Sunday, September 26, 2010
The language of settlements
ABC News tonight provided a nice object lesson in the going language of Israeli settlements. First we had a reference to the expiration of the "moratorium," with no mention of the fact that actual construction had declined by a whopping 10% since the "freeze." Second, almost going without saying, no mention whatsoever that the settlements were illegal under international law. And finally, and the reason I'm writing this since those first two are totally commonplace, was the description of the land on which new settlements are going to be built as "land the Palestinians want for their state." As if the land is actually Israeli right now, and the Palestinians are asking for the Israelis to be generous and give it to them. That the land is actually occupied Palestinian land that Israel has not the slightest right to was not even hinted at.
