IDF bid to expel West Bank Palestinians is a step too far

Well I agree with this new order, but let all people who live in israel and came from Russian, Ethiopia and poland and Boston go back. And all palestinian refugees go back to Ppalestine 48 terretories, logical no?

Eporue, your logic is nonsense. What do you mean they don't have permit?? they are living in their lands, their country!!! does a french need a permit to live in paris? or a german in berlin? this is so ridiculous. Now back to people living ILLEGALLY. The only people illegal in west bank according to international law are the Illegal Israeli Military soldiers, and the Illegal settlers living in Illegal settlements. Check articles 49 of 4th Geneva Convention. Your logic is nonsense, and Israel to leave us alone and end its occupation.

I just summoned what I honestly think will happen in case there would be deportations. I did not gloat about it, propagate it or relish it. You do not have to be a professor to profesize this. If that includes threats against or attacks on Jews who do not speak out, then I think that is anti-Semetism, as I always have stated in my posts through the years considering this. So indeed anti-Semitism will get a boost by eventual future deportations by Israel of Pals, yes. Almost a fact. Those who know my posts know I am Dutch and we Dutch can not stand the temptation to be tough loving warning givers and messengers (combination of the small town Calvinist and head master of primary school). I also simply believe Israel is miscalculating when it thinks it can get aay with it in the world of nations and global conomy. Finally, all this because I do not want to see Israel walking ever further and further on the path to self-destruction. So go ahead, kill the messenger and have soft friends.

b: "Lands stolen during arab occupations must be returned to jews" Agreed, except it must be "returned to the property owner", not "returned to jews". You can't play a substitute off the bench when it comes to property ownership, Bernard i.e. you are either the rightful owner of that property, or you aren't. And (despite what you are arguing) you can't CLAIM property ownership merely because: 1) the original owner was a Jew, and 2) you are a Jew, therefore 3) that property now belongs to you. Property ownership simply doesn't work that way.

...which is itself illegal under international law. Israel is the occupying power. Palestinians are the protetected persons under Geneva Convention who have the right to move within the territories. It is the Israeli distinction between "legal" Pal residents of the WB and "illegal" Pal residents of the WB which is completely illegal. The only illegal residents in the WB (& Gaza until the evacuation) is the settlers, not cos they're Jews (which is Israeli propaganda) but cos they're citizens of the occupying power. Jews of Pal citizenship in WB aren't illegal.    Israeli laws making people "illegal" are illegal under international law. Israeli laws making "legal" the illegal settlers are also illegal under international law. Israeli law alleging East Jerusalem is "legally" annexed and a part of sovereign Israel is also illegal itself. Illegal "laws" are void & cant themselves make illegal things "legal" or legal things "illegal". It's all a sham. An Israeli fiction void of any meaning

As a palestinian living in the states,I do come accross instances where my views could be viewed as emotional than reality based.However,this very issue seems to diffrentiate between those who see the palestinians as human being worthy of rights and those who think in terms of superiority and an added vertue to the world by their sheer existance.It is a shame that certain people feel this way.shame

This is no more than a crude tool for this corrupt society to steal more land and cleans the land of non jews. Shame on every jewish person that supports this. The Jewish nation will destroy itself if it dosen't find it morality.

J: "what`s the big deal?!" The occupying power is claiming the right to eject protected persons from occupied territory. That is a very big deal because it is a grave violation of Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV. J: "How is deporting a gazan back to gaza a crime?" A quick question back at you, Jennifer: Q: Is the Gaza Strip still under Israeli military occupation? Well, is it? Or isn't it? J: "It`s not as if they are deporting them to antarctica, they are just sending gazans who have no legal status in WB back to gaza. So what`s the big deal here?" Think about it: is Gaza under Israeli occupation, or isn't it? And if it isn't then taking a Pal from the WB and forcing him to go to Gaza is..... what, Jennifer? The implications are much, much deeper than your glib handwaving would suggest.

e: "sorry, but its about people being illegal in the westbank, " No, it is about what an occupying power can/can't do inside occupied territory. And Int'l Law is very clear on this: an occupying power can not forcibly remove a protected person from occupied territory NO MATTER WHAT THE MOTIVE. e: "those, without legal permission to stay in the west bank have to leave" The occupying power has NO authority to force the removal of any protected person from occupyied territory: Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV absolutely prohibits the occupier from doing so. e: "yes, terrible, but every country has masses of deportations every day " That is exactly where your argument falls down i.e. the country is "Israel", but this territory is not "Israeli territory". Israel is the OCCUPIER, not the SOVEREIGN, and so it can act as if this is her soil. It isn't her soil; it is foreign soil.

the majority of Israelis living in Israel aren't even true Jews - they are "new Jews" - European converts. They are ashkenazi and were never in Israel 5000 years ago themselves.

