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Last update - 06:08 30/06/2009
Why is Israel blatantly breaking U.S. rule on settlements?
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak most certainly knows better than anyone else that there is no chance of the U.S. accepting the Migron-Adam deal, put forth by the Defense Ministry on Monday before the Supreme Court. Even those who claim that the Bush administration allowed them to continue building to meet the needs of "natural growth" in settlement blocs know fully well that the exchange deal, offering Adam for Migron, would be inacceptable to even the most ardent Netanyahu supporters in Washington.

The deal is not about additional construction inside the built-up area of an existing settlement, nor is it about adding additional floors to buildings; according to the plan brought before the court, 50 families from Migron are supposed to move to a new neighborhood, located on a relatively large parcel of land outside the built-up area of the Adam settlement. This proposal blatantly contradicts the iron-clad American rule - an integral part of the road map - that the area of settlements should in no way be expanded.

Moreover, according to the documents presented to the court, aside from requesting building permits for 50 new housing units, the defense minister last month also approved the detailed planning for constructing an initial total of 200 housing units; all part of the general construction blueprint for an additional 1450 units in Adam.
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Eitan Broshi, the defense minister's aide for settlement affairs, argued Monday that this was part of a plan that had been approved by a previous government during the late 1990s. However, if the decisions of previous governments to expand settlements or to build new ones pave the way for the infusion of ever more settlers into the territories, there is no point to the commitment to freeze construction and to haggle over "natural growth." Such earlier decisions allow Israel to place a settlement under any tree located in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Barak was quick to present the plan to evacuate Migron and build at Adam as an effort meant to deter a petition by Peace Now, scheduled to be brought before the court Monday. The defense minister's aim is to gain more time. In any case, the Defense Ministry argues, the construction of the new neighborhood in Adam will take at least two years - a decent amount of quiet time. Barak based his gamble on the images of the violent evacuation of the Amona outpost and is hoping that the justices will be deterred from another clash with the settler-invaders, and will jump at the opportunity to put the whole matter to rest for a long time.

But it can also fairly be assumed that the justices have heard the announcement of the Migron settlers, who have said that the deal struck between Barak and the Yesha Council of settlements does not apply to them and that they have no intention whatsoever of leaving their homes for any "kosher" settlement.

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      1.   The US says this Obama wants that 04:47  |  sabra 30/06/09
      2.   Breaking US rule on settlements 04:52  |  Yochanan41@sbcglobal 30/06/09
      3.   makes hard to object to US limits in East Jerusalem 05:12  |  Paul Freedman 30/06/09
      4.   Surprised? 05:17  |  Roger 30/06/09
      5.   Unbelievable! 05:31  |  Ed 30/06/09
      6.   maybe because it sucks? 05:32  |  arab 30/06/09
      7.   Better question 05:37  |  Jack 30/06/09
      8.   #1 Sabra Bad-mouthing President Obama? You Jerk. 05:43  |  Lou Medel 30/06/09
      9.   To # 3 05:44  |  Hank 30/06/09
      10.   #1 sabra 05:48  |  fred 30/06/09
      11.   Hey Sabra 05:52  |  Eman 30/06/09
      12.   US "rule?" 05:55  |  Arie 30/06/09
      13.   Do What You Want But Don`t Take Our Dollars 05:57  |  ED 30/06/09
