Quotes about jewish settlements
in the West Bank
(Judaea and Samaria)
Im Sechstagekrieg von 1967 hat Israel die arabische Westbank und Ost-Jerusalem besetzt.
Damit hat die israelische Besiedlung des Gebiets begonnen, das im jüdischen Sprachgebrauch Judäa und Samaria heißt. Seither sind die Siedlungen ein umstrittenes Thema.
Oktober 2023 – Nasser Nawadja, Mitarbeiter der NGO B’Tselem
Die Gewalt der Siedler ist heute schlimmer als je zuvor. Manchmal tragen sie Uniformen von Reservisten, und wir wissen nicht mehr, wer zur Armee gehört und wer ein Siedler ist. Den Palästinmensern in Tuba wurde ein Ultimatum von 24 Stunden gestellt, um die Ortschaft zu verlassen, sonst würden die Siedler zurückkommen und sie töten. Wir wissen nicht, was als nächstes passieren wird.
August 2019 – Yigal Dilmoni, Vorsitzender des jüdischen Siedler-Rates für Judäa und Samaria (dem arabischen Westjordanland)
Wenn Sie die Wohnungspreise in der Region Tel Aviv senken wollen, ist der Ort, an dem Sie bauen müssen im Osten, in Judäa und Samaria.
Januar 2019 – Benny Gantz, früherer Generalstabschef Israels, Bewerber um das Amt des Ministerpräsidenten
We will strengthen the settlement blocs and the Golan Heights, from which we will never retreat. The Jordan Valley will remain our eastern security border.
Januar 2019 – Ron deSantis, Gouvernor of Florida (REP), droht dem Tourismus-Unternehmen AirB’n’B mit Maßnahmen, sollte die Firma ihre früheren Angebote in jüdischen Siedlungen in der Westbank nicht wieder aufnehmen (siehe auch nächstes Zitat von Amnesty International)
If we can’t make [AirB’n’B] see the light, [we] make them feel the heat
Januar 2019 – Amnesty International, beschuldigt die Online-Plattformen AirB’n’, Expedia, TripAdvisor und Booking.com die jüdischen Siedlungsblöcke in der arabischen Westbank zu unterstützen. AirB’nB hat daraufhin 200 entsprechende Angebote aus seinem Katalog genommen.
In doing business with settlements, all four companies are contributing to, and profiting from, the maintenance, development and expansion of illegal settlements, which amount to war crimes under international criminal law.
(Im Geschäft mit Siedlungen tragen alle vier Unternehmen zur Erhaltung, Entwicklung und Erweiterung illegaler Siedlungen bei, was völkerstrafrechtlichen Kriegsverbrechen gleichkommt, und profitieren davon.)
Januar 2018 – Gilad Erdan, Public Security Minister (Israel)
We are telling the world that it doesn’t matter what the nations of the world say. The time has come to express our biblical right to the land.
(Wir sagen der Welt, dass es egal ist, was die Nationen der Welt sagen. Es ist an der Zeit, unser biblisches Recht auf das Land zum Ausdruck zu bringen.)
Juli 2017 – Emanuel Macron, Staatspräsident von Frankreich
France has always condemned the continuation of settlement building, which is illegal under international law and has reached an unprecedented level since the beginning of the year.
(Frankreich hat stets die Fortsetzung des völkerrechtswidrigen Siedlungsbaus verurteilt das seit Anfang des Jahres ein beispielloses Niveau erreicht hat.)
Juli 2017 – Human Rights Watch report
the development of settlements, along with the accompanying discriminatory policies that disadvantage Palestinians [… is one of ..] at least five categories of major violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law [ that ] characterize the occupation
(die Entwicklung von Siedlungen und die damit einhergehende diskriminierende Politik, die Palästinenser benachteiligt [….. ist eine von …] mindestens fünf Kategorien von schweren Verletzungen des internationalen Menschenrechts und des humanitären Rechts [ die die Besatzung charakterisieren].)
Februar 2017 – Donald Trump, US Präsident
Every time you [i.e. Israel] take land for settlements, there is less land left. But we are looking at that, and we are looking at some other options we’ll see. But no, I am not somebody that believes that going forward with these settlements is a good thing for peace.
(Jedes Mal, wenn du (d.h. Israel) Land für Siedlungen nimmst, ist weniger Land übrig. Aber wir beobachten das, und wir schauen uns einige andere Optionen an, und wir werden sehen. Aber nein, ich bin nicht jemand, der glaubt, dass die Fortführung dieser Siedlungstätigkeit eine gute Sache für den Frieden ist.)
Mai 2016 – Donald Trump, US Präsidentschafts-Kandidat
No, I don’t think there should be a pause [in the Westbank settlements]
(Nein, ich denke nicht, dass es eine Pause geben sollte[in den Siedlungen der Westbank].)
Januar 2016 – Ban Ki Moon, UN Generalsekretär
Progress towards peace requires a freeze of Israel’s settlement enterprise.
Continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community.
They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution.(Fortschritte auf dem Weg zum Frieden erfordern ein Einfrieren der israelischen Siedlungspolitik.
