Israel Plans More Settlements, World Wonders When 'Concern' Becomes Action
Israel's advancement of the Atarot settlement plan, which could house 9,000 units, is framed by mainstream media as a simple 'plan.' What they fail to underline is that this isn't an isolated incident, but a continuation of a decades-long strategy of ethno-nationalist expansion. This latest push, on occupied Palestinian land, directly violates international law, which apparently applies to
everyone but Israel's government. This plan was approved by the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee on November 28, 2023, right in the midst of a war that has seen an unprecedented expansion of settlement activities in the West Bank. While US officials 'express deep concern' from their gilded chambers, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a vocal supporter of unlimited aid to Israel,
received $10,000 from AIPAC in 2023, according to OpenSecrets.org. One might wonder if his 'concerns' translate into actual policy shifts or merely serve as carefully worded press releases. How many 'violations of international law' can the world endure before it stops providing the funds, military hardware, and diplomatic cover for such actions? It seems the international community's
'condemnations' are as effective as a screen door on a submarine, while Netanyahu's government simply builds more facts on the ground.