occupied territory and trying to compare it with segregation in the US,!!! how about a piece by a Palestinian now on daily life in the West Bank? People went to the WB because it was cheaper than buying in Israel, they new that if they are evicted they will be compensated, that was their gamble, the religious settlers are a different story and think the Messiah will come and save them, and they will fight soldiers and police to stay, they have been brainwashed that Torah is the only law in the world that counts...

Hey guess what? Israel has a right to build ANYWHERE she pleases within her borders, just as Mexicans can in Mexico, Canadians in Canada, or the English in the UK. Israel is a Jewish State and she's got expansion needs as she naturally grows --get used to it. Political nonsense aside, members and relatives of my family have already bought new apartments/flats throughout Jerusalem and WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, AS MANY AS WE CAN AFFORD, and then some. Have a nice day.

Why do the Palestinians have the right to enforce apartheid and segregation? What special edict did the UN give to allow the Palestinians immunity from international law? Why do the Palestinians get to remain in territory occupied by force of war, yet Israel must withdraw? History did not begin in 1967, nor in 1949. It is sickening to see so many people stand on their private soapboxes and prattle a holier-than-thou attitude. Why do you all think it ok for the Palestinians to massacre Jews and chase them out of Hebron? Why do the Palestinians get to violate human rights laws and the laws of war, and none of you is demanding they be put on trial? The Palestinians seem to have convinced the world that black is white, day is night, and Orwell was right - all people are equal, but Palestinians are more equal than others.

Eldad has certainly shocked the delicate sensibilities of the sanctimonious Israel-bashers who demonize the Jews who have the audacity to live in Judea and Samaria. How dare she tell the truth? No wonder they are hysterical. Next thing you know she will give them the vapors by telling them the earth is round.

How dare you compare the settlement freeze with the Jim Crow laws of the south. You don't have that right. Israel builds on land that is against the Fourth Geneva Convention and the road map and you say there is a comparsion?? What deranged delussional world do you spawn from?? Bizzaro world? What happen to african americans in the south was a human rights violation and what you are doing is a human rights violation against the palestinians. Keep this mindset up and Israel will really be a pariah nation sooner than later.

Rosa Parks STEALING the bus and kicking off all the white people. Of course, she didn't do that. She didn't feel she was entitled to something someone else owned just because she got too fat for one seat.

Do the people supporting settlements not recognise that they are breaking international law and specifically the fourth Geneva convention? Protecting the people occupied by a foreign military is like segregation? Really????

Can you support what you say by facts?

Be strong..... Hope that in 8 month you will build thousands more houses for jews Remark: Pals are not allowed to live in settlements? Hum...jews are not even allowed to ENTER palestinians cities...they would be butchered...come on leftists you are the shame of the world

Really? Building racist settlements illegally and taking resources like land and water from Palestinian villages, building roads that are only for Jews and you are crying discrimination when the rule of law is ? Blind and seems you forget your own history.

to move to Israel. Anything else would be racial segregation, naturally.

I cannot for the life of me understand the logic(if there is any)of the writer in the before mentioned piece.Is she really serious in comparing herself or her situation to rosa park??.First,rosa park had no say in what she faced.The writer was fully aware of the disputed nature of the land settlements were built in.Second,rosa parks actions were courageous in that she stood in the face of what was clearly wrong and didn't harm anybody in the process,The writer seems a little challenged when it comes to remembering those oppressed Palestinians who's villages are so ever divided by there monstrosities they call settlements and their Jewish only connected roads.Taking what is not yours is no virtue,no matter what faith you belong to.

Not all of the Land of Israel is actually in Israel. Some of it is in the occupied territories which will probably become a part of a Palestinian state. So keep in mind, that when this conflict is finally resolved and your piece of "The Land of Israel" is in Palestine, you will be a Palestinian Jew. Israel has Arabs. Palestine will have Jews. Enjoy!

