EU, Obama: Settlement construction could threaten peace progress

Moshe, Your point is that Palestinians and Israelis should live together under one state with equal rights? I don't think you'll be able to sell that to your fellow Israeli citizens.

israel's said that about these encroachments for years... and lo' and behold, they've all become realities, spreading like cancer into east jerusalem. he's satisfied knowing they're just in the planning stage? "and a another one bites the dust"!

T: "CJ , the purchased land had previously owners" This is "occupied territory", and the "occupying power" is prohibited from transferring its nationals into "occupied territory". These owners are all "nationals of the occupying power". Ergo, they are not allowed to take up residence in "their" property WHILE THE OCCUPATION CONTINUES. They. Must. Wait. And if they don't want to wait then the **legal** remedy is for them to agitate for AN END TO THE F**KING OCCUPATION, and not for them to collude with Israel to let them in regardless of Israel's legal obigation to keep them out. *sheesh* Why are even the most simple of concepts such a challenge for you, TOMY?

"Gilo exists precisely to make the rest of Jerusalem safer." Irrelevant and illegal. It is not in Israeli Sovereign territory.

You mentioned how Palestinian villages were here before they arrived, perhaps you are forgetting the Jewish presence in the West Bank pre 48 and the Arab solution for them? (Hebron, Gush Etzion for example)

Let's see...reunite East & West Berlin & One Germany, Keep Quebec part of Canada, Formosa & Tibet should all be one China, North Vietnam & South Vietnam...one Country, BUT JERUSALEM...why that should be split up....smells a bit predjuice to me!!! Then why not seperate all the old Jewish quarters thru out the Arab World to be part of Isreal??? You know like the Jewish quarter in Bethlehem ...etc????

"First Europe tried to exterminate the Jews by pogroms, expulsions and the holocaust." No it didn't. A few individual countries did. "Now they are joining the Arabs in trying to deligitimise Israel." Nothing 'deligitimising' in Israel abiding by the law. "Why did the Palestimians not accept a Palestinian State in 1948." The Jewish Agency, under Plan Dalet was already in control of some of the Palestinian territories by May 14th 1948, so the Palestinians could not have declared sovereignty even if they wanted to. Never the less it was not mandatory that they form a state, even though Israel did. "Because they were led to believe that Israel would be destroyed." No they weren't. Read the Arab Declaration on the Invasion of Palestine. Remember Israel was not a part of Palestine by 15th May 1948.

M: "What is not debatable to rational human beings is that Jews should have the same rights to build in Judea and Samaria as Arabs do. Any assertion to the contrary is racism." Nonsense, twice over. It isn't "racism", because the difference rights that those two groups possess inside the occupied territories is not based on "race". It is based on their status under International Humanitarian Law. Every single one of those Arabs is a "protected person", because every single one of them is being subjected to a belligerent occupation by a foreign power. Every single one of those Jews - every man, woman and child - is a "citizen of the occupying power". That is why it **IS** legal for Arabs to build even as it **IS** illegal for Jews to build. Because only "protected persons" are allowed to build inside "occupied territory", for the very simple and indisputable reason that "citizens of the occupying power" ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO BE THERE.

FYI: Arab Israelis do build in Israel. If they sense discrimination, they complain. They have special organizations, for example "APAC" that specifically work to promote their rights and develop their infrastructure. You should only wish that Palestinian Arabs would enjoy anything similar. Also, although you never hear anything about it, Israeli Arabs also build illegal settlements in Israel. Such settlements are subject to long disputes, and *do not* get immediately dismantled. For example, there are about 8 such villages in the Negev Desert right now. They have been there for years, as far as I know.

eventually nature will take it course, the funny thing two third of Israel is still empty land the Nagive which constitute more than half of Israel still with small population, so eat your cake before eating some one else's cake. Bottom line I'm pro one state but with equal rights I can't envisage any possibility of the creation of viable Palestinian state.

Arabs in camps , it is their brothers with billions of oil money using them as a weapon against Israel . Every Arab neighbor of Israel has those camps and keeps them as refugees for over 60 years . Do you know any other folks being disposed refugees living in camps for more then 60 years ??? They could of been resettled with normal jobs a long time ego . But the Arab agenda is very brutal and this is the reason for such long camping . And blaming Israel will not help , it will only perpetuate the Arab impotency in the face of the problem .

To say that the status of East Jerusalem should be decided in the negotiations and simultaneously claim that construction in Gilo is illegal is a total absurd. If EU claims that Jewish "settlement" in Gilo is illegal then what is the purpose to conduct negotiations since the status of Gilo had already been determined? And if the status needs to be determine later, in the future negotiuations, then only after knowing the results of those negotiations EU could say what is illegal and what is not.

Isn't Israel a sovereign state ? Can't Israel build homes in her own capital city ? When will the world come to terms with the fact that, after almost two thousand years of exile and persecution, the Jews have their own state again ? A tiny state that focuses so much attention and resentment around the world...

Canadian born Dr Karl Skorecki has proved that a large proportion of Jews share common genetic markers - not that this is the primary definition of Jewish identity - as faith, culture and history (including the land of Israel and Jerusalem) are the reasons the Jewish community has existed for 3000 years.

"Why did the Palestimians not accept a Palestinian State in 1948." - Edifice The invasion by Arab Armies were the reason Edifice. When the cease-fire ended Jordan annexed the land it held and gave full citizenship to those living there, (but not refugees from what Israel held). Egypt did not annex the Gaza strip. At the end of hostilities the only area and population that could have been a state was the Gaza Strip, and no one there wanted to be a state as most of them wanted to go home. Should the Arab Palestinians have declared a state at the same time as Israel did? Perhaps, but there was no unifying political or military organizations as the Jewish Palestinians had which would have made such possible. By late 1947 the situation in Palestine was civil war. The Jews were organized and the Arabs were not.

Israel extended the city boundary of Jerusalem in 1967 to take in outlying areas like Gilo. The problems are legal ones: * Israel only has the status of a military occupier in law. That means it cannot alter boundaries without the agreement of the civil authority, which it did not have. Gilo remains in Bethlehem in law, NOT a part of Jerusalem. * An occupying army cannot acquire land by conquest, so it cannot legally seize the Gilo area and say now it's ours.. * Nor can an occupying power annex occupied land, that too is expressly forbidden in international law. * Nor can it settle its own people on occupied land, which is why all 160 settlements are illegal in the eyes of the UN and every international court. So Israel is permitting the building of homes on land it doesn't and can never own and settling its own people on that illegally-held land. You should read the UN Charter and GC4, it's all laid out clearly and is not open to doubt or debate - it's the law.

All those who claim that building by Israel in the settlements is against International Law, use a double standard. A recap: 1. Israel conquered the so-called West Bank from Jordan. 2. King Hussein (late-) of Jordan proclaimed in the early 90-'s that he withdraws his claims concerning the West Bank. 3. Thus, strictly speaking in terms of Int. Law, it is a kind of Nomansland (officially termed "disputed area"). 4. Therefore, ANY building activity, from either side, would be against Int. Law. Hmmmm, I didn't hear anybody about similar activities by the other party in the dispute...

