U.S.: Israel pledged not to build in Ramat Shlomo for two years
U.S. State Dept. says first round of proximity talks ends with positive steps from both sides.
By Natasha Mozgovaya, The Associated Press, Barak Ravid and Jack Khoury Tags: Middle East peace Benjamin Netanyahu Barack ObamaThe U.S. State Department announced on Sunday that the first round of indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority has been completed, saying that both Israel and the Palestinians had taken steps to create an atmosphere conducive to successful talks.
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U.S. envoy George Mitchell and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meeting in Ramallah, May 8, 2010 |
| Photo by: Reuters |
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in a statement that U.S. special envoy George Mitchell has left the Middle East after concluding talks characterized as "serious and wide-ranging."
Crowley said Israel had pledged not to build in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of East Jerusalem for two years and that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed that he would work against incitement of any sort.
Mitchell told the parties that progress is important so they can move to direct negotiations resulting in a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The State Department statement also said that both Israel and the Palestinians would be held "accountable" for actions that "undermine trust" during the course of the proximity talks.
Mitchell will return to the region next week to continue the talks.
Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the American announcement later Sunday, confirming that the housing project intended for the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood would not be built in the coming two years. The sources added that even when the Ramat Shlomo crisis first erupted, when the housing project was announced just as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel, Israel told the U.S. administration that the project was only in very initial stages and construction would not begin for at least two years.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu even announced this publicly after Biden's visit," the sources said. "Furthermore, the prime minister emphasized from the beginning that the planning and construction in Jerusalem will continue as always, just as it was during every one of Israel's last 43 administrations, and there has never been any Israeli pledge on this matter."
The sources also said that the Israel promised the U.S. administration to discuss all the core issues during the course of the proximity talks, and to take confidence building steps as gestures toward the Palestinians. On the other hand, sources said, the U.S. has promised Israel that the core issues, especially the most sensitive ones like the fate of Jerusalem, would be resolved only after proximity talks progress to direct talks.
Earlier on Sunday, the PA responded to U.S. and Israeli calls for eventual direct peace negotiations by reiterating that it would engage only in proximity talks until Israel halted all settlement construction.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat clarified the PA's stance as he officially announced the start of indirect peace negotiations mediated by Mitchell. The Palestinian Liberation Organization's executive committee approved the four-month process on Saturday.
"I can officially declare today that the proximity talks have begun," Erekat said, after a meeting between Mitchell and Abbas.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, told his cabinet on Sunday that Israel expected the upcoming indirect negotiations to lead to direct talks, declaring: "It is impossible to make peace at a distance."
But Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio in response: "If he [Netanyahu] announces a complete halt to settlement building, there will be direct talks."
In his remarks to the cabinet on talks with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said no-one should expect that "we will arrive at decisions and agreements on matters that are critical ... without sitting together in the same room."
Senior U.S. officials have told their Palestinian counterparts that Washington also believes direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians must begin as soon as possible.
The Obama administration has informed Abbas that it will not unveil mediation proposals or a Middle East peace plan before the start of direct, substantive talks between the two sides on final-status issues, a high-level Israeli official said.
On Saturday, the PLO Executive Committee announced that it had given the green light to Abbas to begin indirect negotiations with Israel. Abbas also met with Mitchell to discuss the manner in which the so-called proximity talks would be conducted.
The United States welcomed the PLO's decision as an important step in the peace process. "It is an important and welcome step," Crowley said.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said Saturday after a meeting in Ramallah between Abbas and Mitchell that the discussions would be held over the four months allotted to address final-status issues such as borders and security arrangements. "The issues of Jerusalem and the settlements are part of the 1967 borders, so they will be discussed and negotiated," Erekat said.
Erekat said that during their meeting, Abbas gave Mitchell a letter outlining the Palestinian Authority's position on proximity talks and the issues it wants to discuss. Abbas would head the Palestinian negotiating team himself, Erekat said, adding that the Palestinians view the talks as aimed at "The end of the occupation and creation of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel along the 1967 borders."
