Israel to U.S.: Latest East Jerusalem building okayed last year

We support you Israel in all you do, so keep building until you are very strong and the West Bank is totally yours! Shalom my friends!

Quoting UN resolutions re-their opinion of occupied territories falls on deaf ears.The UN in its present state is seen widely as very anti-israel. The question is what is right.I believe Jerusalem is and always has been the capitol of the Jewish state and should remain so undivided.If you want an Arab capitol,choose Mecca,Damascus or Beirut or all.Why is the Arab community so bothered by such a small region of land when it has so much in comparison? Population transfers occurred many times in world history without a peep,especially Jews transfered into and out of Europe,and from many arab countries once their home.Why has this one stuck in the throat of so many?The answer seems to be a virulent Anti-Jewish spirit built-into arab culture.They often repeat that jews are apes and monkeys.How humiliating it must be for people so proud to be dominated, even in a tiny province, by "Apes and Monkeys". Only a destroyed Israel will be accepted by them living as 2nd class citizens. No thanks.

Absolutely right, all the people I speak w/ overwhelmingly support Israel. For those of you who can't get "Imus in the morning" they've also been slamming Obama for his treatment of Israel over his issue, many, many, people silently agree as well.

." In international law, East Jerusalem is occupied territory, as are the parts of the West Bank that Israel unilaterally annexed to its district of Jerusalem. The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Hague Regulations of 1907 forbid occupying powers to alter the lifeways of civilians who are occupied, and forbid the settling of people from the occupiers' country in the occupied territory. Israel's expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem, its usurpation of Palestinian property there, and its settling of Israelis on Palestinian land are all gross violations of international law. Israeli claims that they are not occupying Palestinians because the Palestinians have no state are cruel and tautological. Israeli claims that they are building on empty territory are laughable. My back yard is empty, but that does not give Netanyahu the right to put up an apartment complex on it." www.juancole.com

For President Obama to demand an arab-only half in Jerusalem (which a restriction on permits allows) will embolden radical Islam everywhere.

It seems that my Jewish American compatriots are idiots.They were the ones who voted for obama in the great number I put above. i.e 78% voted for obama. Won't catch me doing a stupid thing like that even if I was not JEWISH.

I am not Jewish but a word to the wise "President Obama lies" be careful!

Yes those Jews who voted for Obama are idiots. Thank God that most of the country wants to vote the Democrats out of power next election.

For once there is an honest US president and Israelis do not like it because he does not play by the old rules of wink wink to overlook Israeli violations of all international laws.

There is a window of opportunity (Merkel)

Yes. And it was rejected and condemned by the world, including the US.

Yes, yes, yes, back in 1967 western powers were not acting in the interest of freedom and peace. The world has changed, and most of the participants in any of those dealings are dead or retired. Back then, the US still segregated based on race and now we have a black president. Things change and Israel is no longer the victim, but apparently, the aggressor. If Israel's government continues down this path, it will lose the many friends in the global community that it spent the better part of the 20th Century making.

The majority of Americans support Israel's full right to continue building in its city of Jerusalem. Please, Netanyahu, please continue to defy our Dictator in Chief and build on your own sovereign soil.

Why not quit the zionist crap? Obama is not trying to incite feelings against Jews; he is addressing the actions of a nation which is mostly Jewish. When we went against Serbia did we do so because we have a thing against Eastern Orthodox, or was it that they were acting like assholes? Act civilized and you will be treated that way.

What an amazing lot of bullshit. First, Maryland and Virginia never were nations. Second, by that time Maryland was majority Protestant and Catholics were being discriminated against. Third, once the US was founded there was no possibility of states going to war; they appealed to the Supreme Court for judgement. I could go on, but I think I have made my point.

While personally I do not approve of aggressive construction in existing Arab neighborhoods in the Jerusalem municipality, the sudden micro-mangement of Israel's internal affairs in Jerusalem, while, effectively, sanctions against Iran are repeatedly put on hold and the Islamic regime there, which threatens both Great and Little Satans, is extended olive branch after olive branch and assured the United States has no desire to interfere in its internal affairs, is mind boggling. Time to give California back to Mexico? What silliness by our most affected of modern Presidents.

