Israeli Settlements: A History | Page 9

In 2017 , Israel began construction on the first new settlement in 25 years , Amichai , which was intended to serve as a new home for those settlers displaced from Amona , a settlement in the central West Bank , which was constructed illegally on land privately held by Palestinians , and ordered evacuated by Israel ’ s High Court of Justice .
Additionally , Israel has periodically announced plans for new construction in East Jerusalem , which it considers part of Israel ’ s capital , but which much of the world sees as part of the West Bank and the capital of a future state of Palestine .

International Condemnation

Why the international uproar each time Israel announces new construction plans ? From the perspective of the U . S ., the UN , the EU , et . al ., such construction subverts the goal of establishing a Palestinian state on contiguous territory , and thus raises doubts about Israel ’ s sincerity about a two-state solution .
Even though the Palestinians have a legitimate claim to the West Bank , denying the Jewish religious and historical claim to it is asking too much of many Israelis . Israel ’ s commitment to peace has brought it to the negotiating table time and time again , but the historical pull of the Jewish homeland is so strong that the Israeli population would rather not leave just yet , without the promise of peace in return .
This reluctance constitutes lessons learned for many Israelis . 8,500 Jewish settlers were removed from their homes in the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005 , as Israel withdrew all civilian and military presence from the territory , providing the Palestinians living there with an opportunity to show the world that they were ready to engage in the hard work of nation-building . Instead , Hamas seized control and turned the Strip into
Israeli construction in East Jerusalem in 2002 .