The talks appear to represent a U.S.-brokered compromise that meets both the Palestinian demand to address the issue of borders, and Israel's condition to discuss security arrangements. Both Palestinian and Israeli negotiators recognize that the two issues are intimately linked, and that any proposal or statement on either matter is likely to significantly influence any resolution on the other.
Israel welcomes PLO decision.
Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed the decision to resume peace talks, urging that they be held unconditionally and lead swiftly to direct negotiations between the two sides.
A statement from Netanyahu spokesman Nir Hefetz said the prime minister "welcomes the resumption of peace talks."
Quoting Netanyahu, Hefetz added that "Israel's position was and remains that the talks ought to be conducted without preconditions and should quickly lead to direct negotiations."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the U.S. administration expects Israel to do its part in facilitating U.S. efforts to advance the stalled peace process. "An essential condition for improving relations with the U.S. is taking steps that prove Israel is seriously committed to making decisions on the Palestinian issue once they reach the negotiating table," Barak said at a conference at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot.
"That will be judged by deeds, not by how much we smile at the White House. A comprehensive peace plan is needed, one that Israel stands behind. I'm not sure that that is possible with the current government," Barak said.
"Without an agreement, we will be subject to international isolation, and we will suffer a fate similar to that of Belfast or Bosnia, or a gradual transition from a paradigm of two states for two peoples to one of one state for two peoples, and some people will try to label us as similar to South Africa. That's why we must act," Barak said. If both sides are willing to make brave decisions, he said, "it will be possible to get to direct negotiations and a breakthrough toward an agreement."
In talks last week with Netanyahu and Barak, Mitchell asked that Israel make confidence-building measures over the next few weeks, both to build up PA institutions and encourage the Palestinians to shift more quickly to direct talks.
A senior official in Jerusalem said Israel would take such steps in the coming weeks, probably including the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the removal of additional checkpoints and the transfer of certain West Bank areas to PA security control.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the PLO Executive Committee and veteran peace negotiator, said the Palestinians had received assurances from the U.S. concerning "settlement activities and the necessity to halt them." He said the Obama administration had also promised to be tough in the event of "any provocations," and guaranteed that all core issues would be put on the table.
The PLO decision came despite warnings from the rival Palestinian group Hamas, which said Friday that the move would only legitimize Israel's occupation, Palestinian media reported.
"Absurd proximity talks" would only "give the Israeli occupation an umbrella to commit more crimes against the Palestinians," Hamas reportedly said. "Hamas calls on the PLO to stop selling illusions to the Palestinian people and announce the failure of their gambling on absurd talks."
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'The State Department statement also said that both Israel and the Palestinians would be held "accountable" for actions that "undermine trust" during the course of the proximity talks.' - Haaretz This is the real news from the US, not the Ramat Shlomo so-called "news". Netanyahu told Biden already that in any case the process of approval and certification takes at least 2 years so nothing will be built in Ramat Shlomo in the near future. But the US issued the "accountability" warning so that other large scale construction should not start or even be announced elsewhere, presumably even in the West Bank.
The occupation of the west bank was, is, and remains a Zionist MASTURBATORY FANTASY come true. So I understand the difficulty in letting that fantasy go and coming to terms with reality. Self-victimization does not work any more. Indeed, as foreign minister in 1998, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israelis should "run and grab as many hilltops as they can".
"Absurd proximity talks" would only "give the Israeli occupation an umbrella to commit more crimes against the Palestinians," Hamas reportedly said. "Hamas calls on the PLO to stop selling illusions to the Palestinian people and announce the failure of their gambling on absurd talks." It is my opinion that Hamas and its cohorts have committed egregious crimes against their own people. Leadership has never worked toward peace in the region. To Hamas, the indirect talks are "absurd" and an "illusion." It has always been this way with Hamas whose selfish goals and objectives take precedence to peace in the region. Whether or not there will be peace in the region is a joint enterprize. Sor far Hamas has not done one productive thing in the name of peace, and Leadership needs to be held accountable for this.
The Israelis need to be discreet about their activities and not make a tom tom and invite adverse comments. Eretz Israel includes the West Bank and Jerusalem is an integral part of Israel. Why are protests against Israels decisions not met with a heavy hand and without publicity. Do you hear of any unrest in China? Power comes from the barrel of the gun and Israel should be proud of its IDF.