# 27 Labhras from Ireland. Theese people have a knack of digging up stories of 70 years old,without even knowing all the 100 & 1 details.Probably just simple lies. But of more recent & devastating news in Ireland itself,the Catholic clergy is rotten to the core. Bishops & other priests have been practicing Sodomy on little boys in their churches. Misfits & a gang of Pedophilles. The Pope himself has denounced these happenings in no uncertain terms. All this has been going on for decades. It also happened in the USA & England. You said you have come to serve GOD. LIARS !

Let Moskowitz rehouse in the Shepherd Hotel the Kachniks who threw Palestinian residents in Sheikh Jarrah out of their houses along with their belongings and moved into them instead, without a thought for the defenseless refugees they turned out onto the street. And let those refugees, already twice turned out of their homes previously, move back into their houses. If there's room in the Shepherd Hotel, let the residents of Beit Yonatan in Silwan be housed there too, in order to allow the Supreme Court order that they leave Beit Yonatan to be carried out quickly. Meanwhile let Mr. Netanyahu's government, even if the coalition partners have to be changed to achieve this, negotiate a peace treaty between the nascent Palestinian State and the State of Israel.

... even on his own ancestral property... the chance that he will get one is virtually nil... is this the equality that Bibi bandies around...?!

Since this hotel is located in East Jerusalem, anybody who "owns" this land must get permission to build there from the Palestinians. Thus, it is insufficient to get Eli Yishay's okay to build there, you must get Mahmoud Abbas'. When the Palestinians eventually get sovereignty over East Jerusalem, Jews who own plots there will be able to receive zoning and building permits as per Palestinian laws; until then - NO BUILDING! Pretty simple, no?

It is a cornerstone of US constitutional law that the gov't may not deprive a citizen of property rights. Although the hotel, agreed by all parties to be owned lawfully by purchaser, US citizen Moscowitz, is in another country, Obama is barred by US law from conspiring to force or entice the government there to deprive Moscowitz of his right to use his property. Moscowitz has completed the local re-zoning and permitting process and has every right to build or remodel the hotel as apartments. Obama is actually committing a crime under US law by conspiring to violate Moscowitz's undisputed property rights by pressuring Netanyahu. You can bet Moscowitz's lawyers are at work on this angle right now. Potential impeachable offense? Obama actions here are a 4th Amendment equivalent of "I did not have sex with that woman". Throwing a tantrum over 20 apartments in a building 1/5 the size of a "Motel 6" is a tribute to Obama's neurotic irrationality on the subject. Hardly "Presidential".

I believe the question should be: Is Israel jews Idiot to have elected a man that will destroy israel?

The only reason the Arabs dont want Israel to build the E. Jerusalem community is because they dont want to demonstrate the weakness of Islam. The Muslims always take over the religious sites of other people to show their Muslim superiority. Anything short of it demonstrates their weakness.

It was called Partition in 1948, and Jerusalem was supposed to be internationalized. Instead, the Arabs conquered the Old City and East Jerusalem, expelled all the Jews (who went to live in the Katamon section to the west) and kept Jews from even visiting till 1967, when they lost the Old City and West Bank in a war THEY started to destroy Israel. King Hussein to the day he died lamented his disastrous decision to go to war then. So, history shows, whether the Israel-bashers like it or not, that only Israel has truly guaranteed freedom of religion and movement in Jerusalem. Arabs can buy property in Jewish areas; why can't Jews buy in Arab areas?

2500 years before you built up your swamps, we had our capital in Jerusalem, and we have never looked anywhere else since. The Arabs stole half of our city for 19 years, expelling all Jews and forbidding freedom of religion. That's what they did when they had half of our city. It will never happen again.

Washington DC may have solved the dispute between Maryland and Virginia, but putting the UN in charge of Jerusalem would be less successful. When things get tough, the UN gets going. Jerusalem should be capital for two states, but it needs a real security force like the IDF to maintain order. Hamas is a front for Iran and before long thre would be Iranian missiles in Jerusalem. The UN could not cope.

They shouldn't have done this post-final approval at this time. Since it was completely unnecessary, it only served to make Netanyahu and Israel look bad for no purpose. Better if they had realized the thing was already completely approved and had done without this superfluous step which only caused trouble to no purpose at all.

I read today how Obama's Chicago is demolishing homes and businesses to make room for expansion of O'Hare airport. On land that was formerly inhabited by native American Indians. Where is the outcry from the UN, UK, EU, Brazil, Peace Now, France, etc.?

