Settlers: We'll violate settlement freeze in response to attack
Four Israelis were killed Tuesday in a shooting attack near Hebron, on the eve of the resumption of direct Mideast peace talks in Washington.
By Natasha Mozgovaya, The Associated Press, Reuters and Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news West Bank Israel settlementsIsraeli settlers in the West Bank said on Wednesday that they will break a government freeze on construction in their communities to protest a Palestinian shooting attack that killed four Israelis on the eve of new peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Washington.
 |
Israel Police officers surveying the scene of the deadly West Bank shooting attack on Aug. 31, 2010. |
| Photo by: Tomer Appelbaum |
The Israelis were killed Tuesday evening as they drove through the West Bank near Hebron as a new round of Mideast talks opened in Washington.
The Yesha Council, which represents the settlers, said in a statement that construction will resume at 6 p.m. local time Wednesday.
"This attack again proved that despite what might be going on in Washington right now, the Palestinians have no goal to create a peaceful state for themselves but are entirely driven to destroy our State and our people," Naftali Bennett, Yesha director said. "We will start work this evening and build all across Judea and Samaria," Bennet told Israel Radio.
Last November, Israel imposed a 10-month freeze on construction in West Bank settlements in an effort to get negotiations with the Palestinians back on track.
The moratorium expires on Sept. 26 and the Palestinians say they will withdraw from talks unless it is extended.
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the Six Day War in 1967. There are over 100 settlements in the West Bank today. The future of settlements is one of the toughest issues Israel and Palestinians will have to reconcile in the new round of peace talks.
The Islamic militant group Hamas took responsibility for the attack calling it "heroic" and vowed that more would follow.
Hamas is responsible for dozens of suicide bombings in Israel, and considered a terrorist group by the U.S., Israel and European Union.
Hamas ousted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' forces from Gaza in bloody street battles in 2007.
Abbas has been trying to limit the Islamic militants' reach in the West Bank,jailing activists and even cracking down on mosque preachers.
The attack came as Abbas was in the U.S. capital meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's office issued a statement condemning the attack saying it was aimed at undermining his government's effort to build international support for "the Palestinian position and ending the (Israeli) occupation."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack saying "terror will not determine Israel's borders or the future of the settlements."
In a statement released on Tuesday, the White House said the United States condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms".
The White House statement said that the "attack underscores how far the enemies of peace will go to try to block progress" towards peace.
U.S. Jewish organizations were also quick to condemn the attack.
The Anti-Defamation League, in a statement released on late Tuesday, said it strongly condemned "Hamas for the murder of four innocent Israelis in Kiryat Arba," adding that the attack demonstrated once and again that Hamas is unrepentantly engaged in terrorism and violence, and dedicated to the eradication of the State of Israel."
"The fact that, according to reports, thousands of people in Gaza joined in a public celebration of the attack is grotesque," the ADL statement added, saying the organization called on Abbas "to make clear to all Palestinians – in the West Bank and Gaza Strip – that terrorism is unacceptable, and that it undermines the Palestinian efforts for an independent state."
Also responding to Tuesday's fatal attack, the Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released a statement, expressing outrage by the "barbaric terrorist attack that claimed the lives of four innocent people and left 10 children orphaned."
"Hamas has proudly taken credit for this brutal and inhumane act," the statement said, urging "the government of Israel must take the steps it deems appropriate to protect its citizens."
The Conference of Presidents also called on the international community to "stand behind Israel and take decisive steps to end Hamas’ reign of terror," saying the "international condemnations of Israel for measures to defend its borders and citizens, a right accorded every other nation, only encourages the terrorists."
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
You are not going to let the tail wag the dog, are you?
If Israelis and Palastinians want to fight it out, let them. We'll just withdraw our financial support from Israel and stop our aid packages to the Palestinians. When it's all over, you will all be annexed by one of the surrounding arab nations. That is if Israel doesn't decide on the nuclear option and destroys the entire Middle East. Good luck!
Both these groups have the most to loose from successful talks. Gaza would likely end up all but officially split from the Palestinians in the West Bank, and settlers fear being uprooted and the end of Greater Israel. Hamas' part will be to generate death and violence, the settler part will be to resume building. Both face what they see as an existential threat, hand in hand they will answer it.
Violence solves nothing. It propagates more violence. It seems that the settlements and the taking of Arab land was the initial violence. Since then the IDF has had to protect the settletrs at an exorbitant cost to Israel. It would be better for all if the settlements did not exist.
There was no "taking of arab Land". It was LOST by their stupid leaders by war in '67. Had they created their State prior to '67, they would have a civilized country. Problem is, they had no interest in THEIR State, they want Israel. Peace in their lexicon is there is no Israel. The settlement are a result of arab refusal to accept two States in '67 and prior. Settlements are here to stay, and flourish, like it or not.
Just remember that there are Jews as well who danced and rejoiced over the murderous deeds of B.Goldstein. Remember too that these settlers from the very place where yesterdays murders occured have carried out attacks against innocent palestinians. There is enough blame to go around on both sides and neither Arab nor Jew has hands not stained with the blood of the other. As for these settlers announcing that they will restart construction, two things should be said: 1. they would have done it anyway, if they were not already and 2. they are, at least until Sept. 27th breaking the law and should be arrested. Israel must have security as must the Palestinians. That is clear. So is the fact that these settlements must and will go. They are history. They are illegal and cannot stand and within a yr there must be a plan for dismatling them or including them in the compensation in the billions of dollars Israel is owing to the palestinians for the destruction and expropriation of palestinian land and property during the Naqba.
Settlements are here to stay, and flourish. Like it or not.
If so, raise your hand.
