April 30, 2001
Recommendation
"The GOI should freeze all settlement activity, including the "natural growth" of existing settlements." (p. 28)
The Link Between Settlements and Violence
"Beyond the obvious confidence-building qualities of a settlement freeze, we note that many of the confrontations during this conflict have occurred at points where Palestinians, settlers, and security forces protecting the settlers, meet. Keeping both the peace and these friction points will be very difficult." (p.17)
"A cessation of Palestinian Israeli violence will be particularly hard to sustain unless GOI freezes all settlement construction activity." (p.15)
"Settlement activities must not be allowed to undermine the restoration of calm and the resumption of negotiations." (p. 15)
"A government which seeks to argue that its goal is to reach a solution to the conflict with the Palestinians through peaceful means, and is trying at this stage to bring an end to the violence and terrorism, must announce an end to construction in the settlements." (p. 17, quoted from Ha'aretz, April 10, 2001)
"The [Government of Israel] should give careful consideration as to whether settlements which are focal points for substantial friction are valuable bargaining chips for future negotiations or provocations likely to preclude the onset of productive talks." (p. 15)
Settlement and Security Cooperation
"The kind of security cooperation desired by [the Government of Israel] cannot for long co-exist with settlement activity described very recently by the European Union as causing 'great concern' and by the US as 'provocative'." (p. 29)
"We acknowledge the reluctance of the [Palestinian Authority] to be seen as facilitating the work of Israeli security services absent an explicit political context (i.e. meaningful negotiations) and under the threat of Israeli settlement expansion." (p. 13)
"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." (p 16, quotation taken from US President Reagan's statement on settlements)
"The circumstances in the region are much changed from those which existed nearly 20 years ago. Yet President Reagan's words remain relevant: 'The immediate option of a settlement freeze by Israel, more than any other action, could create the confidence needed….' " (p. 17)
International View on Settlements
"Every time I have gone to Israel in connection with the peace process, on each of my four trips, I have been met with the announcement of new settlement activity. This does violate United States policy. It's the first thing that Arabs-Arab governments, the first thing that the Palestinians in the territories-whose situation is really quite desperate-the first thing they raise when we talk to them. I don't think there is any bigger obstacle to peace than the settlement activity that continues not only unabated but at an enhanced pace." (p. 16, quotation from Secretary of State, James Baker III, stated on May 22, 1991)
"This policy described by Secretary Baker, on behalf of the Administration of the President George H. Bush, has been, in essence the policy of every American administration over the past quarter century." (p. 16)
"Most other countries, including Turkey, Norway, and those of the European Union, have also been critical of Israeli settlement activity, in accordance with their views that such settlements are illegal under international law and not in compliance with previous agreements." (p. 16.)
