Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing Zones

[polly7]

By Jonathan Cook

Friday, July 12, 2013

Palestinians in other parts of the occupied territories coveted by Israel – such as villages next to Jerusalem and those in the fertile Jordan Valley, the territorial backbone of any future Palestinian state – are being squeezed too. Firing ranges, closed military zones and national parks are the pretexts for Israel to seize the farmland these rural communities need to survive.

As a result, Palestinian life is withering in the nearly two-thirds of the West Bank Israel was temporarily entrusted with – the so-called Area C – under the Oslo Accords.

Endlessly harassed Palestinians have sought sanctuary in West Bank cities under Palestinian Authority control. Today the remnants in Area C, a population of about 100,000, are outnumbered three to one by Jewish settlers.

A discomfited European Union, normally mealy-mouthed on Israel’s occupation, has started to describe this as “forced transfer”. The term may sound ominous and reproving, but human rights groups say that, from a legal perspective, the terminology obscures rather than illuminates what is taking place.

Full Article: http://www.zcommunications.org/israel-s-ethnic-cleansing-zones-by-jonathan-cook

'started to describe this'?! wtf took them so long?

[Mosby]

1. Cook thinks Gilad Aztmon is a "maverick"

More to the point though this article is a good example of his propaganda style, no facts, no details just inflammatory language and unfounded accusations.

His "explanation" of the Prawer plan is a good example of his pathetic attempts to discredit and demonize Israel, first off the Bedouin have lived in the Negev for a long time but never tried early on to register their land either with the Ottomans or later the Israelis and Egyptians. That is why the remaining towns are considered "unrecognized" or "illegal". They don't have deeds to the properties they lay claim to now. The Israelis have spend decades incentivizing relocation to modern villages in the immediate area and more than half have voluntarily relocated since 1948.

The Prawer plan is designed to relocate the remaining Bedouin living in unrecognized communities and will be providing, among other things, 350 million dollars of development aid in the form of schools, industrial parks and training in technology and trades. Bedouin families will also receive compensation for the lands they are leaving and relocation funds.

Funny how he fails to mention even the most basic facts of the plan.

[polly7]

2. I wondered how long it would take the first

attack the messenger to arrive.