Die anhaltenden Siedlungsaktivitäten sind eine Belastung für das palästinensische Volk und die internationale Gemeinschaft.
Sie werfen zu Recht grundlegende Fragen über das Engagement Israels für eine Zwei-Staaten-Lösung auf.)
November 2015 – Denis McDonough, White House Chief of Staff
settlements and demolitions are imperiling the viability of a two-state solution.
November 2015 – Benjamin Netanjahu, israelischer Premierminister
The truth is, the reason we don’t have peace yet with the Palestinians is not because of the settlements or territorial disputes. […]
The reason there isn’t peace is the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize the Jewish state in any boundaries.
[ As a matter of fact, Yasser Arafat on behalf of the Palestinian Authority officially recognised the state of Israel in 1993 ]
Oktober 2015 – John Kerry, US Außenminister
There’s been a massive increase in settlement over the course of the last years […] and there’s an increase in the violence because there’s this frustration that’s growing
Oktober 2015 – Barack Obama, US Präsident
Over time, the only way that Israel is going to be truly secure, and the only way the Palestinians are going to be able to meet the aspirations of their people, is if they are two states living side by side in peace and security
Herbst / Autumn 2015 – Benny Morris, israelischer Historiker
I lost a lot of sympathy for the Palestinians — and I came to understand that they are not willing to reach a two-state solution.[…]
I understood that it wasn’t really a question of a bit of territory here or there — it was a matter of the Palestinians non-acceptance of the legitimacy of the Jewish state. That was what lay behind Abbas’s inability to accept any Jewish state next to a Palestinian state. This is really what it has always been about: for Arafat, for Abbas, and before them for [Haj Amin] al-Husseini in the 1930s and 1940s.Look, the problem is that settlements are an expression of occupation and expansionism. The settlements are the symbol of the fact that Israel has been in occupation of the Arab territories in one way or another since 1967.[…]
But the Palestinians of course understand this and exploit it. The problem is that the Arabs rejected Zionist and Jewish presence in the area.
Oktober 2014 – Jen Psaki, Sprecherin des US Außenministeriums
Diese Entwicklung [weitere Siedlungen in Ost-Jerusalem zu bauen] wird nur eine Verurteilung der internationalen Gemeinschaft mit sich bringen, Israel sogar von seinen engsten Verbündeten distanzieren und die Atmosphäre nicht nur mit den Palästinensern zu vergiften, sondern gerade auch mit denjenigen arabischen Regierungen, für die Ministerpräsident Netanjahu vorgibt [bessere] Beziehungen aufbauen zu wollen.
September 2014 – Mahmoud Abbas, Präsident der Palästinensischen Autonomiebehörde (PA), vor der Vollversammlung der Vereinten Nationen
There is neither credibility nor seriousness in negotiations in which Israel predetermines the results via its settlement activities and the occupation’s brutality.
September 2014 – 43 Reserve-Soldaten der israelischen Nachrichteneinheit 8200
Millionen von Palästinensern haben über einen Zeitraum von über 47 Jahren unter der Militärherrschaft Israels gelebt. Diese Herrschaft verweigert ihnen grundlegende Rechte. Große Flächen Land werden zum Zweck jüdischer Besiedlung enteignet. […] Die Ausdehnung von Siedlungen hat nichts mit nationaler Sicherheit zu tun. […] Wir können diesem System, das Millionen die Rechte vorenthält, nicht mehr mit gutem Gewissen dienen.
September 2014 – Philip Hammond, britischer Außenminister
Our position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two-state solution at a time when negotiations to achieve this objective urgently need to be resumed.
Herbst / Autumn 2014 – Dani Dayan, israelischer Siedlungs-Lobbyist
I of course am a firm supporter of constructing housing for new Jewish families in Judea and Samaria and of the renaissance of Jewish life in this ancient cradle of Judaism and the Jewish civilisation. […]
I feel very comfortable with the level of support emanating from Israeli society towards us. […]
mainstream Israeli society supports us. I would even dare say that the average Israeli admires what we are doing for the sake of the country. […]
at some point in the future, the international community (even if they will not admit it) will understand the vital role we play and understand that we were instrumental in preventing the establishment of a destabilising Palestinian entity in the heart of the region
Juni 2014 – Tzipi Livni, israelische Justizministerin
Ich habe die politische Korrektheit satt.
Es ist an der Zeit die Dinge genau so zu benennen wie sie sind:
Die Siedlungsaktivität ist eine Belastung für unsere Sicherheit, unsere Wirtschaft und unsere Moral.
Sie zielt darauf ab, uns daran zu hindern jemals zu einer Verständigung [mit den Palästinensern] zu kommen.
Juni 2014 – Yair Lapid, israelischer Finanzminister
If there is any effort to annex even one settlement unilaterally, Yesh Atid will not just leave the government, it will bring it down.
