Originally posted by Lazerus
If they wanted new 'colonies' they wouldn't wall themselves in. They don't want to create a 'ghetto', they want to secure their people.
Than how do you explain this?
"Settlement population rose by 6 percent in 2004
11/01/2005
By Relly Sa'ar, Haaretz Correspondent
The number of people living in the West Bank and Gaza settlements increased by 6 percent last year, according to statistics published Sunday by the Interior Ministry's Population Registry.
In 2004, 250,179 people lived in the territories, compared to 236,381 in 2003 - an increase of 13,798. In the Gaza Strip alone, there was an 11 percent increase in the number of residents in Jewish settlements. In 2004, 8,693 people lived in 17 settlements, compared to 7,820 in 2003.
The chief growth in the number of Gush Katif residents (7 percent of the total growth) occurred in the second half of 2004, after the disengagement plan was first publicized in July. The highest rate of growth (61 percent) was recorded in the smallest settlement, Shalev, which had 42 residents in 2004 compared to 26 in 2003.
The largest settlement in the Gaza Strip, Neve Dekalim, took in 103 new residents in 2004, an increase of 4 percent since 2002, when it had 2,568 residents. Other settlements also grew, such as Kfar Darom (a 29 percent increase), Netzarim (25 percent) and Netzer Hazani (21 percent) in comparison with 2003.
The four settlements in the West Bank that are included in the disengagement plan also experienced growth over the past year, compared to 2003. In Sa-Nur, the number of residents nearly tripled last year. In 2003, it had 38 residents, in 2004 - 105. In Kadim, there was a 12 percent increase, with 151 residents in 2003, compared to 169 last year. The populations of Ganim and Hermesh increased by 6 and 7 percent, respectively.
Some of the larger West Bank settlements also increased their population, according to Interior Ministry data. The ultra-Orthodox city of Modi'in Ilit grew by 14 percent, bringing the number of residents to 27,301 in 2004. In Ma'aleh Adumim, the growth rate was 6 percent, as 1,800 newcomers moved into the city, bringing its population to 28,546. With 17,555 people last year, Ariel registered no increase."
*Source:
http://www.haaretzdaily.com, Monday January 10, 2005.
Israel offered the palistinian people their own country several years ago, it was refused.
Oh bull****, Isreal offered to chop of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and give some of it back to the Palisinians. I wonder what you would think of that if Mexico offered to do the same thing with US south.