Settlements

Ken Taranto visited Maale Adumim, a settlement in the West Bank, and learned that there were six distinct regions of settlements with various densities and ages. There were also many unofficial settlements, called outposts, with populations made up of a small number of families.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 112 pages
\n Publication date: 01 September 2021
\n Publisher: GOST Books
\n

Ken Taranto had been visiting Israel once or twice a year for seven years when he decided to visit the settlement, Maale Adumim, the first he had ever been to. He had seen the signs for it on the highway from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and could see clusters of apartment buildings on the hilltops. Six months later, Taranto and his family moved to Israel, and he printed out a map of all the settlements and began to research them. He learned there were six distinct regions of settlements in the West Bank—Shomron, Binyamin, Gush Etzion, East Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and the Hebron Hills. They were of various densities and ages. There were small settlements with a few hundred residents, some with a few thousand, and others with over ten or twenty thousand people. There were also many unofficial settlements, called outposts, with populations made up of a small number of families.

The West Bank is a complex region with a rich history and diverse population. It is home to a variety of settlements, including both official and unofficial ones. The official settlements are those that are recognized by the Israeli government and are built on land that is owned by the state. These settlements are typically larger and have more infrastructure than the unofficial settlements.

One of the most well-known official settlements is Maale Adumim, which is located in the West Bank and is home to over 40,000 people. Maale Adumim is a planned community that was established in the 1970s and is designed to expand into the surrounding area. It is a mixed-income community, with a significant number of religious Jews and a growing number of secular residents.

Another official settlement is Ariel, which is located in the northern part of the West Bank and is home to over 10,000 people. Ariel is a religious settlement that was established in the 1970s and is known for its conservative religious values. It is a closed community, with only religious Jews allowed to live there.

In addition to official settlements, there are also many unofficial settlements, called outposts, in the West Bank. These settlements are typically smaller and are built on land that is privately owned by Israeli citizens. The Israeli government has been criticized for its support of these settlements, which are seen as illegal under international law.

One of the most controversial outposts is called Beit El, which is located in the West Bank and is home to over 5,000 people. Beit El is a religious settlement that was established in the 1970s and is known for its aggressive expansion into the surrounding area. It is a closed community, with only religious Jews allowed to live there.

The Israeli government has been criticized for its support of these settlements, which are seen as illegal under international law. The United Nations has condemned the settlements as a violation of human rights and has called on Israel to dismantle them. However, the Israeli government has refused to do so, arguing that the settlements are a necessary part of its security strategy in the region.

The issue of settlements in the West Bank has been a source of tension between Israel and the Palestinians for many years. The Palestinians argue that the settlements are an illegal occupation of Palestinian land and that they are a barrier to the creation of a viable Palestinian state. The Israelis argue that the settlements are a necessary part of their security strategy and that they have the right to live on their own land.

The conflict over settlements has been a major obstacle to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. In recent years, there have been efforts to restart the peace process, but the issue of settlements has remained a sticking point. In 2016, the United States announced that it would move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that was seen as a sign of support for Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its capital. This move was met with protests by the Palestinians, who saw it as a violation of their rights and a step towards the annexation of Palestinian land.

In conclusion, the West Bank is a complex region with a rich history and diverse population. It is home to a variety of settlements, including both official and unofficial ones. The issue of settlements has been a source of tension between Israel and the Palestinians for many years and has been a major obstacle to the peace process. While the Israeli government argues that the settlements are a necessary part of its security strategy, the Palestinians argue that they are an illegal occupation of Palestinian land. The conflict over settlements is likely to remain a topic of debate and discussion for many years to come.

\n Weight: 880g\n
Dimension: 238 x 318 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781910401644\n \n