Its time to wake up ... NO body believes your lies except your self..

of course not. But most ordinary Americans are idiots.

Virginia and Maryland both insisted they had title to a big patch of swampland. They were just about ready to go to war over it. Back then Maryland was a Catholic nation while Virginia was an Anglican nation, and a lot of people had died elsewhere fighting between those religions. Thomas Jefferson proposed a solution. The USA had recently been created and he had both nations donate their claims on that land to the USA to build their national capital, Washington DC. Virginians and Marylanders could both visit or buy property and live there. Free trade between VA and DC and MD and DC. And so the war was avoided. That is the best solution this time too. Both nations give their claims on Jerusalem to the UN to build a new UN Headquarters. The UN will let anybody buy property anywhere they want in Jerusalem, and will protect religious sites and allow religious people access to those sites. Both nations can put their government seats there if they want to. It's the best plan.

Since there is no limitation on building by Jews or Arabs, show me one new Arab neighborhood that has been developed since 1967. The truth there is non. Actually, Arabs have resorted to building without permit since those permits are nearly impossible to get. The Israeli government then comes and demolishes the buildings citing building without permits as a reason. Grant Arabs building permits equally. The problem with this right wing government of Israel is by wanting it all, they risk loosing it all. Take the pre 1967 borders and declare it as your country now and get world recognition. Otherwise, you will become another South Africa (Your previous close ally during the apartheid years). You want more concessions from the indigenous palestinians??? More concessions than 72% of historic Palestine?? get real.

the answer to your question is yes

well zev, since the hotel was taken from an arab, family should they not get soething out of it? after all the hotel was taken from the man who built it in 1930, he was expelled from isrl. the state of isrl took it and sold it to a jew. so yes many people have a problem with the jews. because the family should have been able to keep the property. so guess what it isn't the arabs who r racist, it is the jews who are. especially when arabs cannot get building permits to build or extend their own homes, but a jew can come and build with no problem. isrl is not a democratic state, no matter how much you want to believe you are. it is a state of terror against the indigenous people of that land. and even the arab jews hate isrl in many cases.

are jewish americans idiots? this is the main question asked by people here in israel these days...how could you vote and support mr. hussein to become the first anti semitic/anti israeli american president of the new era?! cant you see what it is that he is trying to do? present israel as the black sheep who causes young american soldiers deaths in iraq? insite the american public opinion against israel? do not forget that by doing so to israel he is causing and will cause hatred toward jews! the most amazing thing is that you,american jews,do nothing to protest against those horrific actions and worst then that,in polls being made you keep on supporting his administration for the next presidential elections...so let me ask again: are jewish americans idiots?

It may surprise ylou but Israeli Jews and ASrabs live side b y side in many parts of Israel, while in other parts they tend to have separate communities by mutual agreement. When Jews move ito Arab areas of Jerusalem you call it ethnic cleansing and when Jes live separately you call it racism. When Britain created the Kingdom of Jordan there was a codition that it must be judenrein because that was to be the Arab 77% of Mandatory Palestine. Jews have lived in Hebron and Bethlehem for 3,000 years, yet the PA calls them settlers, while more than a million Arabs are happily accepted as Israeli citizens. After 1948 about 800,000 Jews were pushed out of Muslim lands where they had lived from 586 BCE. Would you count that as ethnic cleansing?

This is a local mayor issue just like obama can't be blamed for what the dc mayor does. You would need a peace agreement and then settle the borders and change the laws. That is why this obsession with settlements is unreal.

A kadima mayor approved this project when Olmert was in office and yet Bibi gets the blame. The committee met in march last year to approve the tenders and the rest were a formality.

Your point about whether or not the Prime Minister can actually deliver on a promise (and to narrow the discussion, let's stipulate that his promises are made in good faith) is a completely valid one, considering (a) recent events, (b) the generally acknowledged cross-currents in the make-up of his coalition, and (c) that major segments of the population who (based on what one reads here and on other sites) have fundamental disagreements as to which path the country should rightfully take. (Please note that I have not taken a position on the basic issues, but am only laying out what I see to be a basic problem in negotiating with someone in his position.)

