PATRICK Bogue writes (January 7) that Israel should stop settlement expansion plans. Why?
the West Bank has been disputed territory since the armistice of1949 following Israel's war of interdependence. A war, I must add, which was not inevitable. Israel accepted the UN partition of the remaining part of Mandated Palestine. two thirds had already been given to the Hashemites in Jordan, although 64 per cent of the population were Palestinian. the remaining land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan river was to be divided further to create a second Palestinian state and Israel.
Israel accepted the deal, the Palestinians did not. this is the obstacle to peace, not Israeli settlements on the west bank. Jordan occupied this area between 1949 and 1967. they did nothing to alleviate the living conditions of the Palestinians. the world was silent then. It is a different matter however, when, shock, horror, the occupying force is Jewish not Arab.
Israel offered to negotiate everything, including the west bank, in return for peace in 1967. the combined Arab command sitting in khartoum replied with the infamous three nos - no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel.
Ironically, Israel gave up its settlements in the Sinai following successful peace negotiations with Egypt over a decade later. In 2005 Israel evacuated Gaza and in the process gave up settlements there also. so, whatever Israel does on the west bank between now and, hopefully a peace agreement with the Palestinians, everything and anything is possible. Israel has shown in good faith that it is prepared to make painful concessions in return for peace. the Palestinians now have to step up to the mark and show they are serious about a shared, peaceful, future. Andrew J Shaw
Belfast BT10