"All building acrivity is legal - there is no whatsoever international law broken" Indeed there is! See Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49.

i would like to respond to those who are relating to the legality of the gilo neighborhood. Gilo is situated on a mountain ridge overlooking the entire city of jerusalem. Before the six day war the Jordanian army was situated there and there are still trenches in the Gilo forest from that period. As some of you may know, if u want to, Israel was on the defensive in the six day war and conquered the areas around jerusalem as part of a response to being attacked. having won the war Israel in order to insure the security of its capital city decided to build around the existing city center especially on the hills overlooking the city that were strategically important. Thus Gilo was built. Compensation was paid to those entitled to it and it is interesting to know that till this day there are still a few Arab homesteads in the midst of Gilo which include their physical home and expansive areas around the homes. So it is clear to both sides that Gilo is not the issue.

to his Israeli/Jewish advisers, who keep enticing him against Israel. Otherwise, he would have known that the Giloh neighborhood is not a settlement but part of Jerusalem! But they want him to believe differently, and keep interfere in Israel's internal affairs. Just imagine we told him to stop building in Washington, because once there were Indians there (in Jerusalem there were Jews before it was conquered by the Arabs!).

The whole world is turned around. When did liberal appeasers turn into peace camp? When did right wing turn into war mongers. If you look at the stats, more people have suffered throughout history as a result of liberal appeasers and right wingers. Too bad Haaretz doesnt like to hear right wing facts over left wing wild opinions and dilusions. (not all left wingers are like that, but many).

Gilo is not in east jerusalem and is not a settlement. Gilo is in the southern end of the city and is a neighborhood of about 8,000 housing units. Unfortunately the American government perhaps because of the lack of a clear policy of the Israeli governmenet in regards to those settlements that are in the heart of the territories, has grouped everything over the green line together. There is no doubt that most people in Israel agree that the dozens of small and medium sized settlements all over the territories and often in direct conflict with neighboring arab villages have to eventually be evacuated and construction has to be stopped there. Most would agree that the settlement blocs have to be treated differently and here there is legitimate disagreement with the americans. I would think that even the left in Israel would agree that the freeze on construction is not relevent to Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Gilo thank you for reading this.

It was built ILLEGALLY on Palestinian-owned land without their CONSENT. The Palestinians alone can choose what, if any, usage the land will be put to. Israel has no say, as it never owned the land to begin with (and no, the bible is not proof of ownership!)

So where is the 2% of Israel that was given to the Arabs? If there was no exchange of land, then Gilo is still Arab property. Is this just another example of Israeli deceit?

These AntiSemites should cool down. If not, they can continue to imbibe the cesspool of Jihadism and be intoxicated by the toxicity of Islam. It is time Israel throws some pails of water on them to neutralize them and make them come to their senses. Right now, they are acting like drunken fools spewing their crap homilies on Israel. It is time they follow Israel's lead in confronting the rising tide of Islamist-Jihadism. Appeasement to the dark forces-Islamist-Jihadists could be deadly for the EU and the Obama administration.

The Palestinians have no intention of making final settlement. Their goal is the destruction of Israel. Re Gilo construction there began in 1980s when Israel finally stopped begging for deal to face the reality a final settlement was just a pipe dream.

If Israel can have peace with more land they'll gladly take. Land without peace is also good. However, peace without more land is not good. Therefore, peace is not the driving force. Land is the driving force.

First Europe tried to exterminate the Jews by pogroms, expulsions and the holocaust. Now they are joining the Arabs in trying to deligitimise Israel. Why did the Palestimians not accept a Palestinian State in 1948. Because they were led to believe that Israel would be destroyed. That is still their wish.

The EU suffers from the same sort of problem Obama does. Delusional thinking and cowardice. There will NEVER be a two-state solution unless Israel is forced into it. As long the USA, EU and rest of the world will not lift a finger to accomplish what they constantly whine about they should shut up. The Arab population in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is to be forced out by 'natural growth'. Only when the Arab population of Greater Israel has been expunged will the Israeli right be happy. The USA and EU should stop whining about what they are not willing to stop, and start figuring out how to find new homes for the Arabs living within Greater Israel. Whining only makes Obama and the EU look foolish, weak, and drives Netanyahu to speed up building. All they are accomplishing is making things worse.

international law broken - none is applicable to non-state and whether Judge Goldstone or Minister Goebbels want to extend it to any group is not consequential or legal. 95% of J&S Arabs are under PA and they may become a state any time they want. It is especially heart warming that the blood libel country is so anxious to assist to Israel's enemies.

This is one of those times when this website becomes less of a media outlet and more of a mouthpiece. "Abbas has said peace talks could resume only if settlement building stopped, a demand rejected by the United States which has echoed Israel in calling for negotiations, suspended for nearly a year, to start without preconditions. " The demand is not rejected by the United States at all. Israel agreed to this demand already anyway ...the Road Map. Settlements are to be stopped, then dismantled. ...yes, that's right...dismantled. not strengthened, prolonged, shifted, negotiated, repackaged ......dismantled.

"What about the right for Arabs to build in Yaffa and Haifa?" Yes, what about it? What about when Israeli citizens build in their country? Are you asking to equate that with Israeli citizens building outside of their country? Or what?

The 1949 lines are nothing more than where the armies of five Arab countries were stopped after they mass murdered Jews and pushed them out of Judea, Samaria and "East" Jerusalem. To give those lines any respect at all today is to support the mass murder of Jews that created those 1949 lines. There is no reason whatsoever, none, that Israel should withdraw from any part of Jerusalem. Israel is the ONLY country that has ANY legitimate claim of sovereignty over Jerusalem, based on fact, history, logic and fundamental decency. Moreover, and this is the most telling point of all, the ONLY reason that the PLO wants Jerusalem is because of their psychopathic hatred of Israel. The PLO understands the overwhelming pain they will inflict on Israel if they should ever succeed in severing Jerusalem from Israel. If Israel didn't care about Jerusalem, the PLO (and the Muslim world) would regard Jerusalem with complete disinterest. "And that's a fact, Jack."

What a dumb comment ! I believe that phosphorous bomb, tanks, F16 have greatly participated to maintain Palestinian in refugee camps. On the other end Israel policy is not unique. We have seen many attempts of ethnic cleansing, and we know how it ended.

The Arabs have had many opportunities to establish a state here in OUR land, but each time they chose war INSTEAD. That was their choice. Now they will not have a state here in OUR land. They can have one in their own lands elsewhere or not at all. Their violence, aggression, and intransigence will not be rewarded.

