For More Information, Call:
Land and Water Establishment For Release 1:00 p.m. Tel: (972) (02) 812364/824559 January 20, 1995 Fax: (972) (02) 811072 email: lawe@baraka.gn.apc.org
Meeting between Arafat and Rabin a Disappointment
The Palestinian people hoped that the meeting, held yesterday between the Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and the Palestinian President Arafat, would result in a clear agreement to end all settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Territories. They expected an official response to the wave of protests that has swept the West Bank against land confiscation, road construction and settlement expansion.
The statements of Rabin however, during the press conference held directly after the meeting, fell far short of the expectations of those hoping for a real change of policy. Rabin said that his government would not finance new building in settlements and would undertake not to build new settlements. This means that the settlers will continue building and expanding the existing settlements. It is common knowledge that they have the financial resources to do this alone.
Rabin also stated that his government would continue construction on what he termed "security roads" to protect settler security. This means more land confiscation, particularly of private land.
Land and Water Establishment believes that security needs as the rationale behind land confiscation for these roads is unacceptable. We believe that there is not any reason, security or otherwise, that is adequate to justify land confiscation.
What the Israeli government is doing now, in saying that these roads are for "peace needs", is destroying the peace process. LAWE believes that a real peace process precludes any settlement activity and land confiscation. Every effort needs to be focused on moving out the settlers already living in the Occupied Territories, all of whom are there illegally.
Land and Water Establishment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. The concentration is on land confiscation, property destruction and environmental issues.