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• Israeli settlements in palestinian occupied territories

• Xenophobia and prejudices
• The struggle for the rights of black citizens in the USA
• Feminicide: the ciudad juárez crimes
• Israeli settlements in palestinian occupied territories
• The kurds: a stateless people
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• The emotional process of women victims of terrorism
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Israeli settlements in palestinian occupied territories

Until recent times, there had been several centuries of historical coexistence between the two communities professing Jewish and Muslim religions. Examples of pacific relations between both groups in Al-Andalus/Sepharad are numerous. Their inhabitants formed an active and integrated part of a pluralist society, something which is unfortunately no longer the case.

Today over 120 Israeli settlements occupy Palestinian territories, a fact which has caused a host of conflicts between the Israeli and Palestinian communities, resulting in numerous deaths.

The occupation of Palestinian territories by Israeli settlers, and construction of the wall (over half of the 700 kilometres initially envisaged have already been built) separating the occupied zones, has been devastating for the Palestinian population. In addition to suffering systematic repression by the Israeli Army, the Palestinian inhabitants of these areas suffer from other situations: isolation, higher unemployment rates and the progressive usurping of their land. Most of these occupied populations have always worked at agriculture and livestock, and the settlements have seriously affected their lifestyles (according to Palestinian estimates, 100,000 olive trees have been destroyed).

Given this situation, the inhabitants of the occupied zones rebel against the actions of the Israeli Army. Some use violence; others, peaceful methods, and their demands are backed by national and international non-governmental organisations, and even by the Israeli men and women who do not approve of their own Government’s decisions.

Settlements in any part of an occupied territory are considered illegal. Different UN resolutions have condemned this practice, among others through Security Council Resolution 446, or Resolution 465 (unanimously approved), calling for the Government and people of Israel to rescind and dismantle these settlements. The current Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, recently said that “they must stop”.

But despite the unlawfulness of these practices, and despite growing international pressure, the Israeli Government takes no heed and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presently rules out halting his intention to build new settlements in East Jerusalem.

Israel’s strategy of occupying territories dates back to 1967, following the Six-Day War when, victorious, the Israeli Army appropriated itself of three areas: the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The occupation spread from then on, with time becoming an occupant, permanent presence met with hostility by the Arab population. This situation roused Palestinian nationalism, creating new internal threats in the occupied territories and seriously reducing any chance of a short-term negotiated solution.

The effects of this situation remain in place today, and coexistence between Israeli and Palestinian citizens has worsened. Despite attempts by international diplomacy at coming to an agreement, and the number of dead during these years, there seems to be no satisfactory solution to the conflict for the time being.

• © 2010 8th Human Rights Film Festival