Israel Announces Large West Bank Land Seizure

[Martin Eden]

77. "this risks eliminating any likelihood of a viable Palestinian state"

A Palestinian state has not been viable in the West Bank for decades. Israeli settlements and the roads connecting them slice & dice that land.

No Israeli government will force those Jewish settlers out of their homes, many of which have been lived in for generations now. Even if Netanyahu is ousted and replaced by a more liberal coalition, attempting to do so would be political suicide -- especially in the wake of the Oct 7 attack. Removal would be played to the hilt as a reward and validation for the atrocity committed by Hamas. Nor will any Israeli government simply pull out their security forces, leaving the settlers to the tender mercies of Palestinian rule.

30,000+ Palestinian deaths in retaliation for Oct 7 and the immense suffering in Gaza will not change the equation of evicting Israeli citizens from their homes in the West Bank.

While the US and much of the international community have promoted the "Two State Solution," Israeli governments have steadily been making that impossible with facts on the ground.

This has been done with the full support of the US government, even though expanding the settlements contradicts our official policy and our complaints about Israel's treatment (now decried by many as genocide) of the Palestinians. The plain fact of the matter is our financial and military aid have been unconditional, and that speaks louder than any words.

It's unclear what will happen in post-war Gaza after Netanyahu is ousted. A best case scenario is eventual Palestinian rule, by an entity that is not bent on terrorism. But that is a small parcel of land in what is a very small country in terms of square miles. Gaza alone is hardly suitable as the Two State Solution, and the hearts of many will be hardened by the slaughter and suffering.

The cycle of violence will likely continue, as will US support regardless of what Israel does.