Please learn some history, all of what is now israel, syria , lebanon and jordan was part of land given Abraham by God...add east egypt and north saudi arabia to that too. THEY are occupying Israeli land!

This order opens a can of worms that the Israelis WILL NOT WANT OPENED. Prior to disengagement the IHCJ had to rule wether it was "legal" for the IDF to forcibly transfer a Palestinian from the West Bank to Gaza. Their ruling: it was legal precisely because both the WB and Gaza were part of one occupied territory and, therefore, no violation of Article 49 of GCIV took place. If the IDF still wants to argue that it is "legal" for them to forcibly transfer a Palestinian from the West Bank to Gaza then the IHCJ will have no choice: it either has to rule that a) Gaza is **still** occupied territory (thereby making that transfer "legal") or it has to rule that b) Gaza is **no longer** occupied territory (at which point this order becomes a grave violation of GCIV). It can't have it both ways, and neither can Israel. This was a baaaad idea that was dreamed up without enough thought, and it should be rescinded immediately.

Since many of the residents of the Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan lived in what is now Israel proper, is Israel going to deport them back to their indegenious, ancestral homes? And ISRAEL wonders why the world is getting annoyed with her to the extreme. Rest assured, if Israel thinks she's gonna have ease at removing Palestinians from their refugee camps, they are in for a migraine headache.

Just some other ways to look at this "military order". 1. Israel wants to kick out every NGO entity (ISM, for example) who is misusing their visa. Maybe even B'Tselem photographers. 2. Israel is preparing to forcibly remove settlers (yeah, right) and wants to be able to do it quickly by military force, without court interference. 3. Israel has been told in simple terms that the Gaza borders will be opened, to Egypt and beyond if not to Israel. They want to make a point that, although Gaza is an unoccupied land outside their jurisdiction, West Bank is very much the opposite. 4. Long ago, somebody wrote down 10000 ways to harass the Palestinians on slips of paper, put them in a box, and they take a random one out periodically and do whatever it says. Deportations and incarcerations may be needed at times, but this makes it too easy and too likely to be abused.

Will the IDF also expel all the Isreali settlers too? Their presence in the West Bank is not recognised by international law or the international community either. Israel cannot demand that the UN and the international community recognise its concerns and yet at the same time pick and choose which which demands from the international community it will accept or ignore. Israel has national boundaries that are recognised and accepted that many if not the majority would be happy to live within. The "settlers" and the politicians who support them endanger the majority by enacting policies such as this one.

wirh Serbia for a policy very similar to this.

Some would say it is 62 years too late. After all, didn't G_d ask Israel to do this, when He gave the land from the Nile to the Euphrates to His chosen people? Israel should have done this in 1948.

Yes, Israel has every right deport anybody from Israel, even when such deportations are immoral. But we all know what to expect from Israel in terms of morality. What Israel doesn't have the right to do is deport anybody from Palestine, except its own illegal settlers. Everyone else in Palestine was either born there or is there at the request of the Palestinian people, who are the only ones that count.

Gaza is Palestine. The West Bank is Palestine. All of the people of Gaza and the West Bank are Palestinian. It is not the business of you, or of Israel, to decide in which part of Palestine these people should live.

"Whereas the High Court of Israel has already ruled that: 1) the West Bank is occupied territory; and 2) that Israel is the occupying power; it remains only to extend these same rulings to Gaza. The problem is not the court`s reluctance to decide the issue. The problem is to get the case before the court to start with." - Jim You are correct that the israeli Supreme Court made these findings (already in 1978, the Elon Moreh case). In the last 3-4 years, the Supreme Court was, and is under continuous attack by forces which want to reduce its power, essentially by right-wing people who like their own "higher" laws. Since Israel has no constitution, it takes only majority of Knesset members to make the change. A decision by the Court which would antagonize many, will energize the right-wing. Therefore, I think the Court will try to avoid a decision on the merits of the Gaza status. How to raise the issue before the Court is what I suggested. A Gazan living in the West Bank can claim that the West Bank and Gaza are held as a unit under occupation. Alternatively, he can rely on the Israeli position that Gaza is "abroad", so that he cannot be expelled abroad under the Geneva Convention...