Israel has tried very hard for many years to be discreet, as you say. But truth about these dirty little secrets has a way of getting out at the worst possible times (ie: 13 bullets fired at close range into the body of a 13-year old girl walking to school). I am a firm supporter of the state of Israel, but intentional war crimes are unacceptable behaviour from any nation calling itself a liberal democracy. And a liberal democracy does not find its power in barrel of a gun, but in the righteousness and humanity of its actions.
So Israel is going to give away our birthright to please the USA? I think the whole thing is a far fetched and not acceptable and SHOULD NOT PERIOD!
... this morning Bibi sufficed with a brief assurance that "building will continue in Jerusalem"... Ramat Shlomo is a mere symbol...
The Obama administration has informed Abbas that it will not unveil mediation proposals or a Middle East peace plan before the start of direct, substantive talks between the two sides on final-status issues, a high-level Israeli official said. If Palestinian once the USA plain will be unveiled, faind that the plain is against them, they can always retreat, from the negotiation.
I would like to start by saying I love the State of Israel. I believe having a Jewish State is in the inherent interests of the Jewish people, and I support whatever actions are necessary to defend her, including the siege in Gaza, Cast Lead, etc. I would also like to acknowledge that in the past, the Palestinian leadership has repeatedly thrown away chances for a real and lasting peace by outright rejecting offers from Prime Ministers Barak and Olmert. However, and I cannot stress this enough, THE TWO STATE SOLUTION IS THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE ISRAEL'S FUTURE!!!! There will be no Jewish State without a Palestinian one. The world will not continue to support the military occupation of the Arab population of Judea and Samaria, and it will not support their being controlled in an apartheid state. Yes, an APARTHEID state, as much as it tears my heart out to say it, that is the direction the status quo is taking us. And that status quo, ladies and gentlemen, is unsustainable. Israel is a country with a booming, globalized economy that will suffer greatly if the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign gains steam, and believe me it will unless the policy of the current government in Jerusalem changes. Israel needs to pursue peace, if for no other reason than to prove to the world that it truly wants peace. The more effort Israel makes towards a peace settlement, the harder it will be for the PA leaders to justify turning them down - and to continue covering up the fact that they're lining their own pockets with international aid money. Moreover, a signed peace deal will guarantee Israel's future, assuming of course it's a true peace. And by that I mean no demanding millions more Palestinians be accepted into Israel-proper, and after the agreement is signed the PA must recognize Israel as a Jewish State and renounce any further claim to the territory therein. That is the true red line, the one these right wingers with their "Greater Israel" and "United Jerusalem" propaganda don't want to admit. "United Jerusalem" will only happen by evicting thousands of Palestinians from their homes, and "Greater Israel" would be an apartheid state. In both cases, the world community would not support Israel in this endeavor, with the aforementioned disastrous results for this great state. This is what the future holds for Israel, if we chose the right path. I hope we do. 3,000 years ago the Jewish nation defied the Babylonians, the great power of the time, and was destroyed. 2,000 years ago, we defied the Romans, the great power of the time, and were destroyed. We lost both our temples on those tragic days, in part because our pride was our strongest force. I hope we do not repeat this tragic mistake.
The burglar promises not to steal any more property for two years. Shouldn't he say that Israel will not build any more settlements and towns until the borders of the state have been established. To say that Israel will not build for two years assumes a pre-condition that Ramat Shlomo will be within Israel. Ant Israel called for talks without pre-conditions. ie That should be that the 1967 borders are the start and nothing will happen until an agreed border is set. . . .
