Recycling a Settlement

The fate of abandoned Israeli settlements may prove crucial to a just solution. Here it is important to avoid mistakes that were made during the withdrawal from Gaza, when both sides agreed that all settlement buildings should be demolished. This time Israeli settlers should be compensated only if their former homes remain intact. Abandoned settlement buildings in the West Bank must be safeguarded and earmarked for returning Palestinian refugees. Deep cultural problems will arise. Most Israeli settlements are designed for American-style hygiene, housekeeping, gadgetry, privacy, recreation, storage, lawns, family cars and so forth. Palestinian refugees will have quite different needs and cultural expectations.

Let's anticipate and conceive the necessary adaptations in advance. Now is a good time for the International Union of Architects (UIA) to sponsor a major competition with a prestigious international jury, to reconfigure in advance, on paper, the environment of an abandoned Israeli settlement. Even the top European architects are short of work in the present recession, and many would embrace the challenge.
Friends could encourage benefactors to offer the IUA generous prizes for the winning design. If no benefactor is forthcoming, a financial appeal would have the benefit of helping to publicise the proposal.
Multi-disciplinary teams with the best chance of winning would contain both Jewish/Israeli and Muslim/Palestinian staff; this in itself could have fruitful consequences.
There will be no stable peace until the refugee camps are closed, and Palestinian refugee families are housed in welcoming communities.
Consider other initiatives that Quakers might advocate.