New White House Staff !!!!! So far we have: Rahm Emanuel - Chief of Staff - Jewish. Served in the Israel Army & father alive in Israel David Axelrod - Senior Advisor to the President - Jewish. Ronald Klain - Chief of Staff to the Vice President - Jewish. Larry Summers - Economic Advisor to the President - Jewish. Paul Volcker - Economic Advisor to the President, Former Head of Fed Reserve - Jewish. Tim Geithner - Treasury Secretary - Jewish. Peter Orszag - Head of Budget - Jewish.

Rob, do you not see what is happening in the states with the strident cultural war? Say Obama pulls US governmental support. Do you think the support of tens of millions of Evangelicals will just stop? And whose to say that China won't step into the breach left by the USA and the EU? Didn't US bunker busters just arrive in Israel? What you have here is a family squabble. But the desire to see Israel punished is an old Bibilically inspired habit of Western and Islamic civilization.

"Disputed land is being purchased , and after there is no dispute any more." If it's disputed who is it being purchased from? Only after the dispute is resolved can there be a legal transfer. "Legitimate owners have the right to use that land as they see it fit" They're not citizens of the entity to whom the territory belongs, they don't. Private, corporate or institutionally owned land is not territorial SOVEREIGNTY. E.g., Japanese companies own land in other countries, the land is not Japanese Sovereign territory. Education is a wonderful thing, you should try it.

Moshe I think you made that same strange claim yesterday, too bad you didn't read the replies you got then. When Israel takes land from its owners by force and lets the Israeli population settle there so that Israel can annex the land that is not Israel combating racism... The notion that Israel would have some kind of right to conquer new land just so that the houses built on that land would be in Israel is scary. Anyway, the issue is not even remotely connected to racism. Now if you want an example of racism you could read TOMY's first post in here. It's got a lot of samples.

will hand them Israel on a plate. Since he became President the entire Israel left has been blown away . Pals refuse anything/everything. They believe they are on the road to closing down Israel with his help. Iran is on a roll. Hamering at Israel will just make things worse .

"Arabs..they will never except a permanent Jewish presents in the ME" Strange they argued for all Palestinians all during the Mandate and Jewish folk WERE Palestinians. Guaranteeing democracy AND freedom of religion. Read their statements. In 1948 on the 15th May 1948 they offered the same. Read their Declaration on the Invasion of Palestine. (Israel was no longer a part of Palestine on 15th May 1948) "The second..." Is more nonsense. "No other ethnic group in the worlds history remained refugees for such a long time" Strange we held out as refugees for 3,000 years, no? Never the less, the reason they are refugees is because Israel dispossessed them and Israel has refused RoR and taken Palestinian territory for 61 years. There is no obligation on host countries to do any more than offer them refuge or asylum. If they ask for it. The Palestinians haven't, they want their rights. "Arabs are unique" Indeed. All people are. Even ghastly little bigots.

USA Policy has always been against settlement building in Jerusalem and the WB. However, since there have been no consequences to continued building, Israeli leaders can't claim to be "forced" into a pullout. If USA aid or loan guarantees had been truly contingent on a WB pullout, Israel would have long ago sighed in relief and cut a deal. US capitulation is harmful for Israel because it places the entire burden & blame for pullout on Israel and no Israeli leader will except this burden for all of eternity.

So Moshe, You talk about equal and racism. Are westbank arabs allowed to build in Israel ???? I am sure you will call this is different !!!! As you may well know, Mr Ben Gorion and his friends establist the State of Israel within the 1948 borders so the westbank is NOT Israel and any occupation or annexation is against international law. It is time the rest of the world will react upon this. Shalom

more and more we get the coallition ; "from the Palestinians, joined by Washington, Europe and the United Nations." Who can Israel count on their side? None is the answer, not a single country. Netanyahu has brought you into total isolation. He will do you more damage than all the Arabs put together have ever done you. He may be King in his own country, but just an inch outside most people wonder how a Jew can be a fascist and be elected by Jews. With an ex-Morovian bouncher as selected FM far far to the right. *You'll get what you deserv" they say and you must have been really naughty.

for a one state solution. By progressively chipping away at the Palestinian territories with new settlements and interposing these among Arab villages, the outcome of a binational state between the Mediterranean and the Jordan will becoming a reality.

From someone who is turning his back on Afghanistan, Iraq, and Israel this statement is an affront to the intelligence of anyone. Obama can't take a stand on anything and follow through. Allies like this Israel nor the Jewish people need. Things will be better in 2012 when Obama is no longer president.

How long can the Israeli governments ignore international law, indeed the entire international community? Even your rich uncle patron the US is getting tired of your stiff-necked refusal to abide by the rule of law.

After Israel occupied the Palestinian territories in 1967 it proceeded to annex East Jerusalem and subsequently enlarged the municipal border by more than 100 km2. It then began to construct a ring of colonies around this enlarged municipal area in a bid to separate Arab East Jerusalem from its natural Palestinian hinterland. In order to build Gilo as off 1971 (situated obviously across the Green Line in occupied Palestinian territory) Israel had to confiscate/commandeer/steal thousands of dunams from neighbouring Palestinian towns and villages like Beit Jala, Beit Safafa and Sharafat. It is just as illegal as the colony next door on Jabal Abu-Ghneim ('Har Homa') or as the latest 'outpost' built by renegade Jewish settlers. All of the above provide more brazen examples of Israel's UNILATERALISM of 'creating facts on the ground'. It is good to see Washington stop referring to colonies like Gilo as "Jerusalem neighbourhoods", as the Bush administration and CNN used to do.

Abbas uses the settlement issue to drag his feet because as long as Hamas is in power he will never be politically powerfull enough to strike the deal that has long been promised ( and offered) to the PA. You don't negotiate to negotiate. The settlements are a legitimate issue, one that will have to be brought up IN NEGOTIATIONS.

the current two state solution is born dead for both sides its inapplicable and impossible! the true solution will be direct talks after the palestinian union! u cant make an agreement with a two headed entity that one clearly says it will never accept!

the best the pals can hope for now is turning the west bank into a province of Israel(like Quebec in Canada) and establishing a constitution for ISrael giving them full rights as Israeli citizens...

Obama is NOT an expert on Islamist-Jihadist Terrorism. He does not know what he is talking about. Why is he covering up on Islamist-Jihadist terrorism in America committed by Hassan and all the other Islamist-Jihadist terrorists that have been jailed so far? While American murderers get executed for their crimes, Islamist-Jihadist terrorist mass murderers are being kept in jail and fed. What safety is Obama talking about? He should stop intruding in Israel's internal affairs. He should stop playing nanny to the Islamist-Jihadist world.

We have people claiming that it's racism not to allow Jews to build. The Israeli Government often denies Palestinians the right to build in Jerusalem. It also denies even Arab Israelis, in so many cases, the right to build homes. The Palestinians are a Semitic people with ancestry in the region and in the land in an uninterrupted fashion. They had no great-grandparents in Europe, but, yet, they cannot build on their ancestral land. Furthermore, it is a violation of international law for Israel to change the geography of East Jerualem or the West Bank. However, Israel does what it can, because it has the power. The British Empire did what it did, because it had the power. Did it make it right? No.

