Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories

Land is at the heart of the century-old contest between Israelis and Palestinians. Settlements are the most noteworthy manifestation of this continuing competition, the clearest barometer of relations between the two peoples and  the most potent obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In the November-December issue of the Settlement Report, I criticized the Bush administration for continuing to push the Quartet's "road map," which I considered a meager response to the current crisis.

The United Nations General  Assembly adopted a resolution entitled "Jerusalem"  on December 3, 2002. The resolution notes that "any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever." It was approved  by a vote of 154 in favor, 5 against (including the United States),  and 6 abstentions.

On December 4, 2002 Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon offered the most detailed view of the territorial and political concepts guiding Israeli policy in the occupied territories. His view of the prospective Palestinian state is reminiscent of the autonomy plan of Prime Minister Menachem Begin.