You write: As seen from the perspective of an American Jew, I am puzzled why Israel does not insist on recognition and an acknowledged right to exist as a precondition for talks. All Arabs states, for going on seven years now, have agreed to do just that, in return for Israel returning to the 67 lines. Guess who said no?
israel makes a gesture and palestinians don't return the favor. tell me - is there a point of making peace with a partner who refuses your right to exist? a people led by abbas or hamas (take your pick), with abbad dedicating streetnames to known terrorists? name ONE gesture the palestinians have made toward peace in the past 20 years...PLEASE
20 years. What do you think Hamas was repudiating?
that you and many others actually can realistically expect any "gesture" of the Pals. What do they have to give? Israel has already taken from nearly everything. They have already lost their farms, the olive trees, access to water, much of their land, their freedom, their human dignity, and Israel is still encroaching, taking more every day. The Palestinians are fighting for their homes. You would do the same.
Naming a street after Ayyash was a very distasteful choice, I agree. However how are we to criticise that when we plaster the name of Ze'evi everywhere?
What's new in this declaration? Israel announces that the project that wasn't going to begin construction in two yrs will not begin construction in two yrs. Construction in the rest of EJ will continue as planned. And they think this is a concession?
does obama sitting in the white house think he will stop us?let us give him our reply by building day and night and without stopping. the next time hilary visits let us give new building permits making up thousands upon thousands of new homes.
best to make a stand now.america mind your own business.
Israel needs U.S. money, not to mention money paid to Egypt and U.S. support on the international scene.
would be held accountable" the americans are mad.are we slaves?netanyahu what have you wrought?
not inciting is hot air and meaningless. the palestinians receive a gift in return for words.
the palestinian should declare their statehood. this is good for israel: at the first small attack, war will erupt as between states and, the palestinian can run again and this time, israel can then legally keep everything (like the usa, russia, poland, etc). let israle play the world rule and being nice to everybody and please the arrogant self-centred american [who have anyway sold israel for free].
Did he really get secretly arrested?!
Hamas calls on the PLO to stop selling illusions to the Palestinian people and announce the failure of their gambling on absurd talks." Hamas is the true voice of the Palestinian people,Abbas is a puppet of the USA who will be removed once Obama forces Israel capitulation on the West Bank. Natanyahu and Barak are the cowards of Israel politics who know but cannot admit the truth after Abbas ,there is Hamas and war .
The Palestinans have a plan to demonstrate their competence and in August, 2011, unilaterally declare a Palestinian state before the UN. This is a realistic path since the US has long championed Israel, However, Israel must be shown as the reason the current talks fail.
Arabs are upsets that Israel , which is one thousands in size of their territory , is building a few houses . It is just a diversion tactics from the real issue , that Arabs do not want Israel in the ME at all .
Don't look for a permanent solution to come out of these talks - the parties are too far apart. Neither side will benefit from peace. The Israeli's would have to remove settlements and risk civil war. As Abbas has said recently in regard to why he flat turned down Olmert's offer - Things are pretty good for the Palestinian's right now - Economy is good; international sympathy is on their side. Furthermore, and Abbas didn't explicitly say this, they believe time is on their side because of the demographics; and they never really were high on a two state solution
Land should be treated for land, peace for peace and war for war !
Israel is inviting pressure for many reasons mostly it is because we act too eager for peace. It is if we are begging for acceptance every time. The problem of that is that it shows weakness and that we can be pressured. If Israel acts strong acts openly and forcefully there will be less pressure. Until that changes and Israel comes up with a policy that will cost the world nations some sort of cost if they pressure Israel the world will continue to pressure Israel. Israel should go on the offensive to demand as a example to move Western Embassies to Jerusalem at least to West Jerusalem where supposedly there is no territorial claim by the Palestinians and call the worlds bluff on their support for a Jewish State. Also people like Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres should not be involved in the peace process they were not elected, and their ties with the United States are suspect. If you cannot trust your own FM then Israel is not a government but a extension of the Obama Administration in Israel. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com http://israelprotect.blogspot.com http://twitter.com/blogmaster123
The few world nations that DID establish embassies in Jerusalem have since moved them to Tel Aviv for the same reason the U.S. and others refuse to move theirs to Jerusalem. Israel is in no position to "demand" anything from the world when in fact it is in blatantly defiant of international consensus.
Israel is pressured to make real changes, and the Palestinians are asked for nothing, but not to complain so much. Where is the world's Physical Proof that they support israel. Words for words, actions for actions.