April 2014 – Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi von Hebron (Anlass siehe zuvor: Rabbi Levinger)
Real peace will be when the nations of the world recognize the exclusive right of the Jewish people to this land. [= Judea & Samaria / West Bank]
April 2014 – Peace Now, israelische Friedensbewegung (Anlass siehe zuvor: Rabbi Levinger)
the entry of the settlers was reason enough to halt the negotiations. Ya’alon [current israeli Minister of Defense) gave in to the right and is now mobilizing the army to defend another building in the heart of Hebron.
April 2014 – Rabbi Moshe Levinger, führender Kopf der Siedlerbewegung, war bei Gründung der jüdischen Siedlung in Hebron nach dem Sechstagekrieg dabei; anläßlich einer jetzt neuen kleinen jüdischen Siedlung in Hebron
Thank the Lord that we have returned home… I thank all those who made this happen, including the defense minister who eventually complied and allowed the families to enter.
Februar 2014 – Yehuda Shaul, Gründer der Organisation “Das Schweigen brechen” (breaking the silence)
Wenn wir gesehen haben wie [jüdische] Siedler Palästinenser angriffen, lauteten unsere Befehle uns nicht e
Februar 2014 – Ehud Olmert, ehemaliger israelischer Ministerpräsident
I have no doubt that it is possible [to evacuate 80,000 settlers today from the Westbank]
Februar 2014 – Ze’ev Elkin, stellvertretender israelischer Außenminister (bei einer pro-Siedlungsdemonstration im Gebiet “E1” zwischen Jerusalem und Maale Adumim).
We’re here to tell the whole world that the land is ours and we have the right to build on it.
Februar 2014 – Außenministerium Russlands
Wir bekräftigen die Notwendigkeit, von beliebigen einseitigen Schritten abzusehen. Das betrifft vor allem die Siedlungspolitik (Israels) auf den okkupierten palästinensischen Territorien, darunter Ostjerusalem. Solche Schritte könnten sich negativ auf die palästinensisch-israelischen Verhandlungen auswirken und ihren Ausgang entsprechend vorprogrammieren
Januar 2014 – Benjamin Netanjahu, israelischer Premierminister
I have no intention of evacuating any settlement or uprooting any Israelis
Januar 2014 – Peace Now, israelische Friedensinitiative
A [israeli] government that is seeking a two-state solution would not further entrench the conflict by building in the settlements, and especially in settlements that have no chance to remain under Israeli sovereignty
Dezember 2013 – Benjamin Netanjahu, israelischer Premierminister
the core of this conflict has never been borders and settlements. It is about one thing: The persistent [palestinian] refusal to accept the Jewish state in any border.
Juni 2013 – Naftali Bennett, israelischer Wirtschaftsminister
This land has been ours for 3,000 years.
There was never a Palestinian state here and we were never occupiers.
The house is ours and we are residents here, not the occupiers.
The most important thing in the land of Israel is to build, build, build.
It is important that there will be an Israeli presence everywhere.
Mai 2013 – Jen Psaki, Sprecher des US Außenministeriums
Israelis must recognize that continued construction in East Jerusalem is counterproductive to the cause of peace and that an independent Palestine must be viable, with real borders that have to be drawn
Mai 2013 – Jimmy Manyi, Regierungssprecher der Regierung Südafrikas
[South Africa] recognizes the 1948 borders delineated by the United Nations, and does not recognize occupied territories beyond these borders as being part of the state of Israel.
März 2013 – Barack Obama, US Präsident
I’ve been clear with Prime Minister Netanjahu and other Israeli leadership that … we do not consider continued settlement activity to be constructive, to be appropriate, to be something that can advance the cause of peace
Februar 2013 – Gideon Levy, Journalist der Ha’aretz
Israelis love to love the settlers. They have replaced the kibbutz and Palmach, on whose values Israelis have been raised. The settlers are not Diaspora-like, like the ultra-Orthodox. Their violence and extortion are accepted with inconceivable tolerance; after all, they are considered to have the highest values of anyone.
Dezember 2012 – Note der britischen Botschaft in Israel
The recent Israeli government decision to build 3,000 new housing units threatens the two-state solution and makes progress through negotiations harder to achieve. We have called on the Israeli government to reconsider.
Dezember 2012 – Saeb Erekat, palästinensischer Chefunterhändler
[building jewish settlements in area E1 / Westbank] destroys the two-state solution, (establishing) East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and practically ends the peace process and any opportunity to talk about negotiations in the future
Dezember 2012 – Benjamin Netanjahu, israelischer Premierminister
We will carry on building in Jerusalem and in all the places on the map of Israel’s strategic interests.
Dezember 2012 – Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, spanischer Außenminister
These are not steps towards peace, these are steps towards the extension of the conflict.
August 2012 – Rabbi Eli Sadan (Siedlung Eli), über die Strategie der Siedler künftig die Staatsanwaltschaft auf die eigene Seite zu zwingen
Every lawyer belonging to the national camp must vie for every legal position in the civil service. That way, in 10- to 15 years, there will be a significant cadre of right-wing legal experts and the left won’t control the State Prosecutor’s Office anymore.
August 2012 – Pinchas Wallerstein, ein Siedlerführer, angesichts der Räumung der kleinen Siedlung Migron
The personal pain is terrible. But history showed that the evacuation of Sebastia led to the establishment of Elon Moreh. In the end many Migrons will arise.
