Are Israeli settlements in West Bank justified?

The Heat

Just days after the ceasefire ended weeks of conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in Gaza, Israel announced plans to claim about 400 hectares of land in the West Bank. The move was widely denounced in the international community. Even Israel’s staunch ally, the United States, called on the Israeli government to reverse the decision.

An anti-settlement group says the Israeli government will use the 400-hectares site to build more homes for Jewish settlers. Roughly half a million Israelis already live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territory that Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war. The Jewish settlements have become a major obstacle to resolving the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

CCTV America’s Anand Naidoo is joined by Paul Hirschson, spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Gideon Levy, columnist with the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, to give their opinion on Israel’s plans.

CCTV America’s Anand Naidoo interviews Husam Zomlot, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Fatah Commission for International Affairs, to find out the Palestinian perspective on Israel’s plans.

Husam Zomlot on Israel's plans to establish settlements

CCTV-America's Anand Naidoo interviews Husam Zomlot, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Fatah Commission for International Affairs, to find out the Palestinian perspective on Israel's plans.