New figures from the Israeli Defense Forces estimate that over 300,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, with numbers increasing at a rate of 2.3 percent this year. The rate of growth is expected to inch higher due to family re-locations to the settlements during the summer. The figures do not include Jewish populations in East Jerusalem, which some estimates place at 190,000, thereby increasing the total number of settlers to just under half a million. A new article from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs expands on East Jerusalem construction, focusing on last week’s dispute over the conversion of a a small building in the Arab sector into Jewish housing. A pro-settlement group also posted flyers in settlements urging the creation of 11 new outposts that the international community and Israeli law deem illegal.
The high-level U.S. officials visiting the region could narrow the gap on disputes regarding settlements between Israel and the Obama Administration. Special Envoy George Mitchell, who is currently in Israel, reportedly negotiated with Israeli officials on settlements and nearly reached a deal. Officials expect a finalize a compromise following this week’s visit by other U.S. officials, including White House Special Assistant Dennis Ross.
An interesting piece from today’s New York Times explores two settlements that constitute approximately half of the total settler population. While ultra-religious, the population of these two cities do not harbor the same nationalist and territorial aspirations of many of the other settlers in the West Bank. Moreover, these two settlements only barely cross the green-line and would likely be annexed to Israel in a final settlement in exchange for other land.
Photo taken from the New York Times.