April 2012 – William Hague, britischer Außenminister
Systematic, illegal Israeli settlement activity poses the most significant and live threat to the viability of the two state solution.
The Israeli government’s policy is illegal under international law, counterproductive, destabilising and provocative.
Januar 2012 – Yoram Kaniuk, populärer israelischer Schriftsteller (“Adam Hundesohn”, “1948”)
Heute haben wir eine halbe Million Siedler in den besetzten Gebieten, die mehr mit Hooligans als mit Juden in meinem Sinne zu tun haben. Und sie geben den Ton an. Was kann man bei einer solchen Mehrheit, die das Falsche will, schon tun?
Dezember 2011 – Shimon Peres, israelischer Staatspräsident, nach der Brandstiftung einer Moschee durch jüdische Siedler
What these guys are doing is very serious.
Israel has always been proud of protecting all of the holy sites.
Today, when the Muslim world is where it is, to give them justification to attack Israel is a disaster, it’s crazy and it must stopped.
September 2014 – Mahmoud Abbas, Präsident der Palästinensischen Autonomiebehörde (PA), Rede vor der Vollversammlung der UN
Settlement activities embody the core of the policy of colonial military occupation of the land of the Palestinian people and all of the brutality of aggression and racial discrimination against our people that this policy entails. This policy, which constitutes a breach of international humanitarian law and United Nations resolutions, is the primary cause for the failure of the peace process, the collapse of dozens of opportunities, and the burial of the great hopes that arose from the signing of the Declaration of Principles in 1993 between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel to achieve a just peace that would begin a new era for our region.
Dezember 2012 – Meron Benvenisti, ehemaliger Zweiter Bürgermeister von Jerusalem (Stellvertreter von Teddy Kollek)
People want to believe there’s hope for the two-state solution, they believe it’s the only game in town. Forget it.
September 2011 – Joe Walsh, republikanischer Kongressabgeordneter, zur möglichen israelischen Übernahme der palästinensischen Westbbank
We will respect Israel’s right to annex Judea and Samaria.
Juli 2011 – Henry Siegman, 16 Jahre lang Vorsitzender der Lobby American Jewish Congress (AJC)
If there is anything to be learned from years of disappointment and failure, it’s that the so-called peace process is simply a vehicle for Israel to pretend there is some potential for progress even as on the ground they are making it impossible because of their settlement project.
There is a basic dishonesty here.
Mai 2011 – Danny Ayalon, stellvertretender israelische Außenminister unter Avigdor Lieberman
The conflict has never been about territory so the basis for negotiations should not be territorial.
März 2011 – Jeff Halper, Anthropologe und Vorsitzender der ICAHD
We always had one question: where are you going with this, ruling over four million Palestinians, building settlements and demolishing houses? What’s your end game? We never got an answer [from the prime minister].
Februar 2011 – Hillary Clinton
I think it is absolutely clear to say, number one, that it’s been American policy for many years that settlements were illegitimate and it is the continuing goal and highest priority of the Obama administration to keep working toward a two-state solution with both Israelis and Palestinians.
Dezember 2010 – Yigal Palmor, Sprecher des israelischen Außenministeriums, in Reaktion auf den Brief von 26 ehemaligen europäischen Führern, die Sanktionen angesichts des fortgesetzten Siedlungsbaus forderten:
It is difficult to see how the call for sanctions and Israel’s isolation will promote peace, but clearly this will diminish the EU’s capability to play a constructive role in promoting peace in the region
Dezember 2010 – Hillary Clinton
We do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity.
We believe their continued expansion is corrosive not only to peace efforts and two-state solution, but to Israel’s future itself.
November 2010 – Desmond Tutu, ehem. Erzbischof von Südafrika, heute Vorsitzender der Eminent Global Groups / The Elders
What is Washington thinking? Settlements are illegal; they contravene UN Resolution 242 and violate the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The resumption of direct talks cannot be based on one side negotiating its way out of an important question of international law.
November 2010 – Gro Harlem Brundtlandt, ehem. norwegische Ministerpräsidentin, nun Mitglied der Eminent Global Groups
During the Oslo process in 1993 Israel promised to stop settlement expansion pending the outcome of final status negotiations.
November 2010 –Mary Robinson, ehem. irische Präsidentin, nun Mitglied der Eminent Global Groups
We heard repeatedly across the Arab world that the United States is no longer seen as an honest broker: Washington is perceived to be too close to Israel.
This effort [of president Obama] to do a short-term deal on settlements to restart direct talks is desperate and wrong. It betrays international law and the entire family of nations – not to mention the Palestinians.
September 2010 – Naftali Bennett (Generalsekretär der orthodox-nationalistischen Siedlerorganisation Yesha Council)
Our policy now is to resume a natural pace of building.
September 2010 – Nazmi Salman (Bürgermeister von Deir Istiya – Westbank -)
The most crucial thing is settlements, for me and the majority of Palestinians.
All Palestinians know [there will be] no peace with settlements.