The Middle Finger says it all. Obama, please clarify is which section of Washington DC your religion or race may not build homes. After cordoning off such a section (maybe giving it back to Native American, rather than Kenyans or men who held Indonesian passports, Israel will respond.

WHY CAN'T, The Christians,& Jews/Israelis/Zionists, Build in Mecca,or Medina ? Just like the Arabs are building in our Jerusalem ? Answer me. Equation: One Mosque for One Church. One Mosque for One Synagogue. Simple as that: for the sake of World Peace.

Q: Who says East Jerusalem Arabs wouldn`t prefer to be governed by Israel rather than the PA? A: They do

Criticizing, whining, complaining, threatening, and hand wringing do not influence Israel. Israel respects action and not words. CUT OFF ALL AID TO ISRAEL. This is the action necessary to have Israel freeze construction and seek peace. As long as Israel continues to profit by avoiding peace they will do so. As long as America continues to financially support Israel, they give tacit approval of all of Israels actions.

It looks like Obama declared himself Mayor of Jerusalem. Every new building permit must now be approved by the Oval Office. If Jerusalem alters garbage collection dates will this also need Oval Office approval?

"I'd urge the Shin Bet security service to probe, once and for all, these people who place the interests of the Palestinians above those of the Jewish people," Peleg opined. "These people should be tried for treason." And you wonder why so few Jews from the West come to live in Israel. Shande!

It's a big deal because it is more Israeli segregation. This time on "Palestinian" land. Many Palestinians see themselves being pushed out of Jerusalem while Muslim and Christians sites are being destroyed. This is how many of them see it and why they are angry. Add this to towns that don't allow Arabs to live in them (even using violence) and I can't understand why you don't understand what the "big deal" is all about.

every body knows that hundreds of palestinian homes are being built in the territory name as A under OSlo accord who is under israeli soveregnity and jerusalem did we hear mr obama and his team forbidding these acts ?

When it comes to building settlements, he is always getting caught off-guard. He is either, running the country or not.

These announcements embarrass Bibi and appear haphazard but they are a set up meant to provoke "crises" so as to get the Israeli left back into govt. Who do these announcements serve, obviously not Bibi? Just as jStreet was set up, by Soros, in waiting to back Obama when he turned against Israel

Moscovitch bought the lease, known in local jargon as 'key money', from the previous tenants (who are considered traitors by the Palestinians). The land and building belongs to a branch of the Husseini family who were excluded because they were considered absentees by the racial Israeli laws and their relatives who reside is Jerusalem were not allowed to intervene. So the so called 'Guardian of absentees property' and he is no guardian by any means, concluded the illegal deal which against the Genva conventions and international law. So when the time comes and justice will be restored, Moscovitch and his ilk will be evicted by the rightful owners

Can you please give a reliable source for your quotation? My source for this period is Sir Martin Gilbert and I can't find any reference for it or for Lehi as in any way representative of Jews or Zionism. The Grand Mufti held the official position as Muslim religious leader appointed by the British Government for Palestine. A number of European Jewish groups tried to rescue Jews from the Holocaust by negotiating with Eichmann. It doesn't mean they were in any way pro-Nazi.

"For over 15 years the talks continued while we built in Jerusalem." Is this meant to be a joke? If so, congratulations - it made me laugh. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that you are serious. You have certainly summarised the Israeli strategy very accurately - talking about peace while stealing Palestinian land, talking about peace instead of making peace.

Funny how the Israeli apologists now blame Obama. Their claim is that "Before Obama, we were allowed to build settlements and colonize the lands while pretending to be engaged in peace talks...how dare Obama interfere and ask us to stop that"???? Did you ever think perhaps that the continued illegal settlement construction itself is the one holding back peace, and it is a practice that should have stopped long long ago???

Yes yes, we know we know, your ethnic cleansing is not ethnic cleansing cos your only cleansing non-jews, it would only be ethnic cleansing if jews were being removed from the area and replaced by arabs. Obviously evicting arabs and building Jew-Only homes is not a racist thing to do because they are JEWS! How proud hitler would be of your people if he was still alive. You bring new meaning to the words Racism and Fascism. (literally your own personal meanings that no1 else recognises)

soon from the beka and latani to tel aviv and j'lem....you dont want to share j'lem? fine you dont get any

The fact that house PLANS are consumming President Obama's time rather than the lunatic in tehran that is building a bomb. Speaks volumes as to President obama's "policies" either he is cluless regarding foreign affairsat best or something extremely sinister is in the making.

