Observation: The Obvious Win-Win resolution of Settlement Construction Issue
Dr. Aaron Lerner IMRA Date: 31 August 2010
Here are the facts:

1. The retreat from the Gaza Strip demonstrated that the existence of an
Israeli community in and of itself does not preclude the possibility that
the area that the community is located in is transferred to the
Palestinians.

2. Many Palestinians earn their livings in various activities associated
with construction in Israeli communities in the West Bank.

3. In the instance of both the withdrawal from Sinai and the retreat from
Gaza, Israel opted to bulldoze the residential structures.

So here is the win-win resolution of the settlement construction issue:

1. Records will be maintained documenting structures constructed in Israeli
communities in the West Bank whose construction takes place at least in part
after an agreed reference date (the meeting in D.C. this week?).

2. In the event that Israel relinquishes control of an area in the West
Bank - be it either in a unilateral more or within the framework of an
agreement, Israel will leave all structures constructed after the reference
date intact.

3. The State of Israel will waive any and all claims against the PA for
compensation for the value of said relinquished structures and will assume
any all liability towards the Israelis who owned said relinquished
structures.

4. The PA can, at its option, demand that any and all of said relinquished
structures be demolished and removed at Israel's expense.

The above proposal is a win-win for all parties:

1. The Palestinian workforce gains employment in construction projects.

2. In the instance of an Israeli retreat or withdrawal the Palestinians gain
possession of the structures at no charge, while the option to have Israel
remove the structures at Israel's expense covers the possibility that the
structures conflict with the PA's plans for the area.

3. In the meantime, the Israeli citizens can exercise their property rights
in building residential units and the Israeli authorities can continue to
engage in construction to supply services to the Israeli citizens in the
communities.

4. At the same time, the State of Israel's financial exposure for
construction taking place after the reference date will become a
consideration raised in Israeli policy making.

So how does Mahmoud Abbas explain this to the Palestinian street?

"We know that, in the end, Israel will relinquish these areas. If the
Israelis are stupid enough to pour their money into structures that they
will ultimately transfer to the Palestinian people as a gift then that is
their problem. And our gain."