September 2010 – Catherine Ashton, Außenbeauftragte der EU
[…] more than anything, we would like to see, of course, the moratorium on settlement building continue, [ to ] see the opportunity for President Abbas to stay in the [ peace ] talks and for them [ the Palestinians ] to move forward to a successful conclusion
März 2010 – Benjamin Netanjahu, israelischer Premierminister 1996-1999 und seit 2009
The building in Jerusalem – and in all other places – will continue in the same way as has been customary over the last 42 years.
For the past 40 years, no Israeli government ever limited construction in the neighborhoods of Jerusalem
März 2010 – US Präsident Obama, nachdem das israelische Innenministerium den Bau weiterer 1600 Wohnungen just zu dem Zeitpunkt angekündigt hat, zu dem Vizepräsident Joe Biden zu Besuch in Jerusalem war:
The actions that were taken by the interior minister in Israel weren’t helpful to that [peace] process
März 2010 – Jonas Gar Store, norwegischer Außenminister
Norway deeply deplores Israel’s expansion of its settlement in East Jerusalem.
The peace process is in a critical phase, and Israel’s decision is jeopardising the process.
März 2010 – Stephen Smith, australischer Außenminister
I share the view that this is a bad decision at the wrong time, and it’s not a helpful contribution to the peace process
März 2010 – James Baker III., US-Außenminister, im Rückblick:
Republican and Democratic administration have always said that settlements are an obstacle to peace
September 2009 – Bernard Kouchner, französischer Außenminister
It will be more difficult or even impossible to reach an agreement [on peace talks resumption] if there is no agreement on freezing the colonization
September 2009 – Europäische Union
The European Union expresses its serious concern over Israel’s approval of additional settlement construction.
Settlements are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace.
The European Union reiterates its call on Israel to immediately end settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem and including natural growth, and to dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001.
August 2009 – Edgar Bronfman, ehemaliger langjähriger Vorsitzender des Jüdischen Weltkongresses
As someone who even during the Carter administration, 30 years ago, called publicly for a halt to settlement building on the part of Israel, I remain even more steadfast in my belief that settlements are inimical [schädlich] to the interests of peace, and therefore inimical to Israel’s long-term interests and viability [Überlebensfähigkeit].
Mai 2009 – Hillary Clinton, US Außenministerin, mit ihrem berühmten dreifachen “Nein”: Keine neuen Siedlungen, keine sogenannten Vorposten, kein “natürliches Wachstum”
He [ President Obama ] wants to see a stop to settlements —
not some settlements,
not outposts,
not ‘natural growth’ exceptions
That is our position. That is what we have communicated very clearly
Mai 2009 – Frank-Walter Steinmeier, deutscher Außenminister
Der Siedlungsausbau und -neubau in der Westbank und in Ost-Jerusalem ist für uns nicht akzeptabel
April 2009 – Hillary Clinton, US Außenministerin, nach einem Gespräch mit Ägyptens Präsident Mubarak:
We do not accept the legitimacy of settlement activity. Ending all settlement activity current and future would be preferable […] we would like to see everything [ i.e. settlements ] ended forever
Februar 2009 – Hasdai Eliezer , Bürgermeister der in der Westbank gelegenen jüdischen Siedlung Alfei Menashe
the settlement blocs are not up for negotiation
Februar 2009 – Ehud Barak, israelischer Verteidigungsminister
the settlement blocs are an inseparable part of Israel in all future negotiations with the Palestinians.
The Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea are regions that are dear to my heart.
Dezember 2008 – Gordon Brown, britischer Premierminister
Everybody now sees the contours of what a two-state solution would look like …
One of the blockages to that is clearly the settlement issue.
We have consistently said – and I’ve said this to successive Israeli prime ministers and presidents when I’ve met them – we’ve consistently seen that as a barrier to reaching the agreement that everybody thinks is possible
Juni 2008 – Condoleezza Rice, US Außenministerin, angesichts der fortgesetzten israelischen Verletzung der im Jahr 2003 vereinbarten Road Map, in der u.a. der Bau weiterer Siedlungen in umstrittenem Gebiet ausgeschlossen sein sollte:
I’m very concerned that at a time when we need to build confidence between the parties, the continued building and the settlement activity has the potential to harm the negotiations going forward […]
We’ve talked a great deal about road map obligations, and this one isn’t being met
April 2008 – Ehud Olmert, israelischer Premierminister
There is a certain contradiction in this [settlements issue] between what we’re actually seeing and what we ourselves promised.
[Background: Israel has long maintained that it has the right to continue building in existing settlements to account for ill-defined “natural growth” of the existing settler population — something the “road map” explicitly bans. But in his interview with The Jerusalem Post, Olmert acknowledged that Israel was not honoring its commitments.]
