Is what Netanyahu promises to do in lieu of letting the Palestinians do it themselves as an independent viable state.

So here is the latest on the beneficial efforts of Israelis on behalf of their backward fellow human beings. It appears that the Israeli army is licensing major quarrying operations in the territories which produce a great part of the sand and gravel used in Israel. Two thirds of the output appears to be used in Israel while the remaining third is sold by Israeli companies to Palestinians.

It is claimed that royalties are paid to the Palestinian authorities or otherwise used to the "benefit" of the Palestinians.

Aside from economic concerns there are major environmental issues. Land suitable for grazing is, of course, destroyed and water tables are, of course, disturbed. For which reasons quarrying in Israel's own deserts is restricted.

Even the Israeli military suggested that the system might need to be rethought. While defending its willingness to license quarrying, both in response to questions from Yesh Din and to a query for this article, it said the policy was now under thorough review.

One concern caused by the quarries is their environmental impact. Itamar Ben David, chief environmental planner for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, served on the board that produced the study about building materials last year.

“I was surprised by how big a portion is supplied to Israel by the West Bank,” he said. “One reason is clearly that planning regulations and environmental assessment are less strong in the West Bank than in Israel. In Israel, nobody wants a quarry near his residential property.”

In fact Wonks Anonymous is inclined to believe that this problem is greater than simple noise and dust.

In the 19th century the whole world believed that the European nations could manage the lives and resources of "less civilized" peoples for the benefit of both the Europeans and the backward nations. China still believes that it is doing this for the Tibetans. It is rightly castigated for this.

What makes Israel any different?