Israel continues to head down the path to its own destruction. Americans are sick and tired of supporting this regime in Israel of oppression. Its clear to everyone they do not want peace with the Palestinians nor do they want a 2 state or 1 state..They just want more land and more Jewish people to populate it. But it will fail, All it does is give more fuel to Hamas and extremists as to why resistance and fighting are the only answer. Israel will only be able to make war on Gaza so many time and the world will have to step in.

"GILO IS NOT A SETTLEMENT" It is on territory occupied in 1967 and illegally annexed by israel. Until BOTH Israelis and Palestinians agree on a border between two states, Gilo is a settlement on occupied territory. Which view is shared by the whole world except Israel. Live with it.

President Obama still hasn't learned that this Israeli governement won't give a hoot what he thinks until the point if he decides to impose economic sanctions on Israel for continued violations of International law and binding UNSC resolutions. This Israeli government will not change its policies unless the U.S. tells them enough is enough. Netanyahu is calculating that Obama doesn't have the spine to do this and sadly he is correct.

The tepid response thus far of the administration to settlement expansion only emboldens the Israelis to continue with their "routine" activities in the occupied territories. The statetments and plattitude forthcoming by the US adminsration must stop and some concrete action taken. Obama's credibility is on the line.

there is no dispute any more . Legitimate owners have the right to use that land as they see it fit . Obama , Kapish ? By the way , I never heard Obama be upset when Arabs build truly illegally .

I truly understand the Palestinian distrust of Israel. At every opportunity, Israel is taking from the Palestinians and giving nothing in return.

There are two major reason for Arab intransigence . First , they will never except a permanent Jewish presents in the ME , I repeat , a PERMANENT presents . The second , Arabs are well aware that they will never be able to govern themselves and without a country they are in a better position to blackmail donors and be freeloaders forever . This is the precise reason for being and staying as refugee after so many years everywhere they live in the ME . No other ethnic group in the worlds history remained refugees for such a long time . Arabs are unique .

Moshe, If as you state: "Jews should have the same rights to build in Judea and Samaria as Arabs do." If you accept this based on the principle of equality and social justice, then you must accept the commutation of the principle. That is that "Arabs should have the same rights to build in Israel proper as Jews do." This statement in effect dismisses any two state solution and merely recognizes Israel, Judea, Samaria and Gaza as a single state. Are you certain you intended to go in that direction? Peace Stephen

Let's all let this sink in, as we talk about how endangered and "threatened" poor little nuclear armed Israel is. On the night of November 4th, 2008, ISRAEL KILLED 6 Palestinians in Gaza - CEASE FIRE BROKEN. Actually, this was all planned, Operation Cast Lead was a go, and the rest is history...written by who else, but poor little Israel.

Obama has no idea what will or won't "make Israel safer". This buffoon has no idea how to make our own country safer, and proves it daily. For the first time in over 200 years, the US has a President, vice president (Biden), secretary of state (Clinton) and speaker of the House (Pelosi), NONE of whom have served ONE DAY in the military. An Obama administration so notoriously non-credible in defense matters that they had to take the unprecedented step of keeping on the outgoing Republican Secretary of Defense, Gates, to have any pretense of credibility at all. Lets see - US policy in Afgan/Iraq in disarray, Obama disagreeing with his commanders, Taliban gaining, US military morale at an all-time low, soldier suicides at all-time high, F-22 Raptor cancelled by Obama, do-nothing policy of "engaging" Iran, Somali piracy against US ships continuing unabated, Arab butchers Ft. Hood soldiers after Obama orders end to FBI surveillance of US muslims...Obama can't even make the US safer!

The Annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by even one state on the planet. UNSCR 479 RULED THE ANNEXATION AS BEING NULL AND VOID. IN PLAIN WORDS---IT IS ILLEGAL--ERGO GILO IS Occupied territory. That sir is why not one state on this planet has it,s embassy in Jerusalem---not even your social welfare provider---Uncle Sam. Do stop spreading untruths---they make you look dishonest---you are not dishonest--are you???.

"Gaza charity offers $1.4 million for capture of IDF soldiers" Do these dollars come from USAID?

no more US aid to Israel. No more diplomatic ties. Let's see how far Israels brand of "morality" gets them without the US military aid and UN veto.

A larger territory can create a wider safety margin. There is more room to maneuver when the next attack occurs. Israel will always be under threat because she is small Jewish island in a huge sea of Arabs (Islam). And Arabs(Islam) are on the move...just about everywhere. The Pals refuse to acknowledge Israel, so the weaker they stay the better. And the more room Israel has in which to repel the next attack, the better.

Perhaps the President should show more concern for what has now been identified as over 80000 Iraqi civilians killed by US fire since 2004; or perhaps the thousands of Afghan civilians killed by US forces since January 20th of this year - under his watch - in actions his own NSA director describes as "needed action" which will continue "since the US will not fight with one hand tied behind its back!" Appears that, in addition to his other global travels, there is a pending trip to the ICC in the Hague for Mr. Obama!

By closing down 3 mosques and a iranian national guard property in the heart of New York,Obama is for the first time declares that iran and the islam they represent is dangerous to the u.s. worship centeres should be kept open only if they do not take part in violent actions of states and individuals.The europeans should follow,and investigate what is going in the mosques in their cities.I think obama needs to understand that the israelis see the west bank as the cradle of their nation and religion.and not merely as a holy religious place

"Bibi hasn`t ordered any new settlement construction " Strange, the article says ///Israel's latest move to build hundreds of new housing units/// Bibi is the Israeli leader..Israel has just ordered more settlement construction... You have reading problems? "Obama needs to learn that Bibi has limits to concessions he can make." Upholding the law is not a concession. "If Obama hadn`t led Abbas to beleieve that if he wants something then he can have it we wouldn`t be in this situation" Very funny. If Israel hadn't had expansionist policies for the last 61 years ....

American Jews may start to think about withdrawing some support of the State of Israel if the expansion of settlements undermines the peace process. It is an act too provocative and inflammatory and cannot be justified from my perspective. Why is the peace process being deliberately undermined by Israel?

does any out there actually believe that erekat and the palestinians are going to give us peace? i don't think that "settlements or peace" thing has ANY credibility since it is clear to all israelis that the palestinians will never give us peace. in fact, so long as they can get us to give up parts of our country (with the help of obama), their motivation to continue with their war to destroy us is only increased.

"Its a Jerusalem naighborhood thats been around for nearly 40 years and has a population of around 30,000 .. hardly what you call a settlement." Irrelevant C'mon ..when was Jerusalem Legally annexed to Israel?

