Settlements endanger Israel's future, US diplomat warns
Agence France-Presse, Reuters

November 15, 2003

Given the reality of Palestinian demographics, Israeli settlements imperil the future of Israel as a Jewish state and must end immediately, says the top US diplomat for the Middle East.

In addition, Israel's construction of a controversial barrier in the West Bank will probably undermine any hope of reaching a permanent peace settlement with the Palestinians and achieving a two-state resolution to the conflict, the diplomat said.

While stressing the necessity for Palestinians to end anti-Israeli violence, William Burns, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, said Israel must accept the reality of the situation on the ground and do its part as well.

"The demographic picture is very stark," he said in an address to the George Marshall Foundation on Thursday.

"Within the next decade or so, Jews will be a minority in the area encompassing Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

"As Israeli settlements expand and their populations increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to see how the two peoples will be separated into two states.

"The fact is that settlements continue to grow today, encouraged by specific government policies - and at enormous expense to Israel's economy.

"And this persists even as it becomes clear that the logic of settlements and the reality of demographics could threaten the future of Israel as a Jewish democracy.

"For friends of Israel, the conclusion is hard to escape. Settlement activity must stop, because it ultimately undermines Israeli as well as Palestinian interests."

Mr Burns also called the separation barrier - for which Washington has already said it will consider penalising Israel by deducting loan guarantees - a "significant problem" that "prejudices negotiations and, like settlement activity, takes us further from the two-state goal".

Under the internationally drafted Middle East peace plan known as the "road map," the Israeli Government is required to freeze settlement activity and dismantle about 60 West Bank outposts set up since Ariel Sharon became Prime Minister in March 2001.

Since the road map was launched in June, the number of outposts has remained largely unchanged - some were dismantled with great fanfare, but a similar number have been set up by radical settlers.

Israel this week began construction of a new section of the barrier near a heavily populated West Bank settlement, which at times will cut about two kilometres into Palestinian territory.