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American Morning
Settlements Are Key Issue in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Aired May 16, 2002 - 09:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to turn your attention back to the Middle East.
Jewish settlements are, of course, one of the most contentious issues dividing Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinians see the Jewish settlements as an obstacle to peace and a future Palestinian state. Jewish settlers say they have the right to be there -- it's a Biblical right -- although not all settlers are the same.
CNN's Carol Lin goes "Inside Out" on the West Bank to see how some are driven by religious beliefs, and some are driven by the good life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the heart of the West Bank, Jewish settlers immerse themselves in holy books that give them faith that this land belongs to them. They say they are willing to defend what they call their God-given right, and endure the ultimate sacrifice.
Beni Shoham's (ph) baby son was killed when a Palestinian terrorist threw a rock through their car window.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I paid a big price. People of Israeli are killed by terrorists because they don't want us living here. And it does not matter whether it's in Shilo, or in other places.
LIN: This is the Shilo settlement, where nearly 200 religious nationalist families have built homes in the midst of Palestinian villages.
On this day, the settlers host a group of fundamentalist Christian supporters to show them the archaeological site of the Biblical Shilo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is where we believe the Tabernacle stood!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For 369 years. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shilo, right where we are, and set up the Tabernacle as a meeting place and the land was subdued before them.
LIN: The settlers say, this is physical evidence this land belongs to the Jewish people. Lisa Rubin (ph), raised in New York, says there should never be a Palestinian state.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You want to trust them, and if they were trustworthy, that would be wonderful, but you never know when they will turn around and stab you in the back.
LIN: She then showed us her photo album of newspaper stories about when her husband and baby son were ambushed and wounded near Shilo last year. Shilo settlers insist the violence will not drive them away.
So, consider life at this Jewish settlement, hours away from Shilo and just minutes from the border with Israel. Instead of guns and God, it's tennis in the afternoon.
Alfe Menashe's palm trees and swimming pools, indoor and out, are the promised land. The settlement's leaders insist they are not intruding on the Palestinians who live down the hill.
(on camera): It sounds like it is important to get across that your relation with the Palestinians are a good one?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not a slogan; for us, it's a way of living here. At the end of the day, we believe that the only solution is for long-term coexistence. You would never find here so-called extremist people running in the hills with rifles. This is not the place.
Ruth Gat (ph) does not even believe she's in the West Bank.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've never ever, ever thought of myself as a settler.
LIN: What does that word mean to you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me? Politics, and I don't get involved with politics, whatsoever.
LIN: Are you making a statement of sorts by being here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not at all. I'm here just for the quality of life.
LIN (voice-over): Here, housing is half the price of neighboring Tel Aviv, due, in part, to cheap government-subsidized loans designed to encourage Jews to move to the West Bank. But, they still live on land Palestinians say is theirs.
Many kids in Alfe Menashe have never lived anywhere else. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my home. They have a settlement that they live in. I have a settlement that I live in.
Regardless of where these settlements are, or what motivates the settlers, their fate will be a major issue should there ever be a final deal for a Palestinian state.
Carol Lin, CNN, the West Bank.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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