Quit twisting and turning. Don't try to sneak one past our leader. Youse guyz don't fool nobody. Get it goonbahs? Salaam/Shalom

"We're going to build wherever the hell we want: clear enough?"

tomarrow from you crown heights apt. that you never leave

Don't you think that the fact that the people who approved have no authority to do so makes a differences?

german submarines used bases in eire labbo how about your hypocrisy about lehi !

Is irrelevant to today's Palestinians. He was irrelevant to them when he met Hitler. http://wp.me/pDB7k-m1

The so called peace talks have gone awry ever since Obama offered his "help". For over 15 years the talks continued while we built in Jerusalem. How come it is suddenly an issue? Biden's complaint - surely orchestrated by Obama - turned it into a crucial issue. This is yet another Obama setback. Either he's an idiot, or more likely anti Israel. Nothing we'll do, short of ceasing to exist, do will appease him.

more danger for the world than nuclear Pakistan, Iran and Bin Laden movement. Reminds me of the time when we were sitting in the caves around freshly invented fire and were trembling from fear of the outside noises by predators. It passed...

Israel, please don't bow down to Obama's thugs! Be strong and be vigilant. Hamas is waiting for you to show your weakness. Don't give in to Obama or Hamas! Your fate in is in your hands, not Obama's.

that Jews lived in Jerusalem - East and West - for hudreds of years ( even as the majority) until 1948 when they were masacred and forced to leave their homes. Now when they want to return it is illegal for them to do so. Methinks thou protests too much.

International Law says (in Resolution 465 (1980), Adopted by the Security Council) which was uniquely endorced by USA!! "calls upon the Government and people of Israel ... to dismantle the existing settlements and in particular to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, INCLUDING JERUSALEM".

Personally I don't mind Jews living among Arabs in the West Bank, as long as the Jews mingle in with the Arab majority and become good neighbours and look to integrate with Palestinian society. What I, and the rest of the world have a problem with, is Jewish settlers building settlements where non-Jews aren't allowed, and attempting to destroy or replace Palestinian society. It's all just a bit racist really, sort of 19th century blood and land racism, with a bit of Bronze Age religion stuck in.

A Jew owns the property, and Jews will live there if they want to. Anywhere in the world where a government would dictate that Jews can't live in Jewish-owned property would cause a huge uproar. All the more so that Jews cannot be banned from living in their own property here in OUR land. OUR city. OUR capital. If the Arabs ***need*** to live apartheid, Jew-free lives, they will just have to do it in their own lands- elsewhere.

It sems to me the Israeli govrnment has totally renounced peace as it is blocking any posibility of progress by an enduring policy of building illegal settlements in the Palestinian West bank and Jerusalem. That's a pity. Israelseems to have chosen illegal settlements ove peace.

East Jerusalem s part of the West bank. It's a Palestinian city. Any Israeli settlement there is illegal. West jerusalem will never be recognized as the capital of Israel as long as East jerusalem has not been recognized as the Palestinian capital. The Israeli government needs to get real.

"In 1948 Jordan invaded and occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem." By agreement with Israel. Read the armistice AGREEMENT " Later Jordan renounced its claim." It was only a trustee.. " So who took over?" Israel OCCUPIED Res 242. " There has never been an entity called a Pal state" So what? There was never a USA until it declared itself. "Israel took over and united East and West Jerusalem." Israel OCCUPIED and illegally annexed East Jerusalem "There is no reason Jews and Arabs can`t liove in both parts of Jerusalem." At the moment it's ILLEGAL for Israeli civilians, Jews or Arabs or atheists, to be in "territories occupied". Just like it was illegal for Egyptian civilians to be in Gaza when Egypt occupied it.

"Wasn`t this the former home of the Muslim leader who spent the war in Berlin with Hitler?Joseph Do you support the murder of british citizens by these Jewish terrorists and nazi collaborators. "Contact with Nazi authorities German cover letter from January 11, 1941 attached to a description of an offer for an alliance with Nazi Germany attributed to Lehi. In 1940, Lehi proposed intervening in World War II on the side of Nazi Germany. It offered assistance in "transferring" the Jews of Europe, in return for Germany's help in expelling Britain from Mandate Palestine. Late in 1940, Lehi representative Naftali Lubenchik was sent to Beirut where he met the German official Werner Otto von Hentig. Lubenchik told von Hentig that Lehi had not yet revealed its full power and that they were capable of organizing a whole range of anti-British ops. On the assumption that the destruction of Britain was the Germans' top objective, the organization offered cooperation in the following terms.

