Now seems like the most appropriate time to discuss Jewish Settlements in the West Bank (aka Palestinian Authority, Occupied Territories).
Jews are not supposed to inhabit the West Bank. Period. This is international law. However, as a national policy Israel pays Israeli citizens (lots of money) to live- in newly built houses- and work in what are called "neighborhoods" aka Settlements on Palestinian land. They are used as a tactic to slowly take Palestinian land because in a paraphrase of what Sharon said: anything we take now, we will have forever.
Meaning that Palestinians cannot claim that land in the future when trying to set up their own nation because the Israelis have legitimate claim to the land. ((Kinda like how Palestinians have a legitimate claim to the land they live and work on- the difference being that Palestinians are constantly being denied that right)). It is a huge issue because the West Bank was designated from the start as Palestinian, specifically NOT Israeli.
We all just found out today that we are actually going to visit one of the settlements, Erfat, on Thursday and listen to Ardi Gildman speak about his perspective and opinion. Ardi Gildman is a well-known Israeli right wing Zionist. It will definitely be a learning experience to hear from such a one-sided opinion. I am going to try to be as open and accepting of other opinions as I possible can- but at the same time, expect a blog entry ranting about Zionism sometime after Thursday night.
Jews are not supposed to inhabit the West Bank. Period. This is international law. However, as a national policy Israel pays Israeli citizens (lots of money) to live- in newly built houses- and work in what are called "neighborhoods" aka Settlements on Palestinian land. They are used as a tactic to slowly take Palestinian land because in a paraphrase of what Sharon said: anything we take now, we will have forever.
Meaning that Palestinians cannot claim that land in the future when trying to set up their own nation because the Israelis have legitimate claim to the land. ((Kinda like how Palestinians have a legitimate claim to the land they live and work on- the difference being that Palestinians are constantly being denied that right)). It is a huge issue because the West Bank was designated from the start as Palestinian, specifically NOT Israeli.
We all just found out today that we are actually going to visit one of the settlements, Erfat, on Thursday and listen to Ardi Gildman speak about his perspective and opinion. Ardi Gildman is a well-known Israeli right wing Zionist. It will definitely be a learning experience to hear from such a one-sided opinion. I am going to try to be as open and accepting of other opinions as I possible can- but at the same time, expect a blog entry ranting about Zionism sometime after Thursday night.
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