Hi,
Settlements were first founded in Golan Heights just after Six Day war – Merom Golan on July 14th 1967 (only a month after six day war). The first settlement on the West bank was Kfar Etzion on September 1967, re-established on the location of the Kibbutz who was conquered and its defenders were massacred by the Arab Legion on Independence war.
The first settlement in Gaza strip was founded 3 years later, on 1970. It was Kfar Darom which, like Kfar Etzion, was re-established on the ruins of a settlement with the same name abounded in the Independence war when it could no longer hold against the Egyptian army.
Since then many more settlement were founded in Gaza strip, West bank and Golan Heights. Those in Golan Heights are now considered legitimate part of Israel. The area was conquered from Syria on the Six Day war, but Syria is not longer a real country and it is under Israeli control for 57 years and under Syria for only 21 years (not that makes it OK).
The settlements on Gaza strip no longer exist, as Israel disengagement plan to separate from Gaza strip. All the settlements were demolished and Israel was out of Gaza strip. Now days, as the IDF slowly clear up Gaza strip from houses and population – there is a movement calls up to settle again inside Gaza strip.
The settlements in the west bank are the only settlements that still considered illegal by the international community. The amount of those keep growing every year as more people lives in those and more area is been catch.
I remember one once told me that if the IDF would have stay more time in south Lebanon and would not get out in 2000 – we would have settlements in south Lebanon as well. I thought it is a good joke back then.
But it does not like a joke now, as the IDF is back catching area in south Lebanon. Like the movement calling to settle in Gaza strip, there is also a movement calls to settle in south Lebanon.
They already decided on names of the settlements (based on the names of Arab villages in Lebanon). You may say it is a small group, nothing to be worried about – but those movements might grow fast as we see. They say it is the best way to keep the north safe – catch area. This will also make the Lebanon and Hezbollah rethink about starting a new war.
Take Care
Gad
Settlements area in the Gaza Strip (March 1999) (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Proposed location for Settlements in Gaza strip (Source: www.mako.co.il)
Proposed names for the Settlements in south Lebanon (Source: UriTsafon.com)