Israeli Settlements

Israeli Settlements are communities established and populated by Israelis within territory occupied during the Six Day War in 1967. These settlements remain one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, dividing not only Israel and Palestine, but the international community as well, over their legality.

In early June of 2009, President Barack Obama demanded a suspension of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the settlement freeze "unreasonable."New York Times: Obama Talks of Being ‘Honest’ With Israel

1. Refers to Israeli communities established on territory occupied in 1967's Six Day War
2. Most settlements under joint Israeli military and Palestinian National Authority control
3. Several settlements now under Israeli civilian administration
4. Settlements encompass everything from self-sustaining cities, to small villages, to neighborhoods of a nearby city
5. Expansion of the Har Homa settlements have sparked new controversy around the issue
6. Israel began a 600 home expansion in The West Bank settlement of Pisgat Zeev on March 31, 2008

The expansion of settlements in the Har Homa Neighborhood in March 2008 and then a 600 home expansion in The West Bank settlement of Pisgat Zeev on March 31, 2008, created new controversy around the long-debated issue.

• BBC News: Israel to Build 100 Settler Homes (April 18, 2008)
• Al Jazeera: Israel Issues Settlement Tenders (April 18, 2008)
• Agence France-Presse: Israel to Build More Homes in Occupied East Jerusalem (March 31, 2008)
• Reuters: Jerusalem Municipality Announces Settlement Project (March 31, 2008)
• Agence France-Presse: Olmert Vows to Continue East Jerusalem Settlements (March 17, 2008)
• Al Jazeera: Outrage over New Israel Settlements (March 11, 2008)
• Ynetnews: UN Chief: Israel Should Halt Settlement Expansion (March 11, 2008)
• Middle East Online: Israel's New Settlement Plans Trigger Warnings (March 10, 2008)
• The Guardian: Homes in Illegal Israeli Settlements for Sale at London Expo (November 16, 2007)
• The New York Times: Israeli Settlements Found to Grow Past Boundaries (July 7, 2007)
• Reuters: Solana Says Shocked at Israeli Settlement Growth (January 21, 2007)
• The Guardian: Bush Criticises West Bank Settlements on Israel Visit (January 9, 2008)