Ralph, you seem to have an outsized view of Israel's position in the world. How much pressure do you really think that Israel can bring against the US, Russia, and the countries of Europe? Such a demand will be seen as further arrogance and an unwillingness to reach a solution. It will provide further strength to those that argue that a solution must be imposed. Barak has been elected, just as much as the Foreign Minister.
Consensus is just another word for popularity contest. In this case the consensus is just plain wrong!
everything should be put on the negotiating table, including the issue of east jerusalem, while settlement buiding activities should remain on freeze.
No direct peace talks until palestinian authority declares an end to "right of return" and recognizes israel as a jewish state, two can play at this silly little game.
I would demand the same thing: no direct talks until settlement activity stops. If PM Netanyahu stated the goal of peace, of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel, settlement activity is contrary to that. Though not equivalent and much worse, terrorism and incitement by Fatah, the PA or any other elements in the West Bank renders direct peace talks impossible.
It behooves Mr. Erekat to maintain a low profile and to cross the bridges once he gets to them. The Palestinian's view on the settlements is quite clear and the current American administration agrees with it. The Palestinians can not afford to look like the obstructionist of the peace talks. In reality, the proximity talks are between the Americans and the Israelis in the hope of finding a middle ground that can close the gap between the two adversaries. Mr. Abbas was clear when he expressed his desire for the Americans to negotiate on his behalf. Given the political structure of the current Israeli government and the division among the Palestinians no one truly believe that a solution can be achieved through direct or indirect negotiations. The Palestinians are hoping that the U.S. will recommend that the UN unilaterally declare an independent Palestinians state ala UN resolution181 in 1947 that divided Palestine without taking into consideration the opinion of the local inhabitants. The Palestinian leadership lack a vision of what is acceptable to most Palestinians and seem to have forgotten those who now live outside the occupied territories. A permanent solution must be just to everyone involved in this tragic conflict if it is to last and be honored by all parties. It will take generations to overcome the hatred and bloodshed spilled in the last 6 decades, I hope that the human spirit will triumph in the end.
"he Palestinians are hoping that the U.S. will recommend that the UN unilaterally declare an independent Palestinians state ala UN resolution181 in 1947 that divided Palestine without taking into consideration the opinion of the local inhabitants." 181 died when the Palestinians rejected it. Also, for 181 to have passed, the local inhabitants were the ones who had to approve it. The Jewish inhabitants did, the Arabs didn't and chose to try to solve it through war instead.
Only Jews aren't allowed to build in their communities. Will Arabs also stop building in theirs?
Continuing Arab construction is a threat to nearby Jewish communities.
How about any communities ANYWHERE that falls under Israel's jurisdiction? What a propagandist! First of all, East Jerusalem is NOT a Jewish community, and secondly; it's a well known fact, despite all your attempts to paint the picture otherwise, that Arabs are seldom granted building permits anywhere, much less Jerusalem!
and by the way Jerusalem is not a settlement. Palestinians' insistence on unreachable goals will continue to prevent their statehood.
This is the last thing Arabs ever wanted . They know that a state comes with very real responsibilities . It is much easier to play the victim game while sponging the world without any accountability . A state they could of gotten 60 years ego .
and quiet understandings with Obama on E.Jerusalem, not to build?
They are still up and some declared illegal have been legalised> Barak over 2 yrs ago promised that 21 would be taken down. Have they? netanyahu does not conisder EJ as part of the West Bank and althought they have just announced they would put the housing development in Ramot Shlomo in EJ on 2 yr hold, they were planning on doing that in any case. The short of it is that building will go on in all aeas unabated.
The UK's 500 year struggle in Northern Ireland against intransigent Irish nationalism is still unresolved. Patience and strength are everything.
Either you are a pro British monarchist or have no understanding of the the struggles and troubles in Northern Ireland.
The IRA were fighting for soverign brittish territory! the majority in northern Ireland consider themselfs loyal to the Queen .Your comparison is no comparison at all.