I know of no such place that existed West of the Jordan River and have looked at maps of the area for the past several hundred years. If you are refering to Mandate Palestine from 22-47, thats hardly enough time to call it Palestine. If you include Jordan Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, that is more realistic of what the territory of Palestine was. Why do you only refer to the current Jewish state West of the Jordan as "Palestine" There is no historic reference to that anywhere in time, with the one exception I mentioned. There is no reason to create another Arab Palestinian state, or even move people. Just have the Arabs go to their government in Amman. The population is 65-75% "Palestinian" Arabs already. The connection is there. Just include the Arabs of Judea and Samaria in Jordan Palestine. It is the only practical workable solution and it makes the most sense for everyone.

After Israel occupied the Palestinian territories in 1967 it proceeded to annex East Jerusalem and subsequently enlarged the municipal border by more than 100 km2. It then began to construct a ring of colonies around this enlarged municipal area in a bid to separate Arab East Jerusalem from its natural Palestinian hinterland. In order to build Gilo as off 1971 (situated obviously across the Green Line in occupied Palestinian territory) Israel had to confiscate/commandeer/steal thousands of dunams from neighbouring Palestinian towns and villages like Beit Jala, Beit Safafa and Sharafat. It is just as illegal as the colony next door on Jabal Abu-Ghneim ('Har Homa') or as the latest 'outpost' built by renegade Jewish settlers. All of the above provide more brazen examples of Israel's UNILATERALISM of 'creating facts on the ground'. It is good to see Washington stop referring to colonies like Gilo as "Jerusalem neighbourhoods", as the Bush administration and CNN used to do.

"Expanding settlements, meaning allowing Jews to build homes in the same areas that Arabs are allowed to build homes.." That'd be ISRAELI Jews (& no Israeli Arabs) in illegal settlements, built for Israeli Jews (not Israeli Arabs) in NON- Israeli territory. You seem to always forget that the annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal, the acquisition of territory by war is illegal, Israeli law is illegal in Non-Israeli territory and illegal settlements are...well....ILLEGAL. "What is not debatable to rational human beings is that Jews should have the same rights to build in Judea and Samaria as Arabs do. Any assertion to the contrary is racism." A) Jews are not a race. B) They're Israeli Jews in non-Israeli territory C) You're not rational if you continually advocate breaking the law.

First, I object to the term settlement. Jews lived there before Israel was re-created. Jews arent new to the area. Second, as proof in Gaza, when Israel left, Gazans launched hundreds of (now thousands) of missles at civilians in Israel. They dont do that from Judea and Samaria. You are lying to yourself if you think these fake peace agreements with egypt and Jordan Palestine makes it safer for Israel. 3rd, if the Arabs were serious about peace they would be negotiating for it, not complaining for decades. They would allow Jews to remain and negotiate borders, not populations. Lastly, they would have created another Arab Palestinian state from 48-67. They dont want one. They want a land without Jews. This isnt peace, its racism!

Dear Mark--Glad to see that you are looking at issues a little differently now. I agree w/ your posting except for the Syrian comment about they want land more than peace. Since WWII and the creation of the United NAtions, it was decided that after wars the winner doesn't take the spoils--especially real estate. Section 7 of the UN Charter also states this concept. Israel as an UN country has agreed to returning land taken in war; therefore many experts and countries believe that ISrael must eventually give back the Golan Heights. I agree safeguards must be put in place in order to do that return; but legally it should go back...

Pathetic. Netanyahu takes a big dump on his face and Obama's response? "...I've said repeatedly and I'll say again, Israel's security is a vital national interest to the United States."

Jerusalem is and will remain Israel's united capital. Neither the US, nor the Palestinians have the right to stop Israel from building it's own city.

You said that, 'Israel was not brought into being to create security for the Jews.' From the Truman Library: 'Truman initiated several studies of the Palestine situation that supported his belief that, as a result of the Holocaust, Jews were oppressed and also in need of a homeland.' Truman himself said, 'Hitler had been murdering Jews right and left. I saw it, and I dream about it even to this day. The Jews needed some place where they could go. It is my attitude that the American government couldn't stand idly by while the victims [of] Hitler's madness are not allowed to build new lives.' That was the U.S. position and I suspect it was the position of all other countries that voted for recognition of Israel, too.

No country on the face of the earth would accept outside interference in its capital city. Arabs of all stripes have always wanted Israeli national actions to be put on hold while they make up their minds about moving forward. Didn't happen - ain't gonna happen.

Notwithstanding that Israel unilaterally annexes Gilo and expands the boundaries of Jerusalem to include Gilo, it remains occupied territory, and Israel continues to act as a classic colonial usurper. Any defense of Israeli behavior is untenable. This expansion of settlements is a clear indication of Israel's lack of desire to effectuate any legitimate peace.

Israel safer? Go ahead...

Obama told Fox News in an interview Wednesday that additional settlement building doesn't make Israel safer.Nor does the senselss wars in Iraq and Afganistan ,with the loss of many American lives make the USA safer .Yet you are considering adding 40,000 more USA combat troops in Afganistan ,why ?Those that seek peace for others ,like you Obama do for Israel should lead by example ,withdraw from Iraq and Afganistan .

Israel removed all settlers from Gaza, what did they get in return? Peace, NO! Quiet, NO! More rockets fired at civilians, YES! The Pals have always demanded and usually have be given concessions, just to start negotiations. They have never actually negotiated or lived up to a single commitment. Their plan has been to get all the land from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, piece by piece, not by PEACE!

'Jerusalem is an epic. It is the wellspring of a civilization. Without Jerusalem's civilization the spiritual history of the world would be stagnant. To us Jerusalem is family. Has anyone ever heard of a daughter or a son of a Saladin ever fasting each year in memory of ancient Jerusalem's anguish? Not a one! Has anybody ever heard of a son of a Crusader who breaks a glass at his wedding ceremony in memory of ancient Jerusalem's torment? Not a one! How could you have heard, when throughout its three thousand year-long history Jerusalem has been capital to no one but to the Jews. SO IT WAS. SO IT IS. AND SO IT SHALL EVER BE.'" As to Obama and Jerusalem today : http://xrl.us/be4wyv

Maybe Obama needs a course in geography. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the palestinians can't claim anything legitimately.

Israel's security is a vital national interest to the United States, and we will make sure they are secure," Obama said in the interview.Exactly like you did for the citizens of Sderot,and the south of Israel who suffered years of missile bombardment and destruction of their homes and businesses .What did the USA do ,nothing , absolutely nothing .

You say it is not debatable that Israelis have rights to build in the West Bank. No country on Earth recognizes that right (nor for east Jerusalem.) The rest of the world considers it illegal. So it certainly IS debatable. Yours is a position held by a tiny fringe. And it is not racism to disagree with you. That is like saying that if you disagree with Obama you are a racist. Israel has set up 'Jews Only' land areas and roads in the West Bank. It has set up one set of laws and law enforcement for Jews and separate ones for Arabs. It is quite similar to a Jim Crow, old South Africa, racial segregationist system.

its in the WB so only the PA could give permits to built houses not Israel there for they are illegal. Unless Israel starts to allow the PA to issue permits to build inside israel and also to demolish illegal jewish ones, see? So you comment about racism is pure ignorance.