      14.   settlements 06:00  |  bob 30/06/09
      15.   returning home to our promised land 06:05  |  Gershom ben David 30/06/09
      16.   #2 You have much courage 06:06  |  John 30/06/09
      17.   Why `blatant` Mr. Eldar? 06:10  |  Mark Lincoln 30/06/09
      18.   Yochanan #2 Thank You 06:16  |  Chet 30/06/09
      19.   natural growth sham 06:19  |  Bobby Bluebland 30/06/09
      20.   What US "rule"? 06:21  |  US CITIZEN 30/06/09
      21.   SETTLERS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM THEY ARE THE SOLUTION . 06:22  |  j lashak-korogodsky 30/06/09
      22.   US Rule On Settlements? How Arrogant!!! 06:23  |  Edward 30/06/09
      23.   To fake poster #2 06:29  |  Ali Baba 30/06/09
      24.   OUR Land- OUR Rules: We Build 06:30  |  Yishai Kohen 30/06/09
      25.   Israel = Threat to US security; Sanctions now 06:34  |  Mary 30/06/09
      26.   Fighting the inevitable 06:35  |  Harold 30/06/09
      27.   honestly....what planet are you on?? 06:40  |  B. 30/06/09
      28.   US rule? Whose country is this? 06:46  |  Jon 30/06/09
      29.   Ultimately, Obama cannot lose, and he knows it 06:50  |  Natallie Durson 30/06/09
      30.   "US rule" on settlements? 07:02  |  Susan 30/06/09
      31.   John Hardisty- Jews are now forbidden to build in Paso Robles 07:06  |  Avi 30/06/09
      32.   More Settlements needed 07:25  |  DT 30/06/09
      33.   Akiva Eldar thinks the US rules Israel and he`s wrong! 07:41  |  Jane 30/06/09
      34.   The US does not make the "rules" 07:46  |  Baruch Gold 30/06/09
      35.   Sorry Reb Akiva, what`s a U.S. rule worth? 07:53  |  Moshe 30/06/09
      36.   Some of us have been wailing about Migron... 07:53  |  Esther 30/06/09
      37.   Not US Rule, Akiva 07:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/09
      38.   What is a US Rule? 07:55  |  x-ray 30/06/09
      39.   Because Israel not the US makes the rules in the ME 07:56  |  Andrew Hamilton 30/06/09
      40.   #1 to Sabra 07:58  |  lemouel 30/06/09
      41.   sabra #1, you are right, Obama does not elect... 08:04  |  Esther 30/06/09
      42.   WAr 08:15  |  Marc 30/06/09
      43.   Yohanan #2... for what it`s worth, you have my vote... 08:16  |  Esther 30/06/09
      44.   #7 The US does not make the rules! Hear, hear! 08:25  |  hala 30/06/09
      45.   Which part of it`s all illegal don`t they get? 08:32  |  Marilyn 30/06/09
      46.   obarmy shoudl examine usa legislation on jewish settlement in isr 08:37  |  vhardman 30/06/09
      47.   Why defy the obvious? 08:39  |  Paul 30/06/09
      48.   Ali Baba #5 Who is the fake poster 08:45  |  Chet 30/06/09
      49.   Israel has an unassailable legal right to establish ... 08:47  |  Lane 30/06/09
      50.   Strange earthlings - they suppress peaceful activity of building 08:54  |  17 30/06/09
      51.   sooo!!! you zionist will not be cashing your US welfare check? 08:55  |  US tax payer 30/06/09
      52.   Why is Israel blatantly mooning the USA? 08:55  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
      53.   Disapointed 09:01  |  Andrew 30/06/09
      54.   Why is Israel blatantly breaking U.S. rule on settlements? 09:17  |  Jason 30/06/09
      55.   #36 marilyn is challenged to show facts and figures 09:18  |  v hardman 30/06/09
      56.   Hey Sabra 09:20  |  Apa 30/06/09
      57.   Arie 09:32  |  Maree 30/06/09
      58.   this "Boule de Suif" is our nation`s bride, Akiva 09:33  |  Miron 30/06/09
      59.   BUILD BUILD BUILD The US should have 09:38  |  what?.. 30/06/09
      60.   Eldar - Move to the U.S. and become a U.S. citizen 09:43  |  Zev 30/06/09
      61.   With friends like Eldar and Haaretz, who needs enemies? 10:28  |  Jacob 30/06/09
      62.   U.S. is breaking Israel`s rules 10:33  |  Abbushuki 30/06/09
      63.   This is infuriating 10:39  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 30/06/09
      64.   Usual Israeli tricks no longer effective 10:46  |  Danny 30/06/09
