Israeli Settlements

   What are Israeli settlements? Well they’re illegal communities of Israeli Jewish community placed on Palestinian land. In Palestine, there are 121 Israeli settlements built illegally and are guarded by military since 1967. These settlements can be found in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan. (Golan is the Israeli occupied land that has caused tension with Syria while the West Bank and East Jerusalem have invaded Palestine territory). 462,000 Israeli’s live on the settlement growing at a 5% increase annually. Since peace talks in 2008, settlement construction has increase by 30% which has enraged the Palestine community. Settlements are built on 3% of the West Bank, but due to the West Bank wall, Israel controls approximately 40% of the land.

Heres a picture of the diminishing Two-State solution of Palestine. As you can see, throughout the years Palestines land mass has severly limited:

       Why are settlements such an obstruction? Well they go against international law. Article 49, paragraph 6 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that it is illegal to export civilian population of the territory it occupies. The UN Security Council states that the settlements are an obstruction of peace and that they must be dismantled and returned to Palestine.  
       Settlements are obstacles of peace; the expansion of settlements means the destruction of Palestinian controlled land. The settlers who take control of the land are often willing to use violence to maintain their lifestyle. In 2008, 112 people were injured due to settlement disputes. Settlements are often created in areas with vital resources and accessible transportation. Speaking of resources, did you know that Israeli settlers consume 240 liters of water per day, compared to the 86 liters available to Palestinians? The recommended minimum is 100 liters and the settlements are disrupting the availability of such an important resource to the Arab community.
      These settlements prove to be the breaking point in Palestinian patience. I personally think that the Israeli community is overstepping their boundaries. Settlements, in my opinion, are just an invasion of land through illegal methods. What is your opinion on Israeli settlements? Are they just justified land grabs or an infliction on human rights? Please comment!  

Israeli Settlements. (2010, March 15). Palestine Monitor, Exposing
     Life Under Occupation. Retrieved June 9, 2011, from
     http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article7