The Vatican announced this fortnight that it would soon sign its first treaty recognising the state of Palestine, yet another symbolic victory in the slow but steady campaign for international recognition. Ever since American attempts at brokering peace broke down once again a year ago, Palestinians have been campaigning for more countries to recognise it, on the back of its non-member, observer state status it won in the United Nations in 2012.
But during the same time, the region has also seen the re-election of a belligerent, right-wing party in Israel, with President Benjamin Netanyahu, and the continued expansion of settlements encroaching into what is left of Palestinian land. Last week, the Guardian carried a letter from a number of prominent former European diplomats warning current leaders that the current approach to the occupation of Palestine "grows steadily more dangerous" not just because of violence, but also from a human rights perspective.
Visualising Impact, an independent, non-profit outfit, has built a special website with tools aimed at, in its words, using data to drive a "factual rights-based narrative of the Palestinian-Israel issue." The latest of these is a simple set of maps called Palestine Shrinking, Expanding Israel.
In a matter of four maps and accompanying text, based on Israeli architect Malkit Shoshan's Atlast of the Conflict, the infographic gives you a clear idea of how Palestine and Israel have changed over the past century. Although it doesn't break any new territory for anyone who hasn't kept up with the conflict over the years, and yet it does serve as a stark reminder of just how much area has been taken over by Israel over the course of its occupation.
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But during the same time, the region has also seen the re-election of a belligerent, right-wing party in Israel, with President Benjamin Netanyahu, and the continued expansion of settlements encroaching into what is left of Palestinian land. Last week, the Guardian carried a letter from a number of prominent former European diplomats warning current leaders that the current approach to the occupation of Palestine "grows steadily more dangerous" not just because of violence, but also from a human rights perspective.
Visualising Impact, an independent, non-profit outfit, has built a special website with tools aimed at, in its words, using data to drive a "factual rights-based narrative of the Palestinian-Israel issue." The latest of these is a simple set of maps called Palestine Shrinking, Expanding Israel.
In a matter of four maps and accompanying text, based on Israeli architect Malkit Shoshan's Atlast of the Conflict, the infographic gives you a clear idea of how Palestine and Israel have changed over the past century. Although it doesn't break any new territory for anyone who hasn't kept up with the conflict over the years, and yet it does serve as a stark reminder of just how much area has been taken over by Israel over the course of its occupation.