As seen from the perspective of an American Jew, I am puzzled why Israel does not insist on recognition and an acknowledged right to exist as a precondition for talks. When the Palestinians talk about 1967 borders they mean all of the West Bank and E. Jerusalem. I seriously doubt Israel will make concessions on E. Jerusalem so I am not hopeful at all that anything will come of these discussions. The real issue for Israel and the World is to halt Iran's development of a nuclear bomb and I suspect it is only that concern that drives Israel to go along with Obama's insistence on 'useless' peace talks. It would be interesting to understand why Obama 'needs' the peace talk charade to go forward. He has not made clear, although one can guess, what is America's strategic interest in the Middle East and why he is cozying up to Arab states.
we had enough of good smiling pictures and hand shaking in front of the cameras , i was born one year after the 1967 i,m 42 now still looking for the day of freedom , all i sow in my life is bad roads with lots of check point , lots of friends killed , i don't under stand this game !! if Israel wants to give up west bank , why they have to talk about for many many years , at the same time all i see in west bank is lots of settlements and bad settlers , living few meters away from us with harts full of hate and discrimination , this game must end , either we live in peace or live all together in one county with peace or without peace , either we all live happy or all live in fear , it is not fare that i cant go to nablus to buy food at the same time people in Israel have lunch in Paris and dinner in London .
you should have thought of that before you picked wars and lost. Warmongers who pick wars and intifadas don't deserve to be happy.
Israel needs the peace and separation from Pals, otherwise long term it will not be able to exist as a Jewish state.
Don't get excited ! At the end, nothing positive will come out !. You have the Arab League stirring the broth with a long ladle. Moussa the cook,puts salt & pepper. Says,it's not tasty. And throws the whole thing into the ditch.
to the "World opinion". Look where his "bravery" at Camp David had led to. He just wants to grant pals the "right of return".
Bibi using such words prior to the negotiations and instead of providing good gestures is not a good start. Neither direct nor distance negotiations will lead to anything if those core issues are not to be dealt with; Bibi knows this very well. I think its a political victory for him to start this negotiations so that he shows that his government wanted peace and Palestinians are just avoiding his generosity to sit with him face to face! I am confident negotiations with Bibi will lead to nothing but wasting time when he says "Israel is our eternal capital" and "Legalizing.illegal settlements..." etc. Also by having extremist lefties in his government, peace is just impossible as he said. Whats interesting among all this, is Barack! I don't know why he's still not leading the government in Israel because he seems to be the only one among all to realize whats needed in region; I think He's moderate and aspires for a true peace. The US shall restructure the political arrangements of the Israeli government by supporting Barack to take a lead and kick Bibi - Liberman out.
What is the difference between indirect and direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis? knowing that many rounds of direct talks were held before. Every one knows now that the majority of Palestinians are keen about concluding peace with Israelis which is reverse of what bibi is manuvering for>
Abbas needs to be convinced that Netanyahu can deliver in indirect talks and that more could be done directly. Only Netanyahu can do this. Only Netanyahu can convince the Palestinians that Hamas is wrong, that talking peace is not a waste of time. Netanyahu also has to convince a skeptical world that the title Prime Minister has some meaning in a governing sense, that other ministers are subordinate to the Prime Minister.
....in terms of eachs sides demands yes....but they MUST adhere and follow international law, which we know has it conditions. How does that fit into the Bibi equation?
This was a region torn by civil war and has seen the formation of several countries, with just a little bit of what was left remaining in limbo. You anti-Israeli fruitloops never seem to grasp that concept.
whi is bibi trying to kid you do not need direct you just need to state if you are willing to give up east jerusalem and the jordan's valley come on stop waist your energy on peace for there shall never be peace between the 2 parties unless the palestinians capitulates or Israel loses its power advantage
whi is bibi trying to kid you do not need direct you just need to state if you are willing to give up east jerusalem and the jordan's valley come on stop waist your energy on peace for there shall never be peace between the 2 parties unless the palestinians capitulates or Israel loses its power advantage
then he must form a coalition with Kadimah and Labor, and jettison Shas, Lieberman and United Torah Judaism.
Netanyahu will never agree to the 2-state solution. These new talks will prove to be like all the others before - a stalling tactic while Israel seizes more land and forces more Palestinians from their homes.