The Arabs that were brought into Israel in years past have proven they don't want to live in peace within Israel and accept that it is Israel. They want to take over Israel for themselves and run every jew out. The Israeli government gave them a chance to live in peace when they were expelled from jordan and other Arab countries but that wasn't good enough for them. The Arab nations also sent many of them to rabble rouse and start uprisings through the years and continue to incite Israel. They must go and let the Arab world take them in. Israel has done enough and now it's time to move on. Let israel live in peace and let us start by removing these infidels immediately!

Just read this article the Supreme Court declared the ban unlawful but the IDF did it anyway... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/world/middleeast/07media.html?_r=1. Hope this enlightens you.

I'm a citizen of the US and a legal resident of Florida...my driver's license and license plate and voter registration all say I'm a resident of Florida. Pals are citizens of nowhere because their arab brethren like to keep them that way to stoke the fire against Israel and if they are not legal residents of any piece of land that Israel administers as a result of a series of failed arab initiated wars that arabs lost in which lands were taken by Israel, then Israel has the legal right and duty to send them home. What is wrong with sending a gazan back to gaza?

"those, without legal permission to stay in the west bank have to leave..." I'm glad you agree. According to UN SC resolutions 242, 338, 465, et al, Israel has no legal permission to remain in the WB, so all Israeli settlers must leave. Of course, as a racist Zionist, you believe only the permission of Jews matters, not the agreed rulings of the rest of the world. But Israel joined the UN and is subject to its jurisdiction. Israel has no more right to the WB than Sadaam Hussein did to Kuwait. Most thieves claim to have rights to what they have stolen. It is society at large, here the UN, that determines what has been stolen and who has permission to stay. I am not talking about Israel proper, only Gaza and the WB.

When do you claim Jews were ethnically cleansed? By the Romans? Some Jews stayed, others left. The Canaanites, Romans, Arabs, Turks and Brits all occupied and ruled Palestine just like the Israelities. It is nonsensical to suggest that as merely 1 of many occupiers over the millenia, the Jews have special rights and that subsequent conquerors "ethnically cleansed" Jews. The Jews only got the land by slaughtering and ethnically cleansing the Canaanites. In general, Arab countries expelled Jews only after the Jews had ethnically cleansed Palestine except for a few token Pals allowed to stay because the Brits and US demanded it. Moreover, the Pals did not expell any Jews. Its racist to say Pals must pay because arab countries did something. The whole world knows Israel has no right to the WB. Further ethnic cleansing will mandate Neuremberg Trials, part II. It is the Zionists who are the thieves (re WB) and must pay reparations.

Is there some part of "Never Again" that is unclear to you? Do you have ancestors who lived in Europe during WW II or maybe who fought in WW II in Europe?

Expelling people from occupied territories is a war crime.

jenny how old are you? theres no way you are older than 15 right? ive never heard something so stupid in my entire life it makes me laugh.

You ask "where is the peace process?" I ask, "where are human rights in Islamic countries?" Why is everybody concerned about what Israel is doing when Muslim countries allow parents to kill their children if they follow another religion? Which is worse to comprehend, an enemy killing an enemy or a parent murdering their child?

Seriously? so you live in miami, and for the sake of the argument you were born in L.A. does the US government have the right to deport you back to LA because you are not from Miami? this is complete and utter nonsense..as Palestinians from Gaza have every right to be in the west bank and vice versa..your argument is just shameful.

Who gives illegal Jewish settlers permission to live in the West Bank? Who denies legal Palestinians the right to live in the West Bank? Answer to both: Israel. Who else: Nobody. Talk about the fox taking care of the henhouse.

"Sorry Logios but did not the Supreme Court call the IDF imposition on Gaza as closed to reporters during operation "Cast Lead" would you like to remind me of the result of that????????????" - Paul Paul, if you have any knowledge of a case in which the Supreme Court decided the status of Gaza, please reveal it to us, directly and without riddles. I am not aware of such a case. Closing the area of a military operation to reporters is common, done usually "to protect their lives" (wink wink), but has no bearing on occupations.

How is deporting a gazan back to gaza a crime? Here in Miami, I recall our peeps breaking into Elian Gonzalez's home at 5am by men with monster sized guns and deporting a motherless child back to Cuba against his will (and his mother's will) and that is MUCH worse than sending a gazan home. It's not as if they are deporting them to antarctica, they are just sending gazans who have no legal status in WB back to gaza. So what's the big deal here? Talk about mass hysteria over nothing, don't some of you have problems of your own to fret over?

those, who are "legally" there. nowhere in the world you can move around as you like, without residency permit. also NOT to the US & A. those, without legal permission to stay in the west bank have to leave... yes, terrible, but every country has masses of deportations every day - mostly because of no permission to stay there...

