His people's link to the land goes back to biblical times, says the comics illustrator. His neighbour, a farmer, says the land belonged to his ancestors and has been stolen. One is an Israeli settler, the other a Palestinian living across the road.
Israel's settlements in the occupied West Bank are one of the most heated issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Palestinians want the area, captured by Israel in a 1967 war, for a future state.
Before & After
. Beitar Illit, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Peace Now/Handout via REUTERS
. Beitar Illit, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Peace Now/Handout via REUTERS
Before: An aerial view shows the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit in the occupied West Bank as seen in 1997. After: The same view as seen in 2018.
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Israel has built more than 120 settlements there, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the run-up to a Sept. 17 election, has renewed his pledge to annex them, alarming the Palestinians.
Most of the international community sees the settlements as illegal and major obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian peace, a view Israel disputes.
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"It's impossible to have peace between us because the main conflict between us is on a piece of land which they took by force, so how can I let a person steal my land, live in it and enjoy it, and live with him in peace?" he said.
Photo editing by Marika Kochiashvili, Writing by Maayan Lubell, Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Gareth Jones
Before & After
. Havat Gilad, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Peace Now/Handout via REUTERS
. Havat Gilad, Palestinian Territories. Reuters/Peace Now/Handout via REUTERS
Before: An aerial view shows the Israeli settlement of Havat Gilad in the occupied West Bank as seen in 2002. After: The same view as seen in 2018.