Maskiot

Maskiot
Hebrew	מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת
(Translit.)	Maskiyot
Founded by	Nahal
Council	Bik'at HaYarden
Region	West Bank
Coordinates	32°19′2.63″N 35°30′7.92″E / 32.3173972°N 35.5022°E / 32.3173972; 35.5022Coordinates: 32°19′2.63″N 35°30′7.92″E / 32.3173972°N 35.5022°E / 32.3173972; 35.5022
Maskiot

Maskiot (Hebrew: מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת‎‎, lit.Arty Bowls) is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. It is named after the Bible (Proverbs 25:11): "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in arty bowls." ^[1] Located in the northern Jordan Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.^[2]

It was founded as a Nahal settlement, and in July 2008 it was reportedly close to being expanded. According to Israeli Radio, the expansion was part of a deal between settlers in Israeli Outposts established without the permission of the Israeli Government and the Israeli Defense Ministry.^[3] Many of Maskiot's residents are planned to be settlers previously evicted from Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan.^[4] Twenty housing units will be built for evacuees of Shirat HaYam.^[5]

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" over the new Maskiot plan, whereas the British government said it was "dismayed". A spokesman for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the settlement expansion was "not helpful", and "inconsistent with Israel's commitment to the roadmap".^[6]

References

1. ^ Bitan, Hanna: 1948-1998: Fifty Years of 'Hityashvut': Atlas of Names of Settlements in Israel, Jeruusalem 1999, Carta, p.44, ISBN 965-220-423-4 (Hebrew)
2. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1682640.stm. Retrieved 27 November 2010. 
3. ^ W Bank homes 'close to approval' BBC News, 24 July 2008
4. ^ Weiss, Efrat (September 6, 2009). "New Settlement Being Built in Jordan Valley". Ynetnews. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3772706,00.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
5. ^ Glickman, Aviad (September 6, 2009). "Corner-Stone Laying Ceremony for E1 Neighborhood Downgraded". Ynetnews. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3772969,00.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
6. ^ Land battle in the Jordan Valley BBC News, 5 August 2008

External links

• New settlement being built in Jordan Valley, by Efrat Weiss in YNET, September 6, 2009.