Why did Israeli Settlers settle in the Palestinian Territories?

Answer 1

There are several reasons why Israelis settled in the West Bank:

Holy Sites: The majority of Jewish holy sites in Mandatory Palestine are actually in the West Bank or East Jerusalem, which are both considered Occupied Territories. These include the Western Wall in Jerusalem and the entire Old City, the Cave of the Ramban, the "City of David", David's Burial Ground at Mount Zion, the Tomb of Samuel just north of Jerusalem, the city of Hebron and the nearby the Cave of Machpelah, Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, the tombs of Pinehas and the Elders of the Great Assembly at Awarta, and Rachel's tomb outside of Bethlehem. The Palestinians under Israeli occupation currently deface many of these sites and attack Jews who seek to pray at them. Jordanians actively forbid Jews from visiting these places when they controlled the West Bank in 1949-1967. The Ottomans were not great protectors of the region either.

Many Jews are worried that if the Palestinians gain full autonomy, they will prevent Jews from visiting and praying at their holy sites, especially the Western Wall. The Islamic Waqf, which owns the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque has actually said, "The Jews have no connection to the Western Wall. It is a Muslim site that was used by Mohammed to tie up his Buraq." The Waqf then claims that the Jews "made up" their claim concerning the holiest site in Judaism in order to facilitate Palestinian repression. With people so insensitive poised to gain power over Jewish Holy Sites if the Occupied Territories are devolved, it is not surprising that Jews are worried about handing over the Occupied Territories.

Military Defense: One of the best military advantages of holding onto the West Bank is the Jordan River Valley. The river plunges precipitously on either side, making it a perfect tank-ditch for invading armies. This would force any invaders from the Jordanian side to use the bridges across the river and allow the Israelis have an effective defense. Additionally, the West Bank is the area of the former British Mandate of Palestine with the highest elevation. Several Air-Towers have been built in the Judean Highlands to spot air traffic moving around Israel and detect in-coming military planes. Without these positions, Israel leaves itself in a much worse position. Additionally, Israel becomes only 10 miles wide near Hadera, Israel if the West Bank is lost.

Size of Israeli Settlements: Close to 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank or East Jerusalem in several major cities like Ariel, Modiin Illit, East Jerusalem, Pisgat Zeev, Ma'ale Adumim, and Efrat. Entire neighborhoods, schools, universities, companies, and livelihoods have been built up in the West Bank, not to mention voters in Israeli elections. The removal of settlements is a difficult political and social issue within Israel as it would be very costly both monetarily and socially to uproot 500,000 people and resettle them.

Natural Expansion: Many Israelis who settled in the West Bank have claimed that they did so expressly because its the natural growth of the State of Israel. This is especially true when Jerusalem is discussed. It is not natural for neighborhoods to exist in a frozen status for 40 years. Some Arab neighborhoods will become gentrified by Israelis. Ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods are expanding at the cost of Secular Jewish neighborhoods. It is only natural that populations move and expand.

Economic Incentives: There are several tax incentives by which the Israeli government makes settlement in the Palestinian Territories more desirable than living in the major cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Also, since communities are built in an almost factory-like way, it is easier and cheaper to build a house in the Palestinian Territories than in 1949-Israel.