One House at a Time

Even a cursory introduction to the long-drawn conflict between the State of Israel (Israel) and the State of Palestine (Palestine) will have one acquainted with the contention surrounding the Israeli settlements – especially those in the West Bank. Given the fact that these occupied regions are the primary concern for both parties involved, it is paramount for any solution proposed to put an end to the conflict to address these ever-growing Israeli settlements.

To start, the reporter deems it necessary to understand the motivations of the common Jewish people who relocate from Israel as well as foreign countries to make these disputed lands their home. According to popular belief, a vast majority of the Jewish people who inhabit the settlements are an ultra-orthodox group seeking to establish a strong Jewish presence in accordance with the concept of Zionism. Given the violence that has been perpetrated by some among them – like the American doctor Baruch Goldstein 1 – as well as how vocal they are about their beliefs and historical rights over these regions, one might tend to paint the entire settler population with the same extremist brush. However, this picture offers only half of the story.

In actuality, one-third of the Jewish population settled in the West Bank are secular 1. Their reasons for inhabiting this region are rooted in economic benefits offered to them by the Israeli government. For Israeli leadership, these settlements are a prime political force that play to the religious sentiments of the Zionists within the country. In addition, Israeli occupation of certain strategic regions allows the Israeli government to provide stronger security for the state and its people from enemy forces that seek to dismantle the Jewish state. Therefore, to appeal to the secular population and to provide additional incentives to those who are religious, the Israeli government provides subsidies like favorable mortgages and discounts on purchases of property declared state land. These subsidies amount to USD 700 per settler per year 2.

Along with government subsidies, quality of life is another incentive for shifting to these disputed regions. The ire of the international community has not stopped the Israeli government from investing in the infrastructure of the settlements. No longer small encampments, the Israeli settlements are now comprised of great subdivisions comprised of an array of villas with manicured lawns that are situated on picturesque hilltops. Combined with amenities like a reputed college, tight security, and quiet roads, many among the Israeli settlers are attracted by the peaceful lifestyle promised by these dream-like living quarters – an irony, given the restlessness of the environment outside of these advertised havens 3.

At this juncture, the reporter highlights that the Jewish people seeking to live in a peaceful environment where they form a religious majority is hardly surprising. Given the violent atrocities borne by this community for years owing to the raging anti-Semitism prevailing in the previous century, it is only reasonable for the current population of Jewish people to take preventative measures from history repeating itself. At the same time, one must remember that the peace that is achieved in these settlements comes at the cost of Palestinians losing their homes. Today, due to the demolition of houses owned by Palestinians as well as the construction of settlements on Palestinian land, at least 57000 Palestinians are internally displaced within the West Bank 4. Meanwhile, population of Israelis in the settlements has grown four times faster than that of the Israel state since 1995 2.

For peace to prevail in this region, the Palestinians demand refugee redressal as well as the dismantling of the Israeli settlements. However, given that the Israeli government continues to grow these settlements while also negotiating peace, one can only assume that Israel does not intend on compromising their settlements for the sake of solving the conflict – both for security purposes, as well as to prevent displacing the settlers who inhabit the region. Given that both sides are at loggerheads over their claims over the land, peace will continue to evade this conflicted region. For now, as the Israeli settlers revel in their manicured subdivisions in the West Bank, the cries of the outraged Palestinians serves as background noise – a sound that is growing louder one house at a time. (edited by Vaishnavi Deepak)

Image source: https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/12/29/507377617/seven-things-to-know-about-israeli-settlements