Justice will come first and peace after. The foreign-funded oil lobby group jstreet/Appeasement Piece Now is desperate.

In 1948 Jordan invaded and occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Later Jordan renounced its claim. So who took over? There has never been an entity called a Pal state, and no Pal capital has ever existed. Israel took over and united East and West Jerusalem. There is no reason Jews and Arabs can't liove in both parts of Jerusalem. Who says East Jerusalem Arabs wouldn't prefer to be governed by Israel rather than the PA ? Jerusalem has been the focal point of Jewish history and prayer for three thousand years, just as Mecca and Medina have been the focal point for Islamic history and prayer for one thousand three hundred years.

Wasn't this the former home of the Muslim leader who spent the war in Berlin with Hitler? What more poetic justice than that Jews should live on Husseini's land. Over a million Arabs live inside Israel, but the PA must be judenrein? Who decided this? Grand Mufti Husseini's nephew Arafat?

"Is Jerusalem the only place (other than the "enlightened" Arab countries) where a Jew cannot purchase property and live there. Are these lefties liberal or racist?" No. Israeli Arabs can't either. Or Israeli atheists, Christians etc... "territories occupied" and not withdrawn from are still [????????]. It is illegal for an Occupying Power to institute it's civil law in "territories occupied" and which it has not withdrawn from, because it is still [????????] It is also illegal for an Occupying Power to unilaterally annex "territories occupied" and which it has not withdrawn from, because it is still [????????] 'lefties' ? No one on the 'right' believes in the law. AMAZING!!!

Answer pls

Blame the mayor it is the municiapality and the councilmen appoint the people. Just like Obama can't control the mayor of washington dc the PM doesn't control the mayor of jerusalem after israel annexed jerusalem in 1981. The mayor is involved in demolitions, moving people in and out.

Dear You, I have the feeling that should Binyamin Netanyahu and his partner Avigdor Lieberman carry on with their much debated entreprise towards the Arabs, no doubt that they will no longer appear to the Israelis as their country's keenest supporters but on the contrary as Israel's rash gravediggers. Indeed, true leaders ddetermine their policy considering only the long term and you can be certain that, in the long run, a more conciliatory attitude towards the Arabs will result in an increasing serenity for Israel and in that so ardently sought after peace that all the peoples in the Orient which are temporarily at war pray, for heaven's sake, to come now. Regards, Antoine GED PS : Please forgive me for the possible mistakes which couls appeaer in my present message; Just take note that the English language is far being my mother tongue. Thanks in advance ! A.G.

don't blame us though....it's been decided looooooong ago, like, last week!!! You really cannot help yourselves can you?

The hypocrisy of the western world regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is not a recent phenomenon. It has nothing to do with the dispute about East Jerusalem. Before th six-day war, prior to which Jerusalem for divided, the western powers with their interests set on OIL ,succumbed to the pressure exerted by the Arab world not to have their embassies' in West Jerusalem.

Is Jerusalem the only place (other than the "enlightened" Arab countries) where a Jew cannot purchase property and live there. Are these lefties liberal or racist?

We don't complain when Palestinians build in the Gallil, which they are all the time, so why is it news in Jerusalem when Jews have approval to build?

i dont think so...and these squatter jews will insist it become part of the zio-entity and we both know that so stop lying

Netanyahu promised that he'd set things up so that these *announcements* wouldn't happen at critical times. He made no promise to slow construction, but he promised to stop the publicity. This is the first critical time that he could have kept that promise, and it was broken. It could be argued that he hasn't had time to set up the necessary censorship. If he simply has not had time to begin to keep his promise, then no big deal. But what it might look like to Obama is that Netanyahu not only lacks the political power to create a temporary construction freeze, but he also lacks the power to reduce construction publicity -- he cannot keep his promises. If he can't keep a little promise like that, how can he have the power to negotiate a peace settlement? Better that the government fall and a new government is elected that is ready either to negotiate for peace or outright refuse to do so.

