A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Bush and the Shrinking Fence

In today's Haaretz, Ze'ev Schiff reports that Israel is giving in to United States demands that the security fence not include Ariel and other Western Samaria "settlements." According to Schiff, "in the argument over Ariel, the Americans won. Even though Defense Minster Shaul Mofaz wants to include Ariel inside the fence, the tendency now is not to extend the fence and planning has already begun for a new route. But Ariel - and two other settlements - will get new separation fences of their own - even as they are kept out of the main separation fence."

Ariel, which has about 17,000 residents, is a number of miles outside of the Green Line, so American pressure in that regard is understandable, even as Israel's failure to insist on protecting its interests is troubling and disappointing. Yet the Bush Administration's pressure also relates to communities in the Jerusalem area, such as Givat Ze'ev, a community of 13,000, and other urban neighborhoods in northern Jerusalem, or just north of the capital.

While Israel has stated that the fence must cover the tens of thousands of residents of those neighborhoods, Haaretz reports that "the Americans have not accepted the argument - and have made that clear in discussions with Israeli officials in Washington. The issue is clearly leading to an open clash, because of the sensitivity of the Jerusalem issue."

The Bush Administration's position is outrageous. While Ramot, Ramat Eshkol, French Hill, Pisgat Ze'ev and Givat Ze'ev were built in areas captured in 1967, all have large Jewish populations, and would have been annexed to Israel even under the Clinton Plan. The U.S. insistence that the fence not cover these areas (which have been targets of terrorist attacks) has no legitimate basis, and must be rejected by Israel.
posted on 9/09/2003