Imagine a 3-D Map

Most of us have seen a 3-D map. We call them topographical maps and they can be portrayed in paper, but more accurately through a model. A fully realized topographical map can depict the changes in elevation of the land that is crossed by roads and dotted with settlements. A 3-D map is the only way to understand what the Israeli government's policy is creating through the forty years they have encouraged Jewish only suburbs, towns, and villages to be constructed and connected inside the occupied Palestinian territories.

A presentation we heard at the Alternative Information Center in Tel Aviv brought home two points that are critical to understanding Israeli policy: 1) Israel has no borders yet, and for the time being, wants it that way; and 2) the borders of Israel are being expanded eastward over top of the Palestinian West Bank Territory.

Through freeways, roads, tunnels, and overpasses Israel is connecting the settlements to the population centers inside the country so that settlement resident have seamless lives with freedom and safety in travel. It's like building more Israel on a new floor atop the Palestinian main floor.

The price of this "greater Israel" is maintaining a matrix of control of the daily lives, freedom to travel, and economic opportunities of the Palestinians who live in the West Bank. This is why the settlements are a huge obstacle to achieving a two state solution.

Location:Tel Aviv, Israel