Sorry Logios but did not the Supreme Court call the IDF imposition on Gaza as closed to reporters during operation "Cast Lead" would you like to remind me of the result of that????????????

This order in no way represents anything resembling values shared with the United States. And the longer it even remains in place as some kind of wild contingency, it further demonstrates the death knell of what shared values once existed between the governments of Israel and the US. The PMO should have publicly repudiated the orders and the authors and forced the retirement of the author or the orders. It makes one wonder what Israeli politicians mean when they cry, "NEVER AGAIN." It would seem they don't mean what the rest of the non-Jewish world takes the proper meaning to be.

and you are an illegal settler.That is the nice term for a thief. "Bob: These are not the Palestinian territories. They are disputed territories that Israel administers." barry The Highest Court in Israel has ruled the WB to be "Held under Belligerent Occupation " by Israel.See case 2056/04 IHCJ. Ergo Israel cannot be the sovereign. Efrat is not in Israel--it is in the belligerently occupied West Bank. "Many people would like to throw the Jews out (about 500,000 of them) to create a Palestinian state on this land. Thanks." Barry No one is throwing Jews out unless they are citizens of Israel. That is what makes them illegal settlers. bY LAW ---4th Geneva convention, art 49 ---it is forbidden for the occupying Power--Israel---to transfer its citizens---Israelis---Jew or Arab--to the territorioes it occupies. So you see Barry--either you are woefully misinformed or you are at best dishonest and spreading propaganda. Hope that clears it up for you Barry.

Please read Shlomo Sand's "The Invention of the Jewish People" as well as any number of modern, Jewish "new historians" who have spoke of the truth about myths created to bolster Israel's "claims" to this and that. The fact is the world gladly gave you a country, but that was not enough. You have only two choices: The Green Line or perpetual war and the scorn of the world.

As if the Isrealis haven't tormented Pals enough, now they're embarking on a plan of criminal, racist expulsion. I agree with #2, this is the beginning of even harsher and more outrageous abuses against Pals- I predict mass expulsions. I foresee the remainder of Pals caged in prisons and bantustans and even worse. Let's hope this time the world doesn't sit idly by. Now is the time for decent Israelis to take action apartheid and ethnic cleansing. What ever happened to "Never again"?

I agree Bernard, you are 100% correct.

This could have a disastrous effect on the Israeli Diaspora and even Jews living in other sovereign countries, good, kind, responsible and innocent Jews, who do not deserve to be punished because of the crazy people living in Israel. Anjd I suggest that these Jews take every effort to persuade the Israeli Govt. to stop and think of the worldwide consequences which will also include more or less cancellation of all support from outside of Israel.

what you are asking for is just like after 2000 years from Now, the native indians decides to expel the whole population of the USA out back to where their great great grandparents came from. if you add to it, the fact, that not all jews left Palestine 2000 years ago, and jews lived with other people on the same land, so they don't historically owned the whole land of Israel. when God gave the land to Abraham and his children, he gave him up till his sight can see, which is about 8 square kilometer. this is your land in Israel,who you suppose to share with all the children of Abraham including the Arabs,since they are from Ishmael, the rest is for the other people who ever lived there including the Romans. tell me, when the 12 tribes moved to Egypt and got slaved for 400 years, who were living in Palestine?, was it left an empty land? no, but it shows your opportunistic character, if it serve your purpose you jump on it, and if not, you just abandon it,justice the Israeli way.

and thank you for your wisdom and clear thinking.

nothin more needs to be said..

...yet noone protests. Shameful

While Israel considers Gaza to be no longer occupied (since Sharon`s evacuation in 2005), the rest of the world, including the UN, still considers Gaza as occupied by Israel. To me it seems sensible, since Israel continues to occupy the Gaza airspace and territorial waters, and moves in and out of Gaza at will. By the Israeli Supreme Court did not yet rule on this question, and therefore the Israeli government and IDF can pretend to have Gaza the way they want it. If anybody is subject to deportation from Gaza, they can appeal to the Israel Supreme Court, which will stay the deportation until it decides. If the claim is that the West Bank and Gaza are one unit and under one occupation, the Court might have to address the question in principle. (But I am quite sure they would try hard to avoid deciding the principle.)