März 2008 – Sergej Lavrov, russsischer Außenminister, nach einem Besuch von Palästinenserpräsident Mahmoud Abbas:
We are worried by the Israeli settlement activity and urge Israel to end it
Februar 2008 – Bernard Kouchner, französischer Außenminister
We are totally against the settlement policy. There can’t be a trust between the two sides while settlement activity is going on
Juli 2007 – Ban Ki Moon, UN Generalsekretär, nachdem während den Friedensverhandlungen von Annapolis weitere Siedlungsbauten angekündigt wurden:
The UN position on the illegality of settlements is well known […]
This new tender for 300 new homes in east Jerusalem so soon after this Annapolis Middle East peace conference, I think, is not helpful
Juni 2007 – Daniela Weiss – Populäre Siedlerführerin
I feel myself being part of a Biblical scene.
It was a very dramatic change in my life and when I see now over 200 communities and outposts and villages and 260,000 Jews in these communities I feel I am part of a huge Zionist miracle.
The rights of the Jews to return to their homeland stem from a history of 4,000 years and then an intermission of 2,000 years was imposed. Did it take away our right? Or were our everlasting prayers a constant link?
I, of course, believe it was a constant link that was revived with Zionism.
2007 – Danny Dayan, Vorsitzender des Siedlerrats in der Westbank (Yesha Council)
Any attempt to evacuate even one prefab home must be met with massive, determined resistance from our side.
We must rejuvenate our ties with the settlements and bring masses of people everywhere ….
We are certainly calling on the [West Bank] residents to oppose in the manner that we know.
März 2006 – Jimmy Carter, US Präsident, in einem Artikel,der in weltweit 70 Zeitungen gedruckt wurde:
Israel’s occupation of Palestine has obstructed a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land […]
Although president Bill Clinton made strong efforts to promote peace, a massive increase of settlers occurred during his administration, to 225,000, mostly while Ehud Barak was prime minister. […]
Palestinians must live in peace and dignity, and permanent Israeli settlements on their land are a major obstacle to this goal.
2005 – Avraham Shapira (Former Chief Rabbi of Israel)
An order to take part in the evacuation of Jews from their homes in order to give over the land to non-Jews is an order that is against the religion of our holy Torah and forbidden to fulfil. Anyone who violates this prohibition will not be exonerated, not in this world and not in the world to come.
Oktober 2004 – Amira Hass, Journalistin der Tageszeitung Haaretz
… zur Zeit der Olivenernte [im Westjordanland]… vertreiben jüdische Siedler die palästinensischen Bauern von ihren Feldern und hindern sie am Betreten ihrer Olivenhaine. Die Siedler schießen, hetzen ihre Hunde auf die Bauern und legen Brände. Wenn man über die Olivenernte der Palästinenser spricht, muss man also über die Angst sprechen.
(übersetzt aus: Amira Hass, Tomorrow will be worse, chapter Oct. 20th 2004)
August 2004 – Kofi Annan, UN Generalsekretär (Wiedergabe durch dessen Sprecher)
The Secretary-General expresses strong concern over reports of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, through the Government of Israel’s recent publication of tenders for construction of new housing units […]
[Such activities] clearly contradict Israel’s obligations under the Road Map [which unequivocally calls for a freeze on all settlement activity, the spokesman noted, pointing out that this also covers what is called “natural growth,” namely the construction of housing within the existing boundaries of a given settlement.]
April 2004 – George W. Bush, US Präsident, Brief an Israels Premier Ariel Scharon
In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli populations centers [settlements], it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities.
2004 – Benny Kashriel, Bürgermeister von Ma’aleh Adumim
[ The big west bank settlement east of Jerusalem ] Ma’aleh Adumim was established to break Palestinian contiguity
( In 1994, during the Oslo peace negotiation talks, prime minister Jitzchak Rabin ” provided then-mayor Benny Kashriel with annexation documents for the E1 area – a strip of land that connects the capital with Ma’aleh Adumim.” )
Dezember 2003 – Ariel Scharon, israelischer Premierminister
I have committed to the President of the United States that Israel will dismantle unauthorized outposts. It is my intention to implement this commitment.
The State of Israel is governed by law, and the issue of the outposts is no exception. I understand the sensitivity; we will try to do this in the least painful way possible, but the unauthorized outposts will be dismantled. Period.
Israel will meet all its obligations with regard to construction in the settlements.
There will be no construction beyond the existing construction line, no expropriation of land for construction, no special economic incentives and no construction of new settlements.
[Annotation: None of these promises were held.]
März 2003 – Colin Powell, US Außenminister, in einer Rede vor der US-israelischen Lobby AIPAC:
Israel has clear obligations, too.
It must take steps to ease the suffering of Palestinians and diminish the daily humiliation of life under occupation […]
Settlement activity is simply inconsistent with President Bush’s two-state vision.
As the president has said, “as progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the Occupied Territories must end.”
Juli 2001 – Ariel Sharon – Israelischer Premierminister
Only through developing the Golan, expanding the Jewish population, expanding the settlements and bringing in new residents … will we be able to turn the settlement of the Golan to a reality that cannot be reversed
Juni 2001 – Ariel Sharon – Israelischer Premierminister
I don’t think that he [President G.W.Bush] loved it, but this is the Israeli position [not to put a freeze to sttlements].
