The timing of Israel’s intention to build 1,400 housing units in settlements in the Palestinian territories cannot be more outrageous. This decision comes amid the American efforts to help the Palestinians and Israelis cut a deal.
I cannot see how US Secretary of State John Kerry can persuade the Arabs, let alone the Palestinians, that Netanyahu is a partner for any possible resolution to the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Despite his lip service to the notion of a two-state solution, Netanyahu’s policies have only derailed the process altogether.
Historically speaking, construction of settlements in the Palestinian land has been a classic Zionist tactic designed to maximize Israel’s territorial gains at the expense of the Palestinians and to present Israeli expansion as a fait accompli. Since the military occupation of the Palestinians territories in 1967, successive Israeli governments — whether under Labor or Likud — have built settlements on the Palestinian land. For some influential and important political forces, building settlements anywhere possible in the Palestinian land is a means to make any Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinians territories a difficult task to implement. Indeed, one of the paramount objectives behind Likud-led governments in late 1970s and 1980s to build settlements was to prevent a future Labor-led government from offering the Palestinians any meaningful territorial concessions.
At one point, some Israeli premiers began to realize that their political survival and their abilities to stay at the helm of politics was contingent on political forces that represent settlers’ interests.
Netanyahu, in his first term, adopted the policy of paying back to the religious and rightwing forces every time he made a concession to the Palestinians. For instance, to get the religious parties agree on the Hebron Protocol in January 1997 (an agreement signed by late Yasser Arafat and Netanyahu), he paid back by announcing the government’s decision to build houses in Jabal Abu Ghneim south of Jerusalem. It is as if Netanyahu had to please the extremists within his coalition at the expense of Palestinian land.
Observers argue Netanyahu’s reliance on settlers and anti two-state political parties forces him to conform to their pressure for more settlements. Therefore, for releasing tens of Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu seeks to ease the pressure by supporting a new scheme of settlements.
Explicitly, the Israeli government is working at cross-purposes. To be sure, the Israeli decision to release some Palestinian prisoners is seen by Kerry as a vital confidence-building measure. Such a move can help Kerry in his talks to the Palestinians. Yet, the decision to build new homes in settlements can destroy any prospects of hope that Netanyahu is a peace partner. For Palestinians, Netanyahu is anything but genuine peace partner.
To be sure, even the Israeli opposition is not happy with Netanyahu’s intention to resume settlement activities. Isaac Herzog, the opposition leader, wrote Netanyahu a letter urging him not to announce new settlement construction especially when negotiations with the Palestinians are about to start. “Israel should be announcing a settlement freeze…There is no point in building when we are in the process of negotiating our final borders,” said Herzog.
The fact that the Israeli premier has to succumb to the pressure of the extremists within his coalition is difficult to square with his declared understanding that the failure of a two-state solution can compromise Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state. Israel will soon face a puzzle of paramount consequence. If settlement activities continue unchecked, there will be nothing left for the Palestinians to establish their viable state. But soon, the Palestinians will take over the Jews demographically. What is Israel going to do with this new unfolding reality? Needless to say, there are some Palestinians who have started thinking of a one-state solution!
Israel’s tragic situation cannot be solved as long as Israeli prime ministers succumb to the desires and whims of extremists. It is about time that Netanyahu needs to understand that the payback politics can help him maintain his position but will jeopardize the Israelis position in years to come. The blackmail practiced by pro-settlers political parties will only push Israel to a slippery road. In brief, one can argue that the whole peace process is held hostage to the power dynamics within Israel that only weakens the prime minister and pushes him to adopt policies that undermine the peace process.
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