Only then will people start to listen, how sad

Obama is an appeaser, He will sacrifice the security of Israel to achieve a temporary peace deal. The only problem is that he Pal's will not have peace. You give them an inch they take a mile. The Pal's want nothing less than the entire nation o f Israel to no longer exist. It is time that sympathizers such as yourself realize that you can not have peace with a nation that does not acknowledge your right to exist in the first place. It is simple, there is plenty of land and countries that the Pal's can call home and there is only one swath of land that is and has always been the home of the Jews.

"Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided," Looks like Obama took a footnote from the English on how they reneged on the balfour declaration...

... His Comment of "additional settlement building doesn't make Israel safer. He said such moves make it harder to achieve peace in the region, and embitters the Palestinians in a way that he said could be very dangerous." For example, something that takes him in a clear path away from the Mamoud Dahlan camp of Radical Fatah Man, something that goes inline with his comments of being anti-settlement. That's fine, that's fair, but what he does have a responsibility to say, is that if settlements embitter Palestinians, they still do not have the right to start launching rockets or use suicide bombers. Its amazing, the world has bought into the childish nonsense of Palestinians. Imagine we implored this logic in other instances...if someone embitters you, you have the right to kill and maim them and their love ones. NOw I am not saying that Obama said this, all I am saying is that I wish he would OVERTLY STATE THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT A JUSTIFIABLE RESPONSE TO SETTLEMENT EXPANSION

Your arrogant attitude about the USA providing Israel with weapons, aid,ammo etc. is irrelevant. Obama's stupid and naive notion that settlements are the main reason for stalled peace process is wrong. Instead being an Obama suck up look at the facts. Israel has made offered peace with their neighbors. Most recent was former P.M. Ehud Olmert offered a reasonable deal that even the usual cry baby Saeb Erakat stated was impressive. But as usual the Palesntinias did not budge and stuck to their 40 yr old out demands. When the Palestinian leadership sell the concept of realistic peace and compromises then peace will be attainable. The Israelis are mature enough to understand this, are the Arabs. And one last thing Mr. Clueless ask yourself what does Israel offer the USA. I wont mention vast intelligence in that part of the region and other security sensitive material. So spare us your arrogant imperialistic attitude.

Moshe, you are absolutly right. Gilo is a part of our capital Jerusalem. Our critics should stop calling Gilo East Jerusalem settlement, because it is situated in the south of the town. While we are constructing houses on our own soil, US Administration and Obama are destroying civilians and their homes in Afganistan, Irak and elswhere!

Palestinians are approaching this whole affair from the wrong angle. They should not be demanding for ending settlement freeze but be demanding RIGHTS TO LIVE IN THESE SETTLEMENTS. That's the only way Jews will even begin to think twice about expanding into Palestinian territory. In fact, since Jews can live in Ramallah, Palestinians should be seeking rights to build in Tel-Aviv. Palestinians need to abandon fighting over every rock and go after what is immutable and cannot be usurped by any military might and that is civil, human and political rights. This approach will force Jews, yes, even Jews, to have their Jesus moment. Is one state really what they want - because that's where it's going and that is where Palestinians need to stop with this waffling business and make this perfectly clear. It's time for Palestinians to demand to vote, demand they be able to drive on the same roads as Jews, and so on and so forth. The "2 state option" is a scam of biblical proportion. Zionists started to give it lip service after it became impossible to achieve with the "new facts on ground" settlement campaign.

Moshe, Do you really believe Arabs should be able to build anywhere in the West Bank? Do you really believe that? You believe JEWS should be able to build where Arabs are allowed to build. Do you also believe Arabs should be able to build WHEREVER JEWS ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD? Since you claim such high morality, I presume the answer is YES. Does this mean Palestinians can build inside the Green Line? Are you advocating a ONE STATE SOLUTION. Being a lifelong advocate of two states for two peoples, I am increasingly perplexed by Israel's behavior, which really, is leading us all to the ONE STATE for TWO PEOPLES solution...

It's just because they don't live here that they don't realize that Gilo is part of Jerusalem. There's nothing to get excited about. Maybe if Obama actually knew where Gilo was, he would realize it's not such a big deal.

The parties to the conflict will never make peace between one another. They`ve been trying that for 60 years and NOTHING has come if it. A settlement must be IMPOSED upon the parties by the entity that created the problem, namely the United Nations, which created Israel in 1948. It is indisputable that in the creation of Israel Arabs were displaced. It is unjust and unfair to take people`s property for no compensation. The UN must establish a Middle East Compensation Commission to adjudicate claims from everybody, including Jews, who lost property as a result of the UN`s creation of Israel. Just compensation needs to be paid by the UN for a Release of Claims. If you lost your property and had to live in squalor in a camp you too would harbor resentment. It`s nonsense that Arabs left voluntarily. Leaving is not the same as abandoning and disclaiming rights to property, which in the western world is a sacrosanct right. We all leave our homes. When we get back they`re still ours.

"...plans to build a Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians claim for their future capital." No, Israel's not building a Jewish neighborhood, it's building IN ONE. And Gilo is not in East Jerusalem. It's south of Jerusalem, and the Palestinians had never an intention of claiming the area of Gilo as part of their state (the West Bank & Gaza state they supposedly pine for)

So the President has decided unilaterally that East Jerusalem (that includes the Temple Mount) is Arab--perhaps he will then return Texas to Mexico? Oh, wait, he doesn't have to--he embraces the Hispanic "right of return" to ancestral homelands throughout USA in a major way. By secure Israel he means dhimmi slave state under benevolent Arab protection.

in the capital of Israel.

when person with no prior real life political/international or even domestic experience preach to the nation that was born and surivived and prospering, how to survive and be safe....

It would seem that by in large Jews want land, not peace. I think that understandable given the Zionist views. Perhaps it's time to take a lesson from the American methods for dealing with indigenous peoples. Move the Palestinians onto self governed reservations, kill off the non-cooperative, and let them open casinos. Provide some modest compensation to those relocated. Voila, problem solved.

Would it make America safer?

Palestinians are approaching this whole affair from the wrong angle. They should not be demanding for ending settlement freeze but be demanding RIGHTS TO LIVE IN THESE SETTLEMENTS. That's the only way Jews will even begin to think twice about expanding into Palestinian territory. In fact, since Jews can live in Ramallah, Palestinians should be seeking rights to build in Tel-Aviv. Palestinians need to abandon fighting over every rock and go after what is immutable and cannot be usurped by any military might and that is civil, human and political rights. This approach will force Jews, yes, even Jews, to have their Jesus moment. Is one state really what they want - because that's where it's going and that is where Palestinians need to stop with this waffling business and make this perfectly clear. It's time for Palestinians to demand to vote, demand they be able to drive on the same roads as Jews, and so on and so forth. The "2 state option" is a scam of biblical proportion. Zionists started to give it lip service after it became impossible to achieve with the "new facts on ground" settlement campaign.

