A deal over prisoners in exchange for settlements is no longer just journalistic speculation. The Oct. 30 announcement to the Knesset plenum by Knesset member Ofir Akunis of the implementation of the plan to build 1,500 housing units in Ramat Shlomo, over the Green Line in Jerusalem, and to buy land for immediate construction of hundreds of apartments in West Bank settlements, was made virtually in the same breath as the announcement of the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners.

The release of 26 prisoners in August 2013 was also accompanied by an official announcement of the buying of land for the immediate construction of 1,200 new housing units in Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and in the settlements. Palestinian protest against the expansion of the settlements and the Israeli right’s outcry against the release of prisoners have become part of the ritual called “the diplomatic process.” This time, as in the last round, the spokesperson of the US State Department mumbled some words of reproach against the expansion of settlements.

The leadership of HaBayit HaYehudi, whose representatives are part of the government that decided July 28 to release 104 prisoners “as part of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians,” protested “the release of terrorists in exchange for the doubtful honor of Tzipi Livni meeting with [Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb] Erekat.”

If one released prisoner is involved in a terror attack, the Israeli left could claim that this evil man was freed in exchange for the doubtful honor of Housing Minister Uri Ariel building more homes in the occupied territories. On the other hand, if Israeli Chief Negotiator Livni and Erekat succeed in closing the gaps on the fundamental issues, most importantly refugees and Jerusalem, HaBayit HaYehudi would go down in history as a partner in the government that brought about the division of the Land of Israel.