No, it's the settlements that are like racial segregation in the U.S. Housing in the settlements is not available to everyone in the West Bank, but only to Jews. Palestinians need not apply, just like blacks in the US were excluded from white-only residential enclaves. And then there are the roads built for the settlers that Palestinians are forbidden from driving on, just because they are Palestinians. And then there's the Wall that is built to protect the settlers, and as a result of which Palestinians cannot do what farmers normally do, which is access their fields. And then there's the fact that a significant portion of the land on which settlements are built is actually private land belonging to Palestinians. So let's see: Palestinian land is stolen for the houses, Palestinians are forbidden to live in the houses or to drive on the roads or to access their fields, and the writer thinks that it's Jews who are the victims of apartheid????

As author Philip K. Dick once pointed out, "The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words". and how it cracks me up to contemplate being lectured about racial segregation by someone from a country where residence, citizenship, property rights, education, marriage, and so many other everyday things are subject to variation by race, religion, and ethnicity.

You denigrate Rosa Parks and the entire US civil rights movement and a lot of American Jews who stood and died for civil rights in the US. Building the settlements is more akin to racial segregation in the US and the Jim Crow laws than what you are complaining about. How many Palestinians are allowed to live in your settlement? How many Israeli Arabs are allowed to live in your settlement? How many Christians are allowed to live in your settlement? You live and perpetuate Jim Crow and you dare compare a fake freeze, a slowdown in the permit process that violates Israeli and International law to Rosa Parks and the people who died to end segregation in the US. Haaretz should apologize at the least to the families of the each of the American Jews who died in the 1960s in the US to end segregation. Eldad's 'comment' is an affront to each and every one of them and denigrates their effort and sacrifice.

I do understand how bad it must be but please give a thought to the innocent Pals who are not all terrorists and cant get to farm land or around palestine because of settlers,its not racial segregation or that the world is against settlers its just that the world is now very aware of the walls and land confiscation that is needed for expansion also the evictions.Peace with the Pals will be better for all Israel and the whole world.Shalom

Karni Eldad dares to make equivalence between Rosa Parks and the settlement freeze...that is frankly immoral. How he can have the nerve to write an article such as this goes to show how far the rot has set in the settler community...never believing that it is they who oppress and that they are the victims of 'segregationist' policies

I'd say we can safely name this comparison the most absurd of 2009. It amazes me that people can seriously concoct such nonsense.

The settlements are a not exactly a civil rights issue. They are a cynical and aggressive land grab which the nation of Israel is undertaking, using the settlers as pawns. If Israel really had confidence in their claim on the west bank, they would annex it and have done with it. Of course, that is not possible. Israels game is to grab as much as possible and then trade some of it away but keep the rest. This gives Israel a much bigger slice of the west bank than it would have previously. Note to settlers: It may not be a good idea to go to a settlement outside the central block. They will be first to go. Israels greed for land plays to the settlers greed for cheap and subsidized housing. There are no good guys in this picture.

To argue that the settlement freeze is in any way comparable to racial segregation in the US turns the world on its head. The existence of the settlements in the first place, which not only violate international law but are an abomination, IS segragation and freezes all building in the settlements is but a first step in ending that segragation. Let's hope that the day comes soon when the settlements are abolished altogether--just like segregation was eventually abolished in the US.

The Land of Israel has never been only Jewish, not before your King David conquered it with violence and not after. So I guess this means it's okay with you that all Palestinians that can traced their roots back to West-Jerusalem, and that's quite a few can have their own settlements there? What about Ashkelon? 11 000 Arabs lived there prior to the invasion in 1948. Only 1000 remained. Can the ancestors of the 10000 or so Arabic refugees have their own settlements in Ashkelon? It would be a huge step towards fighting segregation. I guess you're agreeing with me brother. Most Palestinian refugees only have to go a few decades back in times to find their roots in Ashkelon and West-Jerusalem, whereas many of you settles have to go centuries if not millenias back in time to find any proof of ancestors in Israel.

"People get married and have children. The children need space. The children grow up and get married. The children need a house. That is known as life. No one has ever managed to stop it. But every time another evil person arises who plans to destroy us, he does not succeed. And he does not succeed in destroying life itself. " So is life reserved solely for Israeli settlers (on land that is colonized, no less)? Is this statement somehow only for them? Please.