Are Israeli Settlements the Barrier to Peace? | 5 Minute Video
Is Israel’s policy of building civilian communities in the West Bank the reason there’s no peace agreement with the Palestinians? Or would there still be no peace even if Israel removed all of its settlements and evicted Israeli settlers, as it did in Gaza in 2005? Renowned Harvard professor and legal scholar Alan Dershowitz explains.
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Script:
Is Israel’s policy of building civilian communities in the area known as the West Bank the reason there is no permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinians?
The answer to that question, despite all the sound and fury regarding the so-called settlement issue, is no.
The Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not the major barrier to a peace agreement.
A little historical context will make this clear.
For two decades before June of 1967, the West Bank, including much of Jerusalem, was controlled by Jordan. During that time — a time when Israel did not have a single settlement — there were numerous Palestinian terror attacks against the nation state of the Jewish people. In other words, Palestinians committed terror attacks against Israel when there were no settlements and they committed terror attacks against Israel when there were settlements.
If Israel were to pull out of every single settlement in the West Bank tomorrow, it’s unlikely that anything much would change. In fact, if history is any indicator, Israel could be worse off.
In 2005, Israel abandoned every single community, every house, every farm, every structure it had built in the Gaza Strip. How did the Palestinians of Gaza react? They launched thousands of rockets and numerous other terror attacks against the nation state of the Jewish people. The attacks continue to this very day. And every year the range of these rockets get longer and their payloads more lethal. Only a very sophisticated Israeli anti-missile defense keeps the country secure. Can you blame Israel for not wanting to risk a two-front rocket war?
But Israel has no right to be in the West Bank at all, many say. So, permit me, a law professor at Harvard, to say that on the basis of international law this position is incorrect.
Military occupations are clearly permitted under international law following an aggressive attack by a neighboring state. Jordan, Israel’s neighbor to the East, attacked Israel in 1967, despite Israel’s repeated efforts to keep Jordan out of the Six Day War.
In defending itself against Jordan, Israel captured the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem. Under international law, until a meaningful peace is achieved and all terrorism against it ceases, Israel has every right to retain military control over this area. Since no peace treaty has been reached and the terrorism continues with new attacks threatened almost daily, Israel is under no legal obligation to leave. Given the danger that Israel would be putting itself in if it did leave the West Bank — exposing its major cities and international airport to rocket attacks — it would be irresponsible to do so, which is why Israel is still there.
Nevertheless I fully acknowledge that a military occupation is significantly different, both as a matter of law and politics, from building civilian settlements even in a territory that is legitimately subject to a military occupation. That’s why I have long opposed the building of settlements in the West Bank. I believe it has caused resentment and has given enemies of Israel an excuse to attack the legitimacy of the occupation in general.
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What’s that? PragerU actually pretends to be reasonable?
Was really hard to find this video. When you look up "Alan Dershowitz settlements", it gives you articles about "sex trafficking" and "Epstein island". What's that all about Alan?
Also multiple countries have engaged in Annexation when you loose war there is going to be consequences.
For example North Vietnam annexation of South Vietnam plus India & Russia it ridiculous you loose war you loose land.
Where to find it? "Military occupations are clearly permitted under international law following an aggressive attack by a neighboring state."
clear as mud
Well when Israeli settlements are on land rightfully (under Israeli law) belonging to Arabs, the the settlers attack their Arab neighbours, wreck their homes and businesses and steal their land often under the protection of the IDF; then yes I think Israeli settlements are a barrier to peace.
Habibi, at lests respect your age daddy
At the end of WWII, the US, England, France and the Soviet Union had a military occupation of Germany. Did ANY of those countries bring their citizens to Germany and steal land from German citizens……………..NO.
At the end of WWII, the US and England had a military occupation of Japan. Did EITHER of those countries bring their citizens to Japan and steal land from Japanese citizens……………..NO.
At the end of the Six Day War of 1967, Israel had/has a military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Did Israel bring their citizens to the West Bank and Gaza and steal land from Palestinian citizens……………..YES.
See any differences?????
How long was the military occupation of Germany since the conclusion of WWII?? 10 years.
How long was the military occupation of Japan since the conclusion of WWII?? 7 years.
How long was the military occupation of Gaza by the Israelis since the conclusion of the Six Day War of 1967?? 38 years.
How long IS the military occupation of the West Bank by the Israelis since the conclusion of the Six Day War of 1967?? 57 years AND COUNTING.
See any differences?????
What were the goals of the military occupations of Germany and Japan? Provide food and medical aid. Rebuild hospitals and schools. Rebuild police force. Rebuild military. Rebuild the government.
What is the goal of the military occupations of the West Bank and Gaza? To control food, water, electricity, commerce, employment, travel, medical aid and every aspect of their lives. Basically make the Palestinians so miserable that the starve and die….or move somewhere else so Israel can take over ALL of the land….in the name of SAFETY.
See any differences?????
Since the military occupation of Germany from 1945-1955, what is the relationship between the USA and Germany? Both countries are close friends and strong political and military allies.
Since the military occupation of Japan from 1945-1952, what is the relationship between the USA and Japan? Both countries are close friends and strong political and military allies.
Since the military occupation of the Palestinian people from 1967-present, what is the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians?
See any differences?????
2:07 "Under international law, until a meaningful peace is achieved and all terrorism against it ceases, Israel has every right to retain MILITARY CONTROL over this area." I'm not sure about that, but….he's the lawyer and I'm not.
International law MIGHT say they can have MILITARY CONTROL……..but does international law say you can bring in Israeli citizens and STEAL land from Palestinians and give it to Israelis simply because their great-great-great grandfather used to live on a certain piece of property 1,000s of years ago?!?!?!? I don't think international law gives permission to do THAT.