Bob: These are not the Palestinian territories. They are disputed territories that Israel administers. They have never been Palestinian. They were once designated to be part of the Jewish State, and then occupied by the British and Jordanians. Many people would like to throw the Jews out (about 500,000 of them) to create a Palestinian state on this land. Thanks.

Mr. Ross, I'm certain the descendants of the Canaanites will be happy to hear of your position.

sensible contribution to this . Thanks Mark

Jews from "Arab" countries were expelled  or left,  but u must seek redress from those individual countries. Plus, Pals were expelled first. Dont impose solution from them for crimes of others. Expelling Pals is sending them to countries the've no ancestral ties to. They ARENT indigenous to those countries. At least Jews ended up in Israel, where they trace common ancesrty, besides the admixture from 2000 yrs in diaspora. Unlike Jews, Muslims arent "a people". They have no common ancestral origin. Some 80% of Muslims still speak their ancestral languages & hold those ethnic identities (Mid Easterners like Persians, Asians like Indonesians & Malaysians, South Asians like Bangladshis & Pakistanis, Europeans like Albanians & Bosnians, Central Asians like Uzbekis, Africans like Somalis.) Of the 20% of Muslims now who speak Arabic, only Saudis are ancestally Arabs. All other Arabized peoples (Islamized or not) are indigenous to each country. Yes, Pals too. Btw, Kosovo Muslims are Europeans

Where the Hell is the PEACE Process going on? if this sort of things are carried out. What will happen to these Palestinians/Gazans do when they are HERDED back to Gaza, Will they be working in the Tunnels, or JOINING THE HAMAS, Quest which one? So NOW it has been decided that THESE UNFORTUNATES have to end UP in the WORLD Largest OPEN PRISON, G A Z A Thanks Mr EDITOR for a very honest REPORTING.

The prime minister and defense minister should immediately shelve this military order before the IDF feels free to begin carrying out expulsions.

Stop your hysterics. My only point is that all the people who wail about "ethnic cleansing" and "mass deportations" seem to ignore the facts on the ground, which is that the Arab populations in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem have grown substantially during the period these territories have been administered by Israel, and there is not a shred of evidence that Israel is planning "mass deportations". But I guess people like you never let the facts get in the way of your opinions and biases.

Way back in 1974 the Turkish Army stepped in the Republic of Cyprus and told the Ethnic Greeks in their way to leave their homes and property forever. Thirty odd years after that the Turks and the Greeks held a plebiscite to reunite the island "republic", which would place the Turkish Cypriots in the EU. The Greeks said no, their reply to the Turks for . . . In Tibet, the Chinese are occupying Tibet. When HaAretz decides to speak up on those occupations then, and only then, I will consider this editorial genuinely impartial.

"Last but not least, it will lead to many problems for Jews living in Diaspora, if they do not come into the open condemning Israel". I should not be required to do anything to ward off irrational hatred directed at me because I happen to share religion/ethnicity with people thousands of miles away whose government they don't approve of. This is the arrogance of antisemitism or any form of prejudice; it assumes that I am culpable by virtue of my religion or ethnic affiliation and that therefore I must "prove" myself worthy. I don't buy into this delusion. Anyone who assumes that I bear responsibility for the actions of the government of Israel by virtue of the fact that I am Jewish is an antisemite without even realizing it.

The West Bank is occupied territory. ALL Palestinians in the West Bank are "protected persons" under the definitions in the Geneva Conventions. All. Of. Them. No. Matter. Where. They. Came. From. No. Matter. What. They. Do. This order claims the right to expel Palestinians (i.e. "protected persons") FROM the West Bank (i.e. "occupied territory") TO the Gaza Strip. You all need to read Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV, because there you will see there that doing such a thing is UNCONDITIONALLY PROHIBITED. So the only way this military order can be "legal" is if the Gaza Strip is **still** Israeli-occupied territory. Think about that. Think long and hard about that. Because - very clearly - Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni didn't give this nearly enough thought when he came up with this brainwave.

everyone knows that apartheid israel is on its way down, just as white south africa fell in the 1990s... there is no way israel can survive in the long term with such racist and brutal policies...

De-legitimization, de-humanisation and double-standards have been defined by a former Israeli Minister as the check on what is anti-semitism. So, why is this new IDF measure no anti-semitism, or let's call it anti-palestinianism? Something to think about after Holocaust Remembrance Day, I would say. Or, are we covering this one up under the overall blanket of security

At what point are the Isreali's going to realise that eventually the West will put its relationship with 1 Billion muslims above that of 5 million Jews.

