Freeze consequences
There are some serious consequences of the current building freeze. The most serious is that it has split the right wing coalition that has been running the country since PM Netanyahu was elected, and has brought demonstrations and divisive political disputes.
On Thurdsay PM Netanyahu met with a delegation of settler leaders and West Bank mayors. The meeting was confrontational and tense, with some of the leaders accusing Netanyahu of double-crossing them. They consider this freeze a "left-wing" policy and regard Netanyahu's about-turn as similar to that of Sharon when he forced them to accept the Gaza disengagement. In response, Netanyahu told them that he and they are not enemies, and that the freeze is temporary and the day after the exiry date normal building will resume.
Nevertheless there were several major demonstrations on the West Bank with settlers blocking entry of building inspectors to their settlements. In some places the inspectors left, in other places they were able to enter and declare some building sites closed. There were also clashes between setters and IDF forces and police. In other places, such as Efrat, the close orders were ignored as a group of settlers began laying the concrete foundation of a synagogue that was about to be built. Once the inspectors leave there is not much the Government can do to stop these spontaneous building efforts. There have also been political schisms, but most of Netanyahu's coaltion have stuck with him, realizing that this freeze is more to placate Obama than Abbas. However, it has achieved one Palestinian aim, that is to split the right-wing camp in Israel.
Another unforeseen consequence of the freeze is that the Palestinian construction workers are out of work. They have been appealing to the Mayors and others in the West Bank not to stop construction because that is their livelihood. Some are desperate and fear starvation, while others have gone to seek work in Jerusalem and elsewhere where there is no building freeze. Perhaps Obama and his advisors did not realize that the two sides are so inextricably intertwined, that hurting one side will hurt both and he has now dealt a severe blow against Palestinian prosperity in the West Bank.
On Thurdsay PM Netanyahu met with a delegation of settler leaders and West Bank mayors. The meeting was confrontational and tense, with some of the leaders accusing Netanyahu of double-crossing them. They consider this freeze a "left-wing" policy and regard Netanyahu's about-turn as similar to that of Sharon when he forced them to accept the Gaza disengagement. In response, Netanyahu told them that he and they are not enemies, and that the freeze is temporary and the day after the exiry date normal building will resume.
Nevertheless there were several major demonstrations on the West Bank with settlers blocking entry of building inspectors to their settlements. In some places the inspectors left, in other places they were able to enter and declare some building sites closed. There were also clashes between setters and IDF forces and police. In other places, such as Efrat, the close orders were ignored as a group of settlers began laying the concrete foundation of a synagogue that was about to be built. Once the inspectors leave there is not much the Government can do to stop these spontaneous building efforts. There have also been political schisms, but most of Netanyahu's coaltion have stuck with him, realizing that this freeze is more to placate Obama than Abbas. However, it has achieved one Palestinian aim, that is to split the right-wing camp in Israel.
Another unforeseen consequence of the freeze is that the Palestinian construction workers are out of work. They have been appealing to the Mayors and others in the West Bank not to stop construction because that is their livelihood. Some are desperate and fear starvation, while others have gone to seek work in Jerusalem and elsewhere where there is no building freeze. Perhaps Obama and his advisors did not realize that the two sides are so inextricably intertwined, that hurting one side will hurt both and he has now dealt a severe blow against Palestinian prosperity in the West Bank.
posted by Jack Cohen at 8:06 PM
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