Contents

Palestinians Paying the Price for Settlement Expansion
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. Read more

To Our Readers
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. Read more

Bush Administration Changes Tack on Jerusalem Voting
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." Read more

Sharon Maps Out the Future
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. Read more

Settlement Timeline

Short Takes

U.S. Avoids Issue of Settlements' "Natural Growth"
Richard Boucher, U.S. Department of State, Daily Press Briefing, November 25, 2002 Read more

Back Panel Quote
Amos Elon, "Israelis  and Palestinians: What Went Wrong?" New York Review of Books, December 19, 2002 Read more