A Conflict Resolution for West Bank Settlements

Israel and Palestine have a long history of conflicts and disputes. The focus of their conflicts lies in the ownership of settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and in the Golan Heights. Both countries intend to claim ownership of these areas to the housing problem of their citizens. But there haven’t reached a consensus between these two countries due to their complex historical relations. Currently, Israel places its inhabitants in West Bank settlements even though Palestine and the international organizations keep condemning its illegal behaviors.

       Since 1967 Six-Say War, Israel has owned the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and in the Golan Heights. Settlements were built in these regions for military outputs originally, then transferred into civilian habitats. The government carried out the “Drobles Plan” to establish large-scale settlements in the West Bank in order to prevent a Palestinian state with the excuse of security. Also, the housing price in West Bank Settlements was much lower than that in Israel. Thus, for the economic factor, the government would like to place citizens in these settlements to relieve the domestic housing pressure. Statistics show that until 2014, Jewish settlers has lived in more than 102 officially recognized settlements in the West Bank, and more than 380,000 Israelis has lived in these settlements. According to the Oslo II Accord, Israel wanted to limit the Palestinian power less than a state, simply an entity of residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Thus, the Israeli government arranged many military outposts in these settlements in order to supervise Palestinian citizens in these areas. However, since the establishment of Palestine in 2002, Israel’s use of settlements in the West Bank has been widely questioned and condemned. However, the establishment of a Palestinian state was well acknowledged in 2002. And military outposts established by the Israeli government were supposed to be dismantled. Nevertheless, few outposts were removed. Instead, more new outposts established. Both of these countries intend to claim ownership of settlements in the West Bank.

       On one side, the international community supports Palestine and regards that Israel’s use of settlements in the West Bank is illegal. The United Nations has repeatedly regarded that this settlement violates the Fourth Geneva Convention which requires that the occupying country shall not place its citizens into the territory it occupies. Israel’s behaviors have violated Palestinian human and land rights. Thus, based on this law, the international community requires Israel to transfer its citizens out of these settlements. On the other side, the Israel government argues that all authorized settlements are entirely legal in its ownership and Israel’s behaviors are consistent with the international law. Israel doesn’t admit the Fourth Geneva Convention, saying that its provisions don’t suit for the practical situations regarding humanitarian issues. Israel keeps arguing that these settlements have serious security needs. The temporary use of land and buildings in these settlements mean to meet these security needs, which is permissible under the international law.

       The resolution of this conflict is to negotiate a deadline for Israel to transfer its citizens out of settlements in the West Bank. Before Israel finishes the transfer, the international community and Palestine could impose economic and political pressures on Israel. The deadline aims at giving Israel enough time to adjust according to its practical situations, not a compromise to its harsh attitude. If there are really security needs in these settlements, Palestine and the United Nations could offer military help for Israel’s peaceful transition.

       In order to implement this resolution, the United Union must organize negotiations with Israel. The focus is not to dispute whether Israel has the legal right to use settlements in the West Bank, but how long Israel needs to transfer its citizens out of those settlements and if there is any trouble to fulfill it. If Israel refuses to solve this conflict through negotiations, the United Nations and Palestine could refuse to admit Israel’s ownership of settlements in the West Bank and cut off economic cooperation and political connections. If Israel has practical concerns and troubles, like the security problem, the United Nations and Palestine could offer related assistances after negotiations.