When Amira Hass and Haaretz display this IDF order to expel ...then it will be news. Till then this is just innuendo and rumor mongering. A piece of legislature such as this would be widely talked about by other media. If for some reason this piece of legislature is for real ...I would say I do not agree with it. But bring it to the surface if it is real amd debate its lack of merit. But do not incite the people without proof.

"...lead to many problems for Jews living in Diaspora, if they do not come into the open condemning Israel." Mark B Sir, Can we harass American citizens of Dutch ancestry who will not condemn certain policies of Holland? ps. You produced an antisemitic statement...

More ugly news from Israel. Humilate the homeless and stab the empty stomacks. These actions only create men. U will See. Go Palestineans Go. God is with you and the American masses are massing with you too. Long live the abused. Thank you Haaretz for being truthful and wise.

you have such a naive take on the mideast, try a new channel on your tv or read some other more objective source of information. Your fail to understand the gazans declared war on Israel,and with different neighbors cooking up future schemes to attack Israel, there is only one choice Israel will have- Your overly sympathetic dreams of peace for pals in gaza are symptoms of delusion and anti-Israel animosity. When they decide to put down their weapons of war, including child brainwashing against Israel and the usa, peace and freedoms will break out at once. Sorry to inform you, we are not dopes, but you have been duped.

"if that was the plan why let the Arab population first more then triple". So is Israel now communist China? You act as if Israel is giving the Palestinians a gift by letting them grow and have children! What right does Israel have to control anything in the Palestinian territories?

Thisilitary law is very odd and inclined to call it wrong and even evil, although if haaretz could advise where we could read the letters of the law that would be great a question though, what happens to a Palestinians who on these new charges is imprisoned in israel and then serves their term where are they release too? Israel? What if the term is five years and by then there is a Palestinian state? And if there isn't a state where would they go to israel or wb? Either way theyare liable to be pissed off this will not be good for anyone

Haaretz is the most honorable newspaper.

1. The fast-track deport now, appeal later aspect. A person of limited means may quickly find himself transported to Gaza or beyond, with no means to return, nobody to appeal to, and nowhere to go. 2. Another tool of cleansing. Recall around 2002, Operation Defensive Shield targeted, among other things, Palestinian administrative facilities and civilian records. Now this military order makes it easier for IDF to tell Palestinians, for arbitrary motives, "you do not belong here in the West Bank. You have no records to justify your presence here. You must leave." A fair implementation would give the target of detainment or deportment a chance to appeal prior to removal, and would honor credentials from Palestinian authorities, and vouchers from locals to establish long term residence's right to remain in place. Bad enough that the IDF prevents Palestinians from moving about freely, now they can't stay still, either!

The european occupiers, that have build illegal settlements on stolen land in the Westbank, have of couse far less rights than the indigeniuos people that lived there for hundreds of years. Ancient literature gives nobody any land rights, and if such old history should be taken into account, the Canaanites have more rights compared to the Israalites, whereever both people may be now. God, Allah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Manitou, or any other imiaginary being, has absolutely nothing to do with land rights

Oh. At least there is a rational analysis by the Harretz itself. A good example of vivid democracy.

Flagrant breach of the Geneva convention by an occupying country.This is what rogue states are like.

You're argument is irrelevant. The population of Jerusalem has always been mixed. The fact that a majority of jews lived there does not give any legitimacy. What was the jewish population in the entire region ?

The world is no longer going to sit back and allow Israel to continue this charade that its only goal in the West Bank is security when it is very clear that security has nothing to do with it. Israel's goal has always been to control the West Banks water resources and the settlers to grab some free land and everyone knows it, so nobody in the world is going to fall for this latest ploy.

I see no reason why the IDF and the govt would be posturing on this, which suggests that at some level it is likely to be used. It basically means the IDF can expel ANYBODY at will, as they determine who receives paperwork...that's NOT the kind of power any group is entitled to.

While this allegedly vague order may seem to be prejudicial to the "minimal right to choose where to live in the West Bank or Gaza,"let us not forget that a continuing state of war exists between Israel and the distincly 2 different Palestinian states.Rockets continue periodically to rain down on Israel from Gaza and the administration of the PA continues to preach hatred of the Jewish State from its educational system to its newspapers and government offices. The conflict and tensions between Israel and the Arab state(s) split off from the original British mandate could have been resolved in 1948,but have continued simply as a result of the latters' failure to accept a Jewish nation in its/their midst.The inconveniences inflicted upon the Palestinian populations(and to a certain extant on Israelis) by Israeli security measures have saved countless Israeli(and Palestinian) lives.

