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Nadav Shragai On Settlements

Yesterday, Nadav Sharagai of Haaretz participated in a chat session regarding settlements. The full questions and answers can be seen here. Shragai, a religious Jew whose political views differ from the standard Haaretz line, did a fantastic job responding to hostile questions, particularly from Europeans.

For example:

Q: How many settlers do you think would persist in their colonialist endeavor if the Israel government simply refused to subsidize and protect them?
Mick von Bornemann
Sydney, Australia

Nadav Shragai:
We are not talking of colonialism. The morality of "settlement" after 1967, is equivalent to the morality of settling the land after 1948. Morally, historically and religiously, the right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, takes precedence over the right of other peoples here. The internal dispute within Israel is over what is possible within the framework of the security and international reality that the country faces.

Q: You were saying that "We are not talking of colonialism. The morality of "settlement" after 1967, is equivalent to the morality of settling the land after 1948." If I understand you well, you consider it to be morally correct to chase Palestinians from their homeland and replace them with settlers from - let's say - America?
Gabor Lake
Romanshorn, Switzerland

Nadav Shragai:
In general, and almost always, the settlements are not set up on privately-owned land but on state land. The Palestinians were not expelled from their homes as a result of the establishment of the settlements. The settlements were built alongside the Palestinian towns and villages and not in their place. Since 1967, not a single Palestinian town or village has been moved.

Q: Is the land on which the settlers build officially granted by the government, and if so, why are these places called settlements and not small towns?
Avram Benatar
Brussels, Belgium

Nadav Shragai:
The use of the term "settlements" is usually used by its political opponents, whereas those who support it usually use the terms "towns" and "communities." Karnei Shomron, Ariel and Ma'aleh Adumim are no different than nearby cities like Kfar Sava, Netanya and Petah Tikva. We are talking about similar types of inhabitants - religious and secular. The differences in definition result from the fact that there are differing opinions as to the future of these places.
posted on 6/19/2003