      65.   #62 abbukushim and the facts of history and treaty defeat him 10:55  |  vhardman 30/06/09
      66.   MEDEL dont like bad mouthing Pres.Obama? Complain to Iran 10:57  |  PETER SM 30/06/09
      67.   #22 Edward 10:59  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      68.   "US Taxpayer "Its the US defence industry that cashes the cheque 11:01  |  PETER SM 30/06/09
      69.   US is governed by Constitution not by self made rules 11:10  |  sam 30/06/09
      70.   #54 Jason of Tel Aviv (Israel proper) 11:11  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      71.   Jews have every right to reside in Yehudah and shomron 11:23  |  Dr Eric 30/06/09
      72.   This article is devisive, hateful and will only defer peace 11:28  |  Dr eric 30/06/09
      73.   Jason in Tel Aviv - this is why: 11:35  |  Danny 30/06/09
      74.   #70 lintwit knows where israel" proper" is \\\// 11:35  |  v hardman 30/06/09
      75.   Israel is not dependent on US cash 11:46  |  Dr eric 30/06/09
      76.   Jews have every right to live in Yosh 11:48  |  Dr Eric 30/06/09
      77.   #29, 11:48  |  Erik 30/06/09
      78.   Akiva, Obama et al - Israel is never going back to 67 borders 11:53  |  Dr eric 30/06/09
      79.   Remember Y-all - Akivas meretz only got 3 percent of Israeli`s 12:08  |  Dr eric 30/06/09
      80.   #39: "Otherwise Israel may shift its alliance " 12:18  |  un2here 30/06/09
      81.   Peace -- Land @ Ed 12:18  |  Hoppy 30/06/09
      82.   Why does the US ,make rules for Israel? 12:24  |  Hoppy 30/06/09
      83.   dr. eric sounds a bit shril :) phd of non sense 12:31  |  USA clue 30/06/09
      84.   76 12:38  |  john Spear 30/06/09
      85.   #24 Bye Bye --Yishai--no longer your land 12:42  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      86.   The Defence Industri Argument 12:44  |  un2here 30/06/09
      87.   #74 Paul Harris 12:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      88.   Vh aka Paul Harris---show US the money vicky 12:47  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      89.   Yochanan # 2 12:56  |  Kameel 30/06/09
      90.   psm and his expertise on money matters 12:57  |  Zero tolerance. 30/06/09
      91.   psm Iran does not get 3 billion anually from Obama 13:00  |  Zero tolerance. 30/06/09
      92.   you haven`t worked this guy out yet have you? 13:00  |  SD 30/06/09
      93.   Why is the US making rules for Israel... 13:02  |  nina 30/06/09
      94.   Vh aka Paul Harris---where is the beef 13:11  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      95.   Bibi the Bozo.... pull a rabbit out of the hat 13:16  |  allang 30/06/09
      96.   #65 Paul Harris 13:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      97.   NINA --bushes letters are not international law. 13:19  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      98.   #46 Paul Harris 13:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      99.   # 68 petersm 13:24  |  Axel 30/06/09
      100.   RE: Bibi the Bozo .. 13:31  |  un2here 30/06/09
      101.   #68 Peter SM 13:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      102.   Marilyn # 45 The Road Map Does Not Say That 13:44  |  Jeff Northridge 30/06/09
      103.   "Support for Israel" means settler expansion 13:54  |  Dekel 30/06/09
      104.   #102 Jeff Northridge 13:57  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
      105.   Jeff Northridge --semantics are of no consequence 13:58  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      106.   #68 You forgot a part of the equation, PETER SM 14:06  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
      107.   Public land on WB 14:20  |  un2here 30/06/09
      108.   laabarse of arabia an expert on international law ??NOT 14:28  |  vhardman 30/06/09
      109.   #88 labarse of arabia admits he knows absolutely fa 14:33  |  vhardman 30/06/09
