Israel’s settler population in the West Bank increased by 2 percent by mid year, an advocacy group announced Tuesday, signaling robust growth in the settlements even while Israel was conducting peace talks with the Palestinians. (Sept. 16)
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Ariel settlement, West Bank – September 16, 2014
1. Pan of Ariel settlement
2. High rise buildings in settlement
3. Construction workers on roof of house
4. Top shot of street
5. Set up of chief foreign envoy of the Yesha Council (main organization representing WestBank settlers), Dani Dayan
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dani Dayan, chief foreign envoy of the Yesha Council: (see script)
Ramallah, West Bank – September 16, 2014
7. Exterior of PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) building
8. Hanan Ashrawi at her desk
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Hanan Ashrawi, senior Palestinian official: (see script)
Ariel settlement, West Bank – September 16, 2014
10. Various of women shopping in Ariel’s center
Tel Aviv, Israel – September 16, 2014
11. Set up of Yariv Oppenheimer, Director of the anti-settlement group, Peace Now
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Yariv Oppenheimer, Director of the anti-settlement group, Peace Now: (see script)
Ariel settlement, West Bank – September 16, 2014
13. Wide woman walking
14. Tilt up from settlement to Palestinian village on hill behind
VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:
THIS IS THE ARIEL SETTLEMENT
ONE OF MANY EXPANDING IN THE PALESTINIAN WEST BANK
AN ADVOCACY GROUP IS BOASTING A 2 PERCENT GROWTH in SETTLEMENTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2014 –
THEY SAY THE CONTINUED EXPANSION IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES IS FOR THE GREATER GOOD AND IS NOT GOING TO STOP
SOUNDBITE (English) Dani Dayan, chief foreign envoy of the Yesha Council:
“Our presence here is a fact. (CUT) I’m sure that (there) will come a day when the world will understand that our presence here, prevents the establishment of an Islamic fundamentalist ISIS-like state in the heart of the Middle East, destabilising the whole region.”
THE NEW FIGURES DREW IMMEDIATE CRITICISM FROM PALESTINIANS. MANY IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ALSO CONSIDER ISRAELI CONTRUCTION ON OCCUPIED LANDS TO BE ILLEGAL.
SOUNDBITE (English) Hanan Ashrawi, senior Palestinian official:
“Moving your own population into (an) occupied territory and settling there is a war crime according to the Fourth Geneva convention. So either Israel stops or we will have to hold Israel accountable legally.”
PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS SAY THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS DESTROY ANY CHANCE OF A TWO-STATE SOLUTION AND PEACE.
AN ISRAELI ANTI-SETTLEMENT GROUP SAYS WHILE THE EXPANSION COMPLICATES ISSUES, IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR A PEACE DEAL.
SOUNDBITE (English) Yariv Oppenheimer, Director of the anti-settlement group, Peace Now:
“Although the number of settlers is rising up rapidly, still most of the settlers are living in the settlement blocs, these places that are not going to be evacuated after the peace treaty will be signed.”
AT THIS RATE, THE YESHA COUNCIL REPRESENTING THE SETTLEMENTS PROJECTS GROWTH IN THE WEST BANK TO REACH FOUR PERCENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SALIM ESSAID, ASSOCIATED PRESS.