Lokk to your own house before whining your laments. Your hypocarcy and arrogance makes people sick to their stomach alread. Jews have carried out identical acts in the occupied territories and where were you and your ilk then with your cries and whines? The jewish terrorist element danced and rejoiced over the deeds of murderer goldstein and you know it. Rabbis and their students in the vary areas where the four settlers were murdered by Palestinian terrorists are teaching as we speak that it is morally proper and prmissible to kill non-Jewish civilians, even babies. So get a life! Open your eyes and stop this droning victim game. We're sick and tired of you and your ilks moral myopia. Look to your own house and realise that there are elements on both sides who have a vested interest in continuing this mad cycle of revenge killings. Don't assist them in their vile task!
You sound like a sick degenirate. Jews never just blew away Arabs driving to their families. Even Goldstein's act, no matter how wrong, was a result of many, many acts of murder and terror against innocent people. Goldstein was not evil, like Hamas. He didn't wake up one morning and decide to murder. When scores of Jews were just shot, like target practice, enough is enough. Arabs wake up every day with the express intent to kill Israelis. Jews don't. You fail to see the difference by equating the two. Not here to change your ingrained bias, just to show your depravity to innocent victims. By defending these thug murderers, it speaks volumes about you.
...and there is arguably a certain "obscenity" in capitalizing on them for political purposes.
Do the settlers decided or the Israeli government? It looks like everyone in Israel is the governement, everyone makes their own rules and think the World accept that.
fanatics on BOTH sides use every means to prevent a peaceful solution.
What happens in Israel is not our business? Should we just shut down the aliya train? the money flow? not to mention the love and support? Your reply reflects the frustration that the shame of rejecting a peace deal leaves you with ....loving the war.
Sorry Foxman, you and the ADL have lost your credibility. Your condemnation means little.
And should resign now
Whoever is in charge needs to step on this Yesha Council . here is some pissant council now going to break the law of teh land and start building for what it terms good and sufficient reason. The moment any work starts arrest teh entire council and have them all chatged. yesha does not make teh ruiles on construction it has only to follow them and do nothing more. Dont make trouble where trouble does not exists. The proper authorities will deal with those who killed teh settlers. Just leave it alone and dont make matters worse
By dealing with only one Palestinians faction and not demanding Palestinian elections before peace talks begin Obama has invited this Hebron Hills attack. In much the same way as Israeli attacks often give Hamas the scope to do as they like, this Hamas attack has given Israel similar scope to do what they like. What they like is to expand settlements. The strategy of not including Hamas in the peace talks will never be successful in achieving peace. Israel knows this and uses it to their advantage. We can only wonder if America is similarly conniving or just merely dense.
Natallie - I've grown accustomed to your utter nonsense masqueraded in your strong use of language, but if you polish garbage, it's still garbage. Read what you just wrote. 'Demanding Palestinian Elections'. Gaza had Palestininan elections once, how'd that go? Have you ever had to negotiate with a person whose stated goal is to kill you? Is that the reward? And if the will of Hamas reflects the will of the people, what does that say about the electorate? Also, how do you have so much time to post on Haaretz? Get a job and contribute to society.
" Have you ever had to negotiate with a person whose stated goal is to kill you?" And if you choose not to take that opportunity, what option remains? BTW - do a body count for the past 10 years - Pals vs Israelis, then tell me who is winning the race to kill off the other.
The outcome of the Palestinian election in 2006 was Hamas with 74 seats to Fatah's 45. Despite this decisive outcome Hamas agreed to form a unity government. Israel would not accept even this instead it toppled the new government by arresting dozens of Hamas cabinet ministers. It should also be remembered that Israel did not wish for Hamas to even take part in the election but conceded to the demands of the Bush Administration to allow their inclusion. That's how it went.
Apparently , the extremists on both sides are now rejoicing !The sooner a fair solution is found , in order for everybody to live in peace , the better . Shouting for revenge is the worst possible alternative .
This is an eye for an eye mentality. When the settlers do something to the Gazans, do the Gazans have the right to retaliate against (the state) of Israel or its people? Do the actions of violent Gazans represent the will of the government, and does the settler mentality represent the general will of the entire state of Israel? Any attack on innocent and defenseless people is wrong and disgusting, but if this application of "settler law" is to be allowed, then should the Gazans also be allowed to apply like measures when they have been wronged, or is this just a "one-way-street" mentality. Hope the censors allow this - seems like no matter how relevant my comments, I never get posted...
Beeb says that terrorism will not determine Israel's borders nor those of the settlements, yet tell that to Gaza (clearly defined border and NO SETTLEMENTS). Beebs, you're so funny.
Getting so much pressure from the 'world', and unfortunately, not enough support from the government, due to the (understandable, non-supportive) American leader. However, we all know the truth. Violent murderers of a pregnant woman do not deserve any discounts. 40-400 dead palestinians, including each and every one that celebrated there does not seem unjustifiable...
to you. Which says a lot about you and very little about real justice or Jewish tradition.
(you may not want to hear this but) it means we have to include Hamas in any peace negotiations? --They were elected in democratic elections
"violate settlement freeze" what settlement freeze are they referring to? it's all just a facade. settlement building andexpansion has never stopped.
Our building will destroy their destruction.
If the settlers try to break the freeze it will be interesting to see if the government is bold enough to send in the bulldozers.
he returns to cloud cuckoo land !! a referendum of the arabs in jerusalem is called for !!!!!
Their there illegally and their buildings are illegal, regardless of who the alleged perpetrators of this shooting are ... Timeline -- illegal settlers, THEN Hamas. BTW has the AP report been corroborated?
After each "Pigua" (terror attack) another settlement appeared. There are no more settlements than 'piguim'.....Just about the same number....
settlements are the cause of terroristic attacks. All know that.
They just waited for the slightest pretext in order to sabotage the peace talks. now they have it.