      110.   Victor you must be irish--answering a question with another one 14:36  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      111.   Jeff theer are far more than "a few small ares" see below 14:46  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      112.   Chris Linthwaite # 104 It`s Debatable 14:58  |  Jeff Northridge 30/06/09
      113.   #85 Yes it is... BIG LIE 15:10  |  Hoppy 30/06/09
      114.   Shlomo from Tel Aviv #63 15:14  |  Kameel 30/06/09
      115.   #109 Victor Paul you seem"vexed".Calm down 15:18  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      116.   I know why 15:34  |  patriot 30/06/09
      117.   now again 15:53  |  oz 30/06/09
      118.   breaking the rules 15:56  |  rm 30/06/09
      119.   Labhras # 111 Peace Now Claims 16:05  |  Jeff Northridge 30/06/09
      120.   #102 Jeff, we have been thru this before... 16:10  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
      121.   tough love 16:44  |  oz 30/06/09
      122.   Because... 17:17  |  Virginia 30/06/09
      123.   My father always said ... 17:35  |  Stu Bentley 30/06/09
      124.   The Americans Need To Act 17:36  |  MB 30/06/09
      125.   Settlements Versus Peace 18:06  |  Vladek 30/06/09
      126.   U.S. rule on settlements!!? 18:27  |  citizen zero 30/06/09
      127.   #113 Hoppy there is no such thing as winning land fair and squar 20:17  |  Labhras 30/06/09
      128.   #63 Shlomo from Tel-Aviv - Yes Shlomo, I agree with you 100%! 20:25  |  S 30/06/09
      129.   Israel breaking Us Laws? 20:36  |  Teddy 30/06/09
      130.   Citizen Zero #118, I can give you 21:01  |  Roger 30/06/09
      131.   Andrew Hamilton and Peter SM 21:26  |  Mike from Boston 30/06/09
      132.   Ezra Nawi 21:38  |  Robert Cleveland 30/06/09
      133.   #121, I`ll tell you, Teddy.... 21:52  |  Silvienne 30/06/09
      134.   Howdy Jeff at #112 22:10  |  Rick 30/06/09
      135.   Why are Israelis such babies? 22:33  |  Czarkazem13 30/06/09
      136.   The Headline says it all. 22:36  |  Zev Davis 30/06/09
      137.   Maybe because 22:50  |  Rickshaw 30/06/09
      138.   Labhras # 119 There Used To Be 23:13  |  Jeff Northridge 30/06/09
      139.   lane - take it to the hague 23:18  |  michael 30/06/09
      140.   TOM & JERRY 23:20  |  Cromagnon 30/06/09
      141.   shlomo from tel aviv 23:31  |  michael 30/06/09
      142.   Answer to so-called better question (#7) 00:05  |  Siba 01/07/09
      143.   sabra cries foul play. 01:07  |  maoriboy 01/07/09
      144.   #112 No, Jeff, there is unanimous agreement, bar one. 01:33  |  Johnboy 01/07/09
      145.   Corrupt Israeli politicians should stop taking US aid 01:39  |  Moises 01/07/09
      146.   #112 Chronologically challenged, Jeff. 01:41  |  Johnboy 01/07/09
      147.   ..it is because Muslims and Arabs have no voice in America! 04:06  |  Jack 01/07/09
      148.   The Promised Land and Temple Mount was given to us by G-d. 04:09  |  Obama`s Priest 01/07/09
      149.   Petersm and amtomated responses 04:47  |  Truth 01/07/09
      150.   To US CITIZEN 05:02  |  Serenity 01/07/09
      151.   Obama Doesn`t care about Israel! That was clear in Ciaro 06:10  |  Renitaa 01/07/09
      152.   if Israel has no claim no one does please be fair 07:45  |  ks 01/07/09
      153.   # 39 do you think the u.s. "wants" to be israel`s ally, andrew? 08:57  |  eric 01/07/09
      154.   for 60 years israel has thumbed its nose at international law 10:19  |  eric 01/07/09
      155.   # 124 have you ever stopped to consider who YOU side with, ks? 10:25  |  eric 01/07/09
      156.   USA??? 10:28  |  Michelle 01/07/09
      157.   peace in ME 10:37  |  Michelle 01/07/09
      158.   #124 Yeah, it`s a farcical claim, isn`t it, Rick 11:39  |  Johnboy 01/07/09
      159.   Why is Israel blatantly breaking U.S. rule on settlements 20:14  |  steve 04/07/09
      160.   US has not say or "rule" in israel 11:09  |  simpatico 05/07/09
      161.   us rule 03:48  |  katie 11/07/09
      162.   california occupied? 04:01  |  katie 11/07/09
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