"In 1948 Jerusalem was a predominantly Jewish city" Irrelevant. It wasn't and isn't Israeli. "Jordan invaded and occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.." They had a right as a regional power to protect any territory not under Israeli sovereignty, from Jewish forces. "forcing Jews to flee" A) Israel agreed to the occupation. B) All countries deport and/or inter during a war. Israeli law prevented their return to a 'hostile entity'. "When Israel took the land back 19 years later Jews could reclaim their property, using court orders to evict illegal tenants who refused to pay rent" Israeli civil law has no place in "territories occupied", nor do Israeli civilians. "This does not make Jewish property owners into `settlers`." It makes Israeli civilians illegally in "territories occupied" illegal settlers. " If laws or military orders are being abused there are courts to examine complaints and make rulings" Israeli civil courts have no jurisdiction in "territories occupied"

Mass deportations - how did we sink so low. This is not the country to which I made aliyah 40 years ago.

I am appalled that someone could possibly be so ignorant as to suggest that this article was merely propagating hysteria. Lets see, Ralph, imagine if it was you who may be deported. Imagine if it was your friends who might be deported. It's equally as appalling that this order was made public on Holocaust Day, a day meant to remember the millions of Jews who were DEPORTED and killed because no one gave a good god damn about them. And now these same Jews are doing just that. The citizens of Palestine do not have the same freedoms as people in other parts of the world. For god's sake they are constantly denied even basic human rights. I understand that if you are in the States you are far away from what is happening here and can perhaps not quite relate to the situation; but before you start passing judgement and chanting your little "hysteria" song, why don't you step into the shoes of a Palestinian and see what it might be like to (once again) have someone walk all over you.

I agree with Ralph and Wespe should be ashamed to compare this - even if true - to the holocaust - ASHAMED! This law needs to be taken to court and stopped. The good people of Israel will put an end to this type of behavior.

"many problems for Jews living in Diaspora, if they do not come into the open condemning Israel" MB Sir, Do you suggest that Jewish citizens - some of many generation - of say Holland will be deservedly harassed? killed? if not condemn Israel? Is it OK to harass my Dutch neighbors who did not condemned certain policies of Holland?

You argue for generic substitution of a generic Jew for each specific one that might have been displaced. If a return is to be made, then it must include an equivalent number or percentage of population of those displaced from western Israel. But the returns should be only for those displaced, not some generic who never lived in the Middle East is the last 49 years. And Arab returnees should have an equal vote with the Jewish returnees, You may need a bicameral legislature. The single ideological Knesset won't be able to protect minority rights when you have nearly 50/50 population splits.

I plead with the Israeli government and all Israelis in general. Palestinians from Gaza living in the West Bank are the same ones that fought Hamas when it succeeded in overruling Gaza. These persons have been considered traitors by the radical Hamas government and if sent back, they will most likely be imprisoned or publicly executed. I only ask the decision makers in Israel to think about their decision and reconsider their approach because a simple relocation due to technical illegalities could mean sentencing someone to death. On this sad day of remembrance for the victims of the holocaust, I ask Israeli decision makers and Israelis in general to simply think human.

While Haaretz is so concerned about the rights of Arabs to live in Yesha, they deny those same rights to Jews. Jewish settlers are demonized for wanting to live in their ancestral homelands close to Jewish religious and historical sites. Shouldn't Jews also enjoy the right to live wherever in Yesha they want to, including Gaza which once had beautiful Jewish communities and is now Judenrein thanks to the efforts of Haaretz and other secular leftists.

It's so apt that clearly visible above this talkback section is a link to a feature on the documented rise of anti-semitism in Europe, designated by a photograph of a swastika. Is there any wonder that the diaspora will suffer when the Jewish state continues to apply racist, bully-boy policies against a subjugated people?

This journey, like all others, starts with a small step. It is about time we turned around and started actively walking in the other direction, finding ways to take into consideration the needs of all of the people living in the land.

generation of israelis. we have to hold on to the heights of judea and samaria.we have to deal with the enemy fairly and with vigour.those who are from gaza must leave for gaza.

This is the right step. They need to know that there are very serious consequences to their actions.

