Israeli Communities in the Territories

Blue dots represent Jewish communities (settlements) in Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank" of the Jordan River).

Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria-'the Settlements' - A hot button issue since 1967, the debate surrounding the settlements after the Disengagement of last summer has taken on a very different tone. For thirty years, the settlements were considered sacrosanct by many and it was thought that all the settlements would be a permanent presence on the hills of Judea and Samaria. Now, after the Disengagement and the removal of 25 settlements in Gaza and Northern Samaria, it is clear that the settlements are not as permanent as most previously believed.

In general, there are two types of communities - security and ideological. Security related communities are those that have been created in areas of strategic defense importance to Israel. Examples include communities in the Jordan Valley, along the Jordan River. These communities are traditionally seen as an obstacle to invading Arab armies from the East. Other security settlements are located on high peaks of the Judea and Samaria - places from which hostile forces could control or seriously disrupt life in Israel's major population centers.

Ideological communities are those in locations where the Jewish People have a historic or spiritual affinity. Examples include Hebron, communities in the area of Shechem and - according to the US State Department - neighborhoods of Jerusalem, including the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.

Political Parties and the Settlements

Pre-Disengagement, the debate on the future of the settlements was clearly defined-with the left-wing parties viewing them as "obstacles to peace" and the cause of Arab terror against Israel and the right-wing seeing these communities as the guarantors of Israel's safety and the vanguard of Israel's future. Now, with the rise of the new, centrist Kadima party, the balance has shifted. Kadima, and every party to the left of it, supports significant withdrawals from the territories. Even Likud, formerly at the forefront of the right's ideology, has accepted that some settlements will need to be removed. Only the right-wing National Religious and National Union (among others) parties still maintain absolute opposition to further territorial withdrawal.

After Hamas' sweeping victory in January's Palestinian Legislative Council elections, there has been much speculation as to how, and if, the various parties will alter their positions vis a vis future withdrawals in the face of the rise to power of the militant Hamas party.

Acting Prime Minister and Kadima leader Ehud Olmert recently outlined his intention to keep the three major settlement blocks (Ariel, Maale Adumin and Gush Etzion) along with the Jordan Valley settlements, while continuing to support negotiations followed by further unilateral disengagements if negotiations fail. Interestingly, he maintained these positions even after Hamas' victory.