We're heading for what might be the most
controversial Israeli settler project of
all. One that puts the future of a
Palestinian state in doubt.
This is the village of Khan Al Ahmed on
the day Israel approved a vast project
that could see it demolished.
>> This is my life. I borning here. I I
like the desert because I borning
>> I live in the desert.
>> And this is your home.
>> This is my home. Aid lives here in a
small Beduin shephering community that's
become a symbol of resistance to Israeli
settlement plans. On the horizon,
settlers who've already established
illegal outposts all around the village
under these plans settlers would move in
here.
>> Yes,
>> but this is your home.
>> But you are see the government is going
coming with a lot of military with the
bulldozer. What I do?
>> What will you do?
>> What I do? I asking all the world what I
do.
I don't ask me. Ask the all the world
what he do. Mhm.
>> How he helping me to stay here in my
land.
>> The decision has delighted faright
Israeli ministers who support Benjamin
Netanyahu needs to stay in power.
>> They see it as their means to end the
prospect of a Palestinian state. Showing
up here to say as much just last week.
We will continue to build a fulfilling
Jewish reality. This reality
definitively buries the idea of a
Palestinian state.
>> The reason this issue is so central to
the future of a Palestinian state is
because we have East Jerusalem here with
Ramla to the north and Bethlehem there
to the south and Israel would put a
brand new settlement right here, smack
in the middle, separating those two
cities from each other.
>> What Israel wants to do is establish a
huge settlement in the heart of this
area. sees the empty lands that we see
in
>> Aviv is an Israeli researcher who
monitors settlement projects.
>> Constructing a settlement is something
that is very difficult to undo,
especially when it's a big settlement
and you have tens of thousands of
settlers. It's illegal by international
law. But taking people out of their
homes and evicting them is something
that is difficult to do. Now when you
establish such a settlement in the heart
of the West Bank and do you think or
Israel claims that this is irreversible
h what kind of Palestinian state can you
have it's broken up into enclaves into
the small parts that the Israel has left
it and there it doesn't make any sense
>> Israel has been trying to build this key
settlement since the late 80s under
Prime Minister Yitsak Shamir and has
always backed down Though under US
pressure,
>> George W. Bush convinced Ariel Chaon to
shove the plans in the early 2000s
>> where Israel should remove unauthorized
outposts and meet its roadmap
obligations regarding settlements in the
West Bank.
>> As you said, when
>> in 2012, it was Benjamin Netanyahu who
tried and President Obama who objected.
But in Donald Trump, settlers feel they
have a far more useful ally in the White
House, appointing a pro-settler
ambassador and recently revoking
sanctions on settlers.
>> Do you think America will stand up for
your community?
>> No.
>> Do you think President Trump will stand
up for you?
>> No. No. No. President Trump, no. Trump
is giving him the permission. He don't
do anything in the West want in the West
Bank without the permission from
America.
The UN, UK, and EU say the plans are a
violation of international law. But with
the world's eyes on Gaza in the West
Bank, Israel is pushing ahead with a
plan 40 years in the making.