By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM — In order to avoid a bloody showdown with the settlers, the Government of Israel tried to work out something that looked like a compromise, even though it wasn’t. It sort-of abided by the decision of Israel’s Supreme Court that had ordered the dismantling of the illegal settlement of Migron by the end of this month. Migron was deemed to have been built on private Palestinian land. Therefore, according to the so-called compromise, it would be moved to nearby land considered to be state owned. But until 2015, the settlers could stay put before they could move to their new homes.
It doesn’t take much sophistication to see that this was a way of circumventing the court decision. But before it could be put into effect, it had to go back to the Supreme Court for approval. And last Sunday the Supreme Court refused to approve it! Instead of letting the settlers remain on the present site for another three years and more, it only extended the date for the demolition until August 1.
Those who thought that the new president of the court, Asher Grunis, considered to be more conservative than his two predecessors, would be accommodating to the government were greatly disappointed. Peace Now that brought the case before the judges some six years ago is, of course, jubilant.
But there’s very little to be jubilant about, for the decision has created a precarious situation in the country. The prime minister was quick to assure the public that his government respects the authority of the Supreme Court and all ministers I heard have endorsed this stance. But several politicians on the Right have also hinted at bringing in new legislation that might declare the court decision null and void.
Apart from their sympathies for the settlers, these law makers are probably understandably afraid of the consequences of implementing the court decision. No doubt it could only be done by force. They still remember when settlements had to be removed when Israel decided to withdraw fromGaza. A confrontation over Migron is likely to be much more dramatic and probably much bloodier.
The settlers in turn know that if they’ll have to move from Migron, they’ll soon have to move from many other illegal outposts. Therefore, they’re determined not to budge from there, irrespective of consequences.
In other words, the settlers are holding the country to ransom and the government isn’t united enough and not strong enough to put them in their place. Successive governments, on the Left no less than on the Right, who over the years have encouraged the building and expansion of settlements, including Migron, have created a monster that threatens to harm the country in ways that its enemies would never be able to achieve.
It also makes, from Israel’s perspective, the so-called two state solution most unlikely, for it’s bound to lead to the dismantling of at least some, probably many, settlements. The fact that, because of its own internal burdens – the Hamas-Fatah struggle, for example – the Palestinian Authority isn’t ready for peace either is small consolation. It should bring us no comfort.
We can no longer ignore the possibility that serious peace efforts might result in civil war on both sides. That’s why the status quo will prevail with ever more vehement international condemnation and ever growing and gnawing uncertainty in the region.
*
Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. He may be contacted at dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com