Gaza pullout: Why are settlers' homes being demolished?

Great Debates
1

I heard on the radio that the process of Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip includes demolition of settlers’ homes. Why? Seems kind of mean. If the buildings are there – perfectly good houses – why not let the Palestinians have the use of them?

I was similarly perplexed when I saw TV images of Israeli settlements in the Sinai being bulldozed back in the late '70s.

2

GD? Maybe GQ. My IMHO: Goes back to biblical times, that whole salt-the-earth thing… these people can carry a grudge like nobody’s business…

3

I thought it was to make sure the settlers actually leave…i.e. destroy the houses and they HAVE to leave. I wasn’t aware it was because of meanness.

-XT

4

Frankly, were I a settler being forcibly evicted after a few decades of being shot at by my neighbors, I’d be inclined to remove everything of possible value from my home, then torch the place on my way out.

5

There was commentary on NPR last night (Talk of the Nation) that the Palestinians were supportive of the demolition. IIRC, there were two primary reasons:

  1. The Israeli buildings are single-family, which doesn’t fit the Palestinian social structure. They would prefer large apartment buildings (or at least bigger houses).
  2. It means the Israelis can’t come back.

It was also mentioned that it might help ease long-term tension, since the Israeli “refugees” can’t say that some Palestinian is living in their house.

6

This was the reason given by the Palestinians in concluding an agreement with the Israelis for the homes to be demolished. They plan to build more suitable housing.

7

Given what I’ve heard on the radio, at least from the settler’s perspective, the rational seems to be largely out of spite. They can’t bear the thought a murderer will be living in their home, etc. I’m sure there are practical reasons to justify the demolition; but even if there weren’t, it’s clear at least some settlers would do it just to deny the Palestinians the opportunity to inhabit their old home. They don’t feel the Palestinians are deserving of the land as it is, and the idea they might profit from any Israeli misfortune is completely unacceptable.

8

You’re going to need a lot more tinfoil.
It just shows that Home Depot is really in charge of the entire Isralie/Palistinian situation. They are making a ton of money off this.