März 2001 – Israelische Regierung (Ariel Sharon)
The Government will strive to achieve the following national goals: […]
To strengthen, expand, and promote settlement throughout the country.
September 2000 – Teddy Kollek, ehemaliger Bürgermeister von Jerusalem
We failed in the unification of the city.
Tell Ehud Barak that I support its division.
Juli 1996 – Dan Meridor, israelischer Finanzminister
we have to praise Jitzchak Rabin my he rest in peace and Shimon Peres who during the last four years raised the number of Jews in Judaea and Samaria by 40 percent. During their tenure, thousands of homes were built in Judaea and Samaria and the number of Jews increased from 100.000 to 140.000.
(Cit. from Encyclopedia of the Palestinians, Ed. Philip Mattar, p. 249ff.)
Oktober 1995 – Benjamin Netanjahu, Oppositionsführer während der Regierung von Premier Jitzchak Rabin*
Sie, Herr Premierminister [Rabin], haben kürzlich eine widerwärtige Bemerkung fallen gelassen.
Sie sagten die Bibel sei nicht unser Grundbuch.
Ich sage: Die Bibel ist unser Grundbuch, unsere Vollmacht und unser Eigentumsnachweis.
November 1998 – Ariel Scharon, israelischer Premierminister
Ein jeder muss sich in Bewegung setzen, sputen und so viele Hügelspitzen wie nur möglich an sich reißen um die Siedlungen zu vergrößern, denn alles was wir jetzt erobern, wird in unserem Besitz bleiben. Alles was wir uns nicht nehmen, wird an die anderen abgetreten werden.
Januar 1995 – Shimon Peres, israelischer Außenminister
We announced that we are not going to take new settlements.
We are not going to confiscate land to expand existing settlements or to build new settlements.
And we are not going to invest government money in expanding existing settlements.
Januar 1992 – Jitzchak Schamir, israelischer Ministerpräsident
this construction will continue and no power in the world will prevent this construction.
Mai 1991 – James Baker III., US Außenminister unter George H.W. Bush
[…] nothing has made my job of trying to find Arab and Palestinian partners for Israel more difficult than being greeted by a new settlement every time I arrive.
It substantially weakens our hand in trying to bring about a peace process and creates quite a predicament.
I don’t think that there is any bigger obstacle to peace than the settlement activity that continues not only unabated [but] at an enhanced pace.
Mai 1989 – James Baker III., US Außenminister unter George H.W. Bush
Now is the time to lay aside, once and for all, the unrealistic vision of a greater Israel. …
Foreswear annexation.
Stop settlement activity.
Allow schools to reopen. Reach out to the Palestinians as neighbors who deserve political rights.
1989 – Teddy Kollek, Bürgermeister von Jerusalem
Jerusalem will never be divided.
We have not yet succeeded in uniting the city, but we must not speak of splitting it into two municipalities.
[…] it will take 100 years, yes 100 years, to unify this city!
September 1982 – US Präsident Ronald Reagan, angesichts der verstärkten Siedlungsaktivität unter der neuen israelischen Likud-Regierung von Premierminister Menachem Begin:
The Camp David agreement remains the foundation of our policy […]
The United States will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements during the transition period.
Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs that a final outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated.
We will not support annexation or permanent control by Israel […]
U.N. Resolution 242 remains wholly valid as the foundation stone of America’s Middle East peace effort […]
It is the United States’ position that, in return for peace, the withdrawal provision of Resolution 242 applies to all fronts, including the West Bank and Gaza.
Mai 1980 – Margaret Thatcher, britische Premierministerin
Efforts to convince [Prime Minister] Mr. Begin that his West Bank policy was absurd, and that there should not be Israeli settlements on the West Bank, had failed to move him […]
His response was that Judea and Samaria had been Jewish in biblical times and that they should therefore be so today.
März 1980 – Donald McHenry, US Botschafter bei den Vereinten Nationen
We regard settlements in the occupied territories as illegal under international law, and we consider them to be an obstacle to the successful outcome to the current negotiations which are aimed at a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East […]
Dezember 1978 – Cyrus Vance, US Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Außenminister)
I think this is clearly covered by the provisions of the Geneva IV Convention which deals with the question of the establishment of settlements in occupied territory. We have examined this on a number of occasions and have had, through many Administrations, several administrations, a clear legal view that the establishment of the settlements is illegal.
April 1978 – Herbert Hansell, Rechtsberater im US State Departement, in einem Rechtsgutachten für den US Kongress über die Legalität ziviler israelischer Siedlungen in den besetzten Gebieten
While Israel may undertake, in the occupied territories, actions necessary to meet its military needs and to provide for orderly government during the occupation, for the reasons indicated above the establishment of the civilian settlements in those territories is inconsistent with international law.
Januar 1978 – Jimmy Carter, US Präsident
Well, I’ve covered this [issue of settlements] many times. Our position on settlements in the occupied territory has been that they are illegal, that they are an obstacle to peace.