From 1948-1967 when no Jews remained in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, when all Jews had been forcibly expelled from Jerusalem by the Arabs, did the Arabs want peace? No. In 2000, when Barak was willing to give up almost all of Judea, Samaria, and gaza- and half of Jerusalem, did the Arabs want peace? No. In 2005 when every last Jew was forcibly expelled from Gaza, did the Arabs want peace? No. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

It is about ensuring that the name that remains on the door of the Prime Minister's Office remains as Netanyahu

Mr. Obama, Israel has never been allowed to live in peace with its perpetually hostile neighbors. Israelis are happy enough staying within their own borders. If you want peace, tell Israel's enemies to stop attacking. Nothing else will work. In the meantime, Israel can keep building wherever they want for all I care. It's their country, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza included.

Gilo exists precisely to make the rest of Jerusalem safer. Between 1949 and 1967 the hill was used by Jordanian snipers to fire down onto civilians in central and western Jerusalem. During the second intifada, Gilo was the target of thousands of terrorist bullets which would have hit other areas of Jerusalem if it wasn't for the suburb's existence.

It's only ignorance that leads to members of the international community perceiving Israel as you do. If you prefer to fall into the same trap as the uninformed international organizations and governments, believing disinformation over facts, then it's no wonder you feel as you do!

"Some 500,000 Jews live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, also captured in 1967, among 2.7 million Palestinians". this means that 18% of the west bank is Jewish. 80% of Jordan is Pal, 7% of Jordan is mixed, that means 13% is Hashemite(Jordans ruling class)... the only difference between westbank and Jordan is that the Hashemites were given Jordan as a gift by the English Army, and Israel had to take over the west bank with its army...

than Lip Service to admonish Israelis intransigence. Put more teeth to your convictions, by applying pressure, and sanctions. For example US Aid to Israel not to be used in building settlements.

"What is not debatable to rational human beings is that Jews should have the same rights to build in Judea and Samaria as Arabs do. Any assertion to the contrary is racism." Moshe, so following your logic, Palestinians from Ramallah should be able to just settle around Tel Aviv if they feel like it? Of course, you do not accept that, because that's called the one-state solution. It is hypocritical and racist to say that only Jews have rights to settle where they want.

right hand meet left hand. Incompetent advisors are his biggest problem. They make him look stupid.

After Israel occupied the Palestinian territories in 1967 it proceeded to annex East Jerusalem and subsequently enlarged the municipal border by more than 100 km2. It then began to construct a ring of colonies around this enlarged municipal area in a bid to separate Arab East Jerusalem from its natural Palestinian hinterland. In order to build Gilo as off 1971 (situated obviously across the Green Line in occupied Palestinian territory) Israel had to confiscate/commandeer/steal thousands of dunams from neighbouring Palestinian towns and villages like Beit Jala, Beit Safafa and Sharafat. It is just as illegal as the colony next door on Jabal Abu-Ghneim ('Har Homa') or as the latest 'outpost' built by renegade Jewish settlers. All of tyet another breathtaking example of Israel's UNILATERALISM of 'creating facts on the ground'.

Israel needs to stop playing the shell game with the world. Using The same old bate and switch is getting way to old. Why don't you just try freezing all building thats over the green line and see what happens? Give it 10 months the land will still be there. Would that be to much to ask of you for the sake of peace?

a very large settlement built on occupied land and deamed illegal by the International Court Of Justice. I can't think of a more typical settlement than Gilo. It will have to be evacuated along with the rest of illegal West Bank settlements.

Well now If Araft had taken the offer fpor peace that was poresented to him, or Abbas for that matter accepted the offer presented to him, there would not be any building in Gilo would there. It is in the interwest of palis to get a leadership that can lead instead of perpetuate pali victimhood. Fire abbas get a leader and negotiate before there is nothing to negotiate. The train for poeace left the stattion long afgo, it wont be back this way again for a long long time

I have heard this interesting point before..."Jews should have the same rights to build in Judea and Samaria as Arabs do. Any assertion to the contrary is racism." I wonder why Arabs don't have the same right to build in East Jerusalem and many other areas as the Israeli's do? Is that also racism? Do the Arabs not have a right to live and build and grow? If the borders of Palestine are not solidified, when will the Israeli expansion end? If Israeli's have the right to build anywhere, where is the justice in that for the Arabs?

For all people who say it is not a settlement or for people who say there are Arabs who are living inside 1948 borders : Arabs live within the Israeli law , Settlements are built to be part of the "Jewish State" by crazy religious people who are supported by close minded politicians who know there will not be any peace treaty without a real Palestinian state .Either this or one big state for all like all the border states surrounding you which is actually the best solution ,but you don't agree with one state and you want a Jewish state, okay you just have to end all settlements.This or no peace and you know that.

Gilo ? Around for nearly 40 years ??? any settlements that's been around is a settlement, is illegal. Israelis should be aware that hundreds of palestinian villages were here before they arrived. That would be a great start !!!!

Certainly Israel considers Gilo to be part of metropolitain grreater Jerusalem, as it does Ramat Eshkol, Givat Ze'ev and other colonies it has built around Jerusalem on all sides. The international community does not recognise this annexation and by international law it is illegal. That is what counts. The timing is also meant to irritate and show the US that the bully Israel will not be bullied by the US. It is meant to be confrontational and to set a limit for Washington. Bit by bit, piece by peice, Israel is digging its own hole and that is with the inaction and ineptitude of the US and the EU in confronting this colonial policy that continues unabated. The shell game is moving and if for the moment it means not building any "new" colonies in Palestine, then they decieve and get around it by zionist euphemisms, ie "natural growth", or land titles that work for Jews but not Arabs, or military neccesity and on and on ad nauseum. The world is fed up with Israel's arrogance.

1) Bibi has not issued any new tenders for settlement building & he has agreed to a tempory freeze on all settlement building in Judea & Samaria. 2) Gilo is not a settlement its a suburb of Jerusalem and even if you want to define it as a settlement its not new, it was founded in the mid 70s. It has a population of 30,000. There is no palestinian land being appropriated for this building. Another of Bibis promises was he would not take any new land for settlements from arabs. This is about building extra homes in an existing naighborhood. 3) It has nothing to do with security & nobody in Israel is pretending it does only Obama is mentioning security in the same breath as settelements. 4) What peacemaking gestures has Abbas made? He is talking about unilateral decleration of statehood He is talking about Fatah returning to armed resistance He is refusing to even talk with Bibi unless he stops building in Jerusalem which he knows he can't do even if he wanted.

Negotiations simply do not make sense when Israel commits to a full settlement freeze and subsequently declares not to adhere to it because clauses in signed contracts are 'preconditions'. Similar examples can be found on the Palestinian side. Both sides first need to agree on whether they want to negotiate agreements that they intend to hold up, or whether, as Israel says in this case, they don't. If so, they should move their negotiations more into some kind of a fun show format, not intended for serious consideration but entertainment. A reality show on TV would be a possible venue.

