Article Calls for Reassessment of Oslo Accords' Land Divisions in West Bank
More than 25 years after the Oslo Accords were intended to conclude, an article argues for a reevaluation of the division of the West Bank into Areas A, B, and C, advocating for organized, state-sponsored Jewish settlement in the open spaces of Judea and Samaria. The author contends that Israel remains "imprisoned" by the "paralyzing geographic concept" of the Oslo Accords, which established a temporary division of land for civilian and security control, meant to expire by May 1999. Despite systematic Palestinian Authority violations, Israel continues to adhere to these boundaries as if they were immutable.
The article posits that the struggle for Judea and Samaria is a central identity issue for modern Zionism, second only to the Declaration of Independence. It asserts that a decisive outcome will only be achieved with a significant Jewish majority in the region and full Israeli control over its territory. The Oslo II Accord in 1995 transferred control of major Palestinian cities (Area A, about 3% of the land) and an additional 23% (Area B) to the Palestinian Authority. The author criticizes this division, stating that some rural areas were incorporated without justification, enclosing large open spaces, particularly in areas where Israeli settlement had not yet taken root in the 1980s.
The article uses the Arur-Salfit bloc as a case study, describing it as a "bleeding heart" of the land, situated between major transportation routes. While most of this area was designated Area B under Oslo, subsequent agreements under the Barak government expanded these transfers, reclassifying significant portions to Area A. These areas, the author notes, are largely open spaces where Israeli settlement did not establish a foothold in the 1980s. Despite the large land area designated for Palestinian control, the region's central town, Salfit, has only about 12,000 residents, alongside smaller villages, while substantial state lands exist within the bloc.
The author accuses the Palestinian Authority of conducting a "unilateral campaign" to alter the reality on the ground through extensive illegal construction to seize open spaces, often with European funding and support. Other alleged violations include continued support for terrorism, incitement in education, severe environmental damage from pirate waste disposal, and the systematic destruction of historical and archaeological sites. The article argues that these actions demonstrate the PA never viewed the Oslo Accords as a final resolution but rather as a tool.
Furthermore, the article criticizes the past perception that maintaining a strong hold on Judea and Samaria could be achieved by excluding Israeli presence from the heart of the region, deeming it a strategic error. International pressures and boycotts are presented as evidence that the international struggle is not about specific lines but about the very presence of Israelis in these territories. While acknowledging a recent "welcome awakening" of settlement activity in Area B, the author distinguishes between private land settlement and the need for "organized, legal, and state-sponsored settlement" in open areas and state lands. The article concludes by calling for a renewed effort to establish state-sponsored settlements in the heart of these territories to ensure Israel's future, security, and Zionist identity, emphasizing that this is key to achieving a Jewish majority and a historic Zionist victory.