When Prime Minister Begin was over here and when Foreign Minister Dayan was here, this question arose. And my understanding of their commitment was that no new settlements would be authorized by the government […]
Oktober 1977 – Ariel Scharon – Minister für Infrastruktur und Wohnungsbau
the government plan for settlement [in the west bank] is in accordance with Israel’s political aims and moves.
[zitiert aus: Idith Zertal, Lords of the Land, Kap. “Bad Faith”]
September 1977 – Menachem Begin, israelischer Ministerpräsident
Settle on the land in a partisan way and get organized on the ground. After
the fact it will be easy to say, ‘My sons have vanquished me![zitiert aus: Idith Zertal, Lords of the Land, Kap. “Bad Faith”]
September 1977 – Paul Quiring, Director Mennonite Relief Agency, Anhörung vor dem US Repräsentantenhaus
By way of conclusion, the construction of each settlement invariably produces an impact on the indigenous population of the West Bank. In some cases the impact is easily measurable – either in terms of acres of land or meters of water. In other cases it is more subtle – loss of land or loss of a future. At best the impact will be disruptive? at worst it will help to turn a people out of their land. While the physical impact of the settlement can be minimized, its over-all consequences cannot be eliminated.
Increasingly, West Bankers recognize settlements as the most threatening consequence of the occupation. Whereas the occupation intended to govern, the settlements seek to transform. Regardless of their location, size or stated purpose, West Bankers regard each settlement as little more than a euphemism for the theft of their land and political future.
Mai 1977 – Menachem Begin, israelischer Ministerpräsident, unmittelbar nach dem Wahlsieg seines Likud
These [west bank] are liberated territories, which belong to the Jewish people. The new government will call upon young people to come and settle the land.
Judea and Samaria must not be annexed to Israel because in any case it is our land and not a matter of land that belongs to others.
[zitiert aus: Idith Zertal, Lords of the Land, Kap. “Bad Faith”]
September 1971 – George H.W. Bush (sen.), US Botschafter bei den Vereinten Nationen
United States considers that part of Jerusalem which came under Israeli control, like other areas occupied by Israel in the June 1967 war, as occupied territory and thereby subject to the provisions of international law governing the rights and obligations of an occupying power. We regret Israel’s failure to acknowledge its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as its actions which are contrary to the letter and spirit of this convention. We are distressed that the actions of Israel in the occupied portion of Jerusalem give rise to understandable concern that the eventual disposition of the occupied section of Jerusalem may be prejudiced.
April 1968 – Dean Rusk, US Außenminister 1961-1969, angesichts der Erkenntnisse über eine anfängliche Besiedlung der Westbank nach dem Sechstagekrieg im Juni 1967. Telegramm an die US Botschaft in Tel Aviv:
By setting up civilian or quasi-civilian outposts in the occupied areas the GOI [Government of Israel] adds serious complications to the eventual task of drawing up a peace settlement.
Further, the transfer of civilians to occupied areas, whether or not in settlements which are under military control, is contrary to Article 49 of the Geneva Convention, which states “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”
Finally, you should emphasize that no matter what rationale or explanation is put forward by the GOI, the establishment of civilian settlements in the occupied areas creates the strong appearance that Israel, contrary to the principle set forth in the UNSC Resolution and to US policy expressed in the President’s speech of June 19, does not intend to reach a settlement involving withdrawal from those areas.
1967 – Meron Benvenisti, in einem Rechtsgutachten für den israelischen Premierminister Levi Eshkol, kurz nach Ende des Sechstagekriegs. Das Gutachten wurde lange unter Verschluss gehalten. (Anm.: Benvenisti war lange Jahre Zweiter Bürgermeister Jerusalems unter dem legendären Teddy Kollek.)
My conclusion is that civilian settlement in the administered territories contravenes the explicit provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention
Juni 1967 – David Ben-Gurion (israelischer Ministerpräsident a.D., während des “Sechstagekriegs”, in dem Israel die Westbank, den Sinai, Gaza und zuletzt – zeitlich nach dem folgenden Tagebucheintrag vom 8. Juni – den Golan erobert hat)
At any rate, the international struggle will begin immediately over four issues: the Old City [of Jerusalem], the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Sinai. On Jerusalem we must not budge. We have to quickly establish a large Jewish settlement there. The same with Hebron. The West Bank must not be returned to Hussein, but its annexation to Israel would mean the addition of one million Arabs, this would present a terrible danger.
1937 – David Ben-Gurion, erster Ministerpräsident Israels (ab 1948)
Die Verdrängung der [arabischen] Bevölkerung hat bereits stattgefunden im Jezreel-Tal, in der Scharon-Ebene und an anderen Orten.[…] Nun muss ein Transfer in einer ganz anderen Größenordnung erfolgen.[…] Der Transfer der Bevölkerung ermöglicht uns ein umfassendes Siedlungsprogramm.**
* Übers. aus “The fall of the house of Bush”, Craig Unger, S. 139ff.
** Vor dem 20. Zionistischen Kongress in Zürich, 7. Aug. 1937; Quelle: Revisiting the Palestinian exodus of 1948, Benny Morris, in: The War for Palestine, Rogan / Shlaim, Cambridge 2002, S. 43 (#)
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