winterbadger | *sigh* this is the great friendly democracy we're supposed to support, the light to the nations?

New Israel Fund article on the recent destruction of a Bedouin village by Israeli authorities, which notes that "In Israel, 93 percent of the land is owned by the Israeli government or quasi-governmental agencies like the Jewish National Fund. Few Israelis own the land they live on; instead, private dwellings are granted 99-year leases by the government. ... Since Israel's founding, almost every new development, town, neighborhood and even city constructed for the growing population has been reserved for Jews. ... Arab Israeli and Bedouin citizens have no other options but to build illegally as they are routinely denied building permits."

also coverage in

Ha'aretz newspaper

BBC news

Another story from Ha'aretz describes how, "Since 1967, Israel has prevented the growth of Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley by cutting off their water supply or declaring large areas as live fire zones."

Gosh, I have no idea why Israel is best with hostile enemies that want to destroy it...