Israel is expediting legislation to plan and legalise 69 outposts, allocating over 100-million shekels (about US$34-million).
Israel’s Defence Ministry is preparing to legalise about 100 farm outposts across the West Bank.
Farm outposts are illegal, state-sponsored enclaves, often implanted amid naturally, culturally, and legally Palestinian lands across the West Bank.
The proposed legislation enables Israel to plan, equip, build, supply, and subsidise existing and new farm outposts – overtly and legally per Israeli law – although *IL*legally per International Law. Funds will provide security, roads, buildings, utilities, and subsidies for farm outposts… providing nothing for existing Palestinian communities other than disruption and expulsion.
Farm outposts divide Palestinian communities into smaller, unsustainable groups, destroy traditional ways of life embraced by many, and displace and dispossess existing Palestinians from lands they’ve owned since before the State of Israel existed. Many settlers living in farm outposts have participated in forcibly, violently evicting Palestinians from their own communities.
What are we going to *DO* about it? Just sit and let it happen? Just write letters and carry banners at rallies? Will our Governments continue to fund NGOs that deliver one-off workshops, make the Occupation “more nice,” and enrich the NGOs?
Or will we put skin in the game, whether in Australia, Israel, or Palestine? Will we recall our ambassador? Establish tax DIS-incentives for funds supporting West Bank settlers and their enterprises? Ban products from settlements? Fund Palestinians who employ Palestinians unemployed since 7 October 2023, and other examples of self-sustaining, self-strengthening self-help?
What are we going to *DO*?
Judy Bamberger, O’Connor ACT
(Jewish, Australian, American)
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
