Posted by Samantha Pohl, Legislative Assistant

Yesterday, RAC staff and I attended a lunchtime lecture with Gershom Gorenberg, a prolific historian, to discuss his new book, The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements. In his talk, Gorenberg highlighted how the settlement movement in Israel emerged following the Six Day War in 1967 and also projected how settlements will play a role in the future of the peace process. Some interesting topics were fleshed out in the conversation. Gorenberg noted that the issue of settlements was of prime interest to people across the political and religious spectrum in Israel. Labor Zionists, who desired the continuation of the kibbutz movement, Religious Zionists, who had found a biblical connection to the land, and even an ultra Orthodox population, who with large families, wanted cheap prices for housing, each found a home in the settlements. A fascinating story Gorenberg told was how, although civilian settlements were forbidden from being established on the military occupied territory, settlers found a loophole, staying on the land at “fake” military sites which were permissible under the Geneva Accords. Gorenberg also discussed America’s lack of involvement in the settlement movement. Although the United States ardently opposed the settlement construction, it was “distracted” from advocating against the issue due to America’s concerns in Vietnam during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It can be argued that America is still “distracted” from the settlement issue. All in all, this was an excellent presentation of the historical background of the settlement movement which helped prepare participants for the upcoming Israeli elections. I am eager to read Gorenberg’s book, and I urge you to, as well.