Right now, in 2024, in the West Bank, there are over 700,000 Israeli land STEALERS (or settlers….as they like to call themselves….because then it doesn't sound so bad). And up until 2005 there were almost 10,000 Israeli land STEALERS in the tiny strip of Gaza. When Israel ended their 38 YEAR military occupation of Gaza in 2005, the Israeli military had to forcefully remove MANY of the 10,000 Israeli land stealers.
Dershowitz says "maintaining control over the West Bank keeps Israel safe". Here's a question: how does 700,000 Israeli land STEALERS factor into that safety??? Do you think having 700,000 Israeli land STEALERS in the West Bank makes the Palestinians feel HAPPY….or does it make them feel ANGRY???
I would think removing the Israeli land STEALERS from the West Bank would be better for Israel's safety. The Palestinians would feel less angry AND if Israel ever wanted to bomb and DESTROY the West Bank like they are doing in Gaza, they wouldn't have to worry about killing 700,000 of their own people!!!!
And what about the 1947 UN Partition Plan????? The UN decided this land and borders for Israelis and this land and borders for Palestinians. To date which of these people are still abiding by the 1947 UN Partition Plan??? I'll give you a hint….it begins with the letter "P" and rhymes with "Alestinians". And which people have STOLEN more land since the 1947 UN Partition Plan and are therefore in VIOLATION of the 1947 UN Partition Plan??? I'll give you a hint….it begins with the letter "I" and rhymes with "Sraelis".
Yeah, why would somebody mind somebody else stealing his land, jailing his kids, restricting his movements, killing his neighbor, raiding his community with guns blazing, tearing down his ancient olive trees, bulldozing down his house, restricting his use of water, killing his sheep, looting his business etcetera etcetera
Alan Dershowitz is absolutely correct as usual.
If only the rest of the western countries would listen and do the right thing for a change. Instead of appeasing the Muslim world.
The settlements demonstrate that Israel is engaged in border expansion, not just military occupation.
ZIONIST LIES. So what's new. You will pay.
The short answer is…YES! It's a barrier to peace, West Bank is an autonomous region, where Muslim and Christian Palestinian Arabs live, and Jews are typically no welcomed. I don't know what shady deals Netanyahu and Abbas are doing behind everyone's backs, but I don't like it at all.
Didn't Jordan basically cede the West Bank already?
I think it might be fair to say by now that Palestinians have a culture of Terrorism. If antisemitism and Terrorism are building Blocks of their national identity or at least their Common denominator it is fair not to accept statehood for them.
I could care lesd about International Law or what the world thinks of Israel or its policies. There is no appeasing Jew haters
The Palestinians have been offered everything they want except the right of return. Abbas and Arafat both walked away from the best deal they would ever get. Even the PLO was more pragmatic than Hamas. No Israeli government, regardless of stripe, is letting people move back to Tel Aviv. As for the so called occupied territories, why weren’t the Palestinians clamouring for freedom before 1967? The Palestinian narrative makes up the story, both past and present, as it goes along.
It seems incredible to me that Jews occupying JUDEA is a source of conflict.
netanyahu sabatoged the oslo accords. he also funded hamas. as long as hamas exists he can justify continued blockade of gaza and continued occupation of and seizure of land in the west bank.
hey alan, go get another “massage” with jeffrey epstein!!
im sure the motive for many of the attacks from gaza and the west bank was at least partly revenge for the loss of palestinian homes due to “arab transfer” of over 700,000 people in 1948. over 500 towns and villages were “forcibly depopulated” then. of course they dont want a state to exist on land that was taken from them.
It is the major barrier to peace, settlements expands Israel authority outside its borders, killing and seizing the Palestinians lands, where on earth will you have a Palestinian state ? On air maybe?
"it would be irresponsible of Israel to leave…" you can't make this stuff up 🤣😂😅
They never acknowledged now.
it's an interesting argument that the Jews "stole" the land from the Palestinians. This occurred in 1948. One can make a good argument that the British had no RIGHT to give any land to the Jews. They didn't have a right to give it to Arabs either, but it occurred.
Let's say you are right. The "Jews stole the land."
Let's try to find land that has not been stolen: Forget France. It was stolen by Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars. White Europeans stole America. Same with Canada. Genghis Kahn and Alexander the Great stole most of the known world. Several times. Japan stole parts of China and committed horrible atrocities against the Chinese. Europeans stole Africa. African tribes had so many inter-tribal wars that nobody knows who owns any place in Africa. The Germans stole most of Europe for 12 years. The Russians stole at least 6 Countries around them.
Spain stole most of South America. The Portuguese stole the rest. France stole Vietnam. Muslim tribes have had empires for years. (Ottoman most recent). They did not get empires by giving card parties. They stole them during wars.
The Jews, well, they have been kicked out of more countries than they ever stole (LOL).
There are 100,000 Arabs living in Dearborn MI. They stole that land from the Blackfeet, Iroquois and Sioux, who had been living there for hundreds of years. Nobody cares about the Native tribes. Casinos for reparations? Don't make me laugh. Would Palestinians take casinos for reparations?
The REAL problem is obvious. You need to get Jews to steal your land. Then, everybody cares.
Nobody cared when Bashar al Assad murdered 632,000 of his own people. You were silent.
The solution is obvious. You need to recruit Jews to steal your land. THEN you will get everyone up in arms to hold protestations, publish hate mail, etc.
It's wonderful when we can all get together. All we need is to blame Jews. Problem solved.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Thank you PragerU for speaking the truth
How can u call resistance against occupation terrorism?
U r pedo who funded Jeffrey Epstein and helped him have traffic kids. Norman Finkelstein put u in ur place.