As a supporter of yours I would like to urge you to take firm action and stop with whatever means the illegal actions of this Isreali government. The neocons dragged us into an unnecessary war in Iraq on behalf of Israel. Now israel is iflaming the emotions in the Middle East. It is high time that America stands behind its principles. Israel is the only country that keeps breaking international laws and get away with it. Enough is enough Mr. President.

It lies outside the recognised Jerusalem boundary. Israel quickly altered the boundary in 1967 to try to swipe additional land, but unfortunately an occupying power cannot do that. Nor can it annex land unilaterally without the agreement of the Palestinian civil authority. Nor can it settle its people on occupied territory, whether on public, private, purchsed or any other land. Honest, it's all set out in the UN Charter and Geneva Convention 4. So it is illegally acquired real estate and Israel is breaking a clutch of international laws. The courts don't buy biblical excuses or recognise God as a realtor, so that 'ancestral rights' story is dead on arrival.

Wow! Israel must delight in isolating itself from world opinion. Of course, it will certainly endear itself with the Christian fundamentalist crowd, and perhaps this is what it wants (witness the accompanying article about a woman arrested at the Kotel for wearing a tallit). Israel's policies, however postured, represent nothing more than classic colonialist endeavors. They deserve condemnation, and Jews in Israel and in the diaspora, must shout "Not in my Name!"

The one true thing that it is imoerative that all American presidents know, it is that Israel will do just as they like as long as America will not take action against Israels interests. Complaining, exhibiting hurt feelings, appealing to their better nature, are all signals to Israel that nothing will be done. The American president cannot appear to be weak and indecisive. He should begin by cutting off all aid and support to Israel and then hold negotiaitons on how Israel may get them back.

If Israel had announced a six month moratorium on all new settlement construction what harm would have done to its security? Would it really make Hamas stronger or weakened the IDF in any way? NO, of course not! What it would have done is shown the Palestinians and the world that Israel is serious about wanting peace. Israel seems to be doing whatever it can to stick its finger in the eye of everyone, including America. It's not very wise to do this to the country that provides all your tanks, planes, guns, and economic aid. If the American people get fed up, Israel will lose. I have always been a staunch and fervent supporter of Israel but it seems more and more that Israel is like Syria in one regard. Both countries seem to want land more than they want real peace.

Obama should stop humiliating himself and the United States. He has no intention of doing anything and should shut up.

Its a Jerusalem naighborhood thats been around for nearly 40 years and has a population of around 30,000 .. hardly what you call a settlement. Bibi hasn't ordered any new settlement construction and he has agreed to a temproy freeze on construction in Judea & Samaria so he has actually made some pretty major gestures. Jerusalem is a step to far to make gestures like that over... Obama needs to learn that Bibi has limits to concessions he can make. If Obama hadn't led Abbas to beleieve that if he wants something then he can have it we wouldn't be in this situation. Abbas would have unconditionally sat down with Bibi and talked no guarantees on what he gets out of it but they would have been talking. Thanks to Obamas policy Abbas is trying to get tough and he is demanding things Bibi cannot deliver. The problem in this case is Abbas & Obamas appeasment policies. Bibi is being made to look like the bad guy but so far he is the only one who has made any gestures Abbas refuses to talk.

Is this the straw that break's the camel's back, and ends the idea of creating two states out of Palestine? It seems it might be. And the people of the world are losing patience with the endless delay in settling what happens to Palestine, and are not likely to tolerate more ethnic cleansing. So, it looks like the borders of Palestine have become the defacto borders of Israael, and now the question is, how does Israel treat all the people who live within it. Full mobility for all, or something like the Group Areas Act? Full rights for all, or a two or three tiered level of citizenship? The right of return for all, or discrimination on the basis of religion? And if the answer is always the second, how long do you think Israel will remain a favoured nation with Nato countries?

"harder to achieve peace in the region, and embitters the Palestinians" What peace he did achieve in one year? Before him Palestinians wanted to talk to Israel, now they refuse. Iran is more agresive than ever, the promise of Israel's recognision by all Arab states DID NOT DELIVER A SINGLE recognition. That is after Nataniahu suspended setlement in WB, after he accepted two states solution. Now he attacks Israel proper (GILO) WITHOUT giving any proof that Israely's giving in pays. It is Irealis that feel bitter

This is just ridiculous. Obama should just withdraw US financial support for Israel. How on earth can an agreement be reached when the fundamental obligations of the Roadmap are being blatently ignored? You'll regret this Israel. You really will.

Israel expands in order to achieve its dream of Eretz Israel. The reason given is security. This has been like this since day 1. That's pure hipocrisy.

Gilo hasn't bothered palestinians before obama made it an issue. There isn't any palestinian people between gilo the 67 line. Gilo is south of jerusalem. Arafat agreed that israel would exchange other land for gilo. Gilo was part of the 2 percent exchange. Palestinians have never protested gilo. Palestians are concerned about east jerusalem neighborhoods which is a direct link to ramallah. Palestnians are concerned about E-1 area not Gilo. Now that Obama made Gilo an issue that is only when palestniians jumped on it for leverage. So Obama took Gilo which was settled even by arafat and made it an issue. Bibi has frozen all tenders for east jerusalem over the line and the west bank. The only construction going on in east jerusalem and the west bank was tenders issued under olmert. Loads of projects have not been started by bibi and the shas housing minister. Bibi gets no credit for this and instead the leftist papers praise olmert who issued tens of thousands of tenders.

Whether the permits are a "technicality" or not is beside the point; the fact of the matter is that in this increasingly dangerous and volatile situation, in which there have been repeated calls from all points of the globe to halt settlements, taking this step only inflames the situation further. Either it reveals incredible callousness, clumsiness, or ill will, or all of the above on the part of Israeli authorities, remains to be seen. What I and many others sense is that Israel is increasingly becoming a Pariah nation and its incessant evocations of its historial victimization are no longer cutting it, not even with the bulk of the international Jewish community.

Expanding settlements, meaning allowing Jews to build homes in the same areas that Arabs are allowed to build homes, might not make Israel safer. That is debatable. What is not debatable to rational human beings is that Jews should have the same rights to build in Judea and Samaria as Arabs do. Any assertion to the contrary is racism. If one looks deeper at Obama's statement, one sees through to the basic issue, which is Zionism's (and Israel's) right to exist. According to Obama and the left, Israel was brought into being not because the Jews had a moral right to the Land of Israel, but in order to prevent Jews from being killed in another holocaust. Based on this philosophy, any solution, including a state in Uganda or equal rights in the U.S. would be a "zionist" solution. However, Israel was not brought into being to create security for the Jews, but rather to assert the Jewish claim to the Land of Israel and re-establish the state which had been destroyed by the Romans.

Once again they are all so quick to listen to the Palestinian claims but don't attempt to hear an Israeli explanation before going before the media camaras and making uninformed statements.