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A policy of expansion disguised as economic development
In the West Bank, Israel is increasing construction and infrastructure projects, presented as responses to demographic and economic needs. However, behind this speech, these initiatives are part of a expansion strategy systematic aim of fragmenting the Palestinian territory and consolidate lasting control in key areas. This policy, supported by massive investments from the Israeli state, calls into question the prospects for a future Palestinian state.
Israel accelerates approval of new settlement projects while investing in bypass roadswhich isolate Palestinian towns and villages. These roads, reserved for Israeli settlers, serve as strategic linksbetween the settlements, while bypassing Palestinian localities. The territory is like this fragmentedmaking any Palestinian geographic continuity difficult and depriving Palestinians of seamless access to their own lands.
Expropriations and demolitions: a policy of suffocation of the Palestinians
The expansion of colonies goes hand in hand with massive expropriations of Palestinian land. Israeli authorities often declare these areas as “state land” or requisition them for security reasons. In many cases, this land is then used to develop agricultural or residential settlementsreserved for Israeli settlers.
At the same time, Israel imposes severe restrictions on Palestinian building permits, pushing residents to build without official permission. These constructions, considered illegal, are then demolished by Israeli forces, worsening the housing crisis for Palestinian families. In some areas, demolitions also affect schools and vital infrastructurecreating a climate of permanent insecurity for the Palestinians.
Recent figures bear witness to this alarming reality: hundreds of Palestinian structures are destroyed each year, while settlement projects progress unabated. This policy ofterritorial and demographic asphyxiation aims to make life impossible for Palestinians, pushing them to leave their land.
The security argument as political cover
Israel justifies its policies in the West Bank with security argumentssaying settlements and bypass roads reduce the risk of attacks on its citizens. However, these infrastructures onlyaggravate local tensionsleading to regular clashes between settlers and Palestinians.
The establishment of new colonies is often accompanied by the increased military presence to “protect” the settlers, further militarizing the daily lives of Palestinians. Of the checkpoints additional are erected, restricting the freedom of movement and hindering residents’ access to their work, schools or agricultural land.
An illegal policy under international law
The international community unanimously considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal with regard to international law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention. The United Nations and the European Union regularly denounce these policies, claiming that they irremediably compromise the two-state solution.
Yet international criticism remains symbolicwithout any restrictive measure. Israel, with its strategic alliances, notably with the United States, continues toignore these warningsaccelerating the implementation of faits accomplis on the ground.
An organized fragmentation to bury the two-state solution
The consequences of this policy of expansion are dramatic for the Palestinians. The territory is increasingly fragmentedcomposed of isolated areas without geographical continuity. This strategy makes the creation of a Palestinian state almost impossibleboth territorially and economically.
Settler roads, Israeli industrial zones and agricultural settlements form a network intended to dominate the local economy while marginalizing Palestinian communities. These initiatives are not only development projects: they constitute a deliberate political strategy to strengthen Israeli sovereignty in these disputed territories.
Critical voices silenced
Despite denunciations from local and international NGOs, the Israeli policy of expansion continues with the support of the most conservative Israeli public opinion. Opponents of this strategy, including within Israel, struggle to be heard in a political context dominated by nationalist and religious parties.
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