I found this a great article by Haaretz editorial. It's myhope that you drive awareness of what occupation is doing againt the very human rights of the Pals. And I also that the world will now move to the next level from slamming such unlawful, occupational practices to introducing sanctions against Israel. This may push Israeli governments to recognize the rights of Pals for a state where they can live in peace and dignity. There should be a global conference to stop this occupation. Ending the occupation is a peaceful action that itself is peace.

In 1948 Jerusalem was a predominantly Jewish city. Jordan invaded and occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, forcing Jews to flee. When Israel took the land back 19 years later Jews could reclaim their property, using court orders to evict illegal tenants who refused to pay rent. This does not make Jewish property owners into 'settlers'. If laws or military orders are being abused there are courts to examine complaints and make rulings.

I got a great idea. How about the same kind of editorial for the Jews who live in the West Bank? Fair is fair. Anything less is racism -- probably anti-semitism.

Every day in nearly every way the Israeli state demonstrates that it has lost the historic Jewish commitment that has defined the Jewish soul. Justice! How sad, so very sad for me, a non-Jewish supporter of a Jewish return to its homeland.

Anyone who bothers to check the facts can see that the Arab population of the West Bank and Gaza has increased from some 1 million in 1967 to about 3.5 million today. The notion that Israel is planning "mass deportations" from the West Bank is ludicrous, if that was the plan why let the Arab population first more then triple? Why take all the steps the Netanyahu government has taken in the last year to ease up on West Bank restrictions and promote economic development in the WB? Its not clear at all how this order will be used, if at all, and whether it will stand up to any court challenge. So Haaretz, please stop the hysteria.

If this order is implemented it will only confirm the worst fears of some observers that Israel's agenda is a barely-concealed racist one. This could spark more than a third Intifada but trouble that could undermine Israel itself.

This morning, the first thing I read was Gabi Ashkenazi's testimonial at Yad Vashem about his father and 6000 other Jews who were about to be deported, only for the order to be cancelled, thank G-d, a few hours later, when they got to the train station. Then I see the word deportation again, in this context of the West Bank.I start reading and feel immediate consternation. It is as if I were deported. So I am glad that Haaretz has taken a stand and come out against this order. What have we learned? Shunting people about against their will. No justice, no peace, for anyone.

Also it will put enormous pressure on the Americans to change their policies 180 degrees towards Israel. They will face the choice of doing that or receive contempt from the whole world and loose all their goodwill and a substabtial part of their power. Last but not least, it will lead to many problems for Jews living in Diaspora, if they do not come into the open condemning Israel. If israel thinks it can get away with it, they are making the same mistake as Serbia did in Kosovo.

First the whole mess with Biden, now this. I seriously doubt that this was actually part of a plan for mass expulsions. Israel knows it could never get away with this. Like the Biden affair, it was a result of Israeli balagan, and now we'll have to issue endless clarifications and finally rescind the order under duress from the United States. Israel needs to establish a central bureau which oversees anything having to do with the Palestinians so things like this can't happen.

for taking this position.I just received an Email from a friend in the US, appalled at reading the news yesterday.

Fitting that this would come out during the Holocaust remembrance. Is there a point remembering a past event when humanity (not exclusively Israel) perpetuates it in the present?

World public opinion is becoming more and more hostile to the growing extremism in Israel and its actions in continuing to take over more territory and its continuing occupation. Fortunately I know many Jewish people here who are also increasing turning away from supporting the extremists who are in power in Israel.

I always said that Israel is headed towards unrestrained crimes against the Palestinians. It is only a matter of time and international silence that will promote Israel to commit mass expulsion of Palestinians. The sad thing here is the fact that Israel is apparently convinced that these crimes against humanity will go unpunished. This may be true for now, but does Israel believe that this immunity will last forever? Sadly, Israel will pay the price for its crimes sooner or later, it is only a matter of time.

Jews were ethnically cleansed and this must be reversed. the possessor of stolen property is not the rightful owner. Furthermore, the jews cleansed from arab lands cannot go back therefore there must be a population swap. The jews from arab lands to Israel(which most are already evicted) for the arabs in the land of Israel. The muslims took the historic cradle of Serbia(kosovo) from the Serbs and this must not be allowed in Israel. Just as a thief is not allowed to keep his booty, even if it is transferred to his descendants, so the arabs must not be allowed occupation of Israel. They have already spread there hegemony out of arabia into the entire north africa. the jews cleansed from arab lands have not been compensated, Israel has taken them in.