Israel, you are burning a bridge to the US that has been vital to your settlement enterprise since the occupation began. Burn, baby, burn. Free Palestine!

Quite right. The hotel was purchased by, shhhhh, don't say it allowed, a Jew. Thats what the problem is. But if a Turk or a Greek, for example had bought it, then, Halleluyah.

To the "international community" and our neighbors, it's as controversial as Israel itself. In Israel and in the Jewish community, it's only controversial to J Street, Meretz, and the rest of the "Peace" Now crowd.

The reason this is a problem is because it's part of a pattern in the ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem/West Bank. The entire world understands that even if the fanatics in Israel don't.

Dear You the Israeli people Please, watch out ! Should Binyamin Netanyahu and his partner Avigdor Lieberman unfortunately carry on doing their very nasty job towards the Arabs, I am deeply convinced that they no longer will be considered by the Jewish people as Israel's utmost supporters but on the contrary, and very very shortly, as Israel's crankiest gravediggers ! Antoine GED PS :Please do forgive me for my poor broken English ! And thanks in advance ! A.G.

B'g: "I just don`t get it. " True. B'g: "Someone bought the building and wants to build apartments there." And that's an excellent idea, because an occupying power is OBLIGATED to provide for the needs of the "protected persons" under its authority. You know, the Palestinians.... B'g: "Why is it a problem if Jews live there?" None, provided that these Jews are Palestinians. Becase if they are then they are "protected persons" under int'l humanitarian law. Only...... they ain't. These Jews are Israelis citizens, which means that NOT ONLY aren't they "protected persons" BUT ALSO their colonization of this territory is absolutely and unconditionally prohibited by int'l law. B'g: "They may find themselves living in the State of Palestine but that`s their choice to make, right?" UNTIL they make that choice then they are "citizens of the occupying power", and so their transfer into this territory is completely and unconditionally prohibited.

you cant have public housing for just on ethnicity....50 yrs ago they had jew or black free communities in USA...the jews got really upset about it....anyway my neighborhood has spanish, jewish, hindu, black, arabs...you name it we got it...and we all get along just fine...you should try it...might expand your narrow horizons

By all international standards?the U.N. Charter, the Fourth Geneva Convention, the rulings of the International Court of Justice?East Jerusalem has been indisputably recognized as occupied territory since the 1967 Six-Day War. U.N. Resolution 252 ?considers that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, including expropriation of land and properties thereon, which tend to change the legal status of Jerusalem are invalid and cannot change that status.? It also reaffirms ?... that acquisition of territory by military conquest is inadmissible.?

Haaretz again distorts reality. Firstly, Israel actually has a legal structure in place for East Jerusalem--it actually is currently part, an integral part, of normative state and local municipal custom and law. Also, as noted, the actual "final" approval already occurred months ago--this is merely along the lines of municipal recognition that key money has been for the project previously approved by the investors. The enabling authorization as with, well Mt. Scopus, or the development of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City has already occurred. This continual agitation by the combo of professional peacenikiim and their bedfollows of the Palestinian Authority will eventually devolve into accusing every Jew who sets foot anywhere in East Jerusalem and breathes its air as constituting another "slap in the face" of the American President. After all, on a daily basis, municipal functions occur across the former divide.

Every settler in every settlement in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan Heights is illegal under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention: ?The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.?

and pre detrmining the outcome before negociations....it is theft you idiot...why is it jews are so amoral they dont understand it is not theirs...get out stupid!!

I just don't get it. What's the big deal about this? Someone bought the building and wants to build apartments there. Why is it a problem if Jews live there? They may find themselves living in the State of Palestine but that's their choice to make, right?

A building permit reportedly issued by the Jerusalem Municipality for the construction of 20 Jewish homes on Sheikh Jarrah Street in east Jerusalem last week drew fierce condemnations from Peace Now on Tuesday night. On March 18, the municipality gave final approval for a request to construct the homes on the site of the Shepherd Hotel, which is slated for demolition, according to Hagit Ofran of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch. “The request was approved in principle last year, but final approval, which requires bureaucratic permits and the payment of funds, was given last week, according to the municipality’s Web site,” Ofran said. In a statement released on Tuesday night, the Jerusalem Municipality described reports on the fresh building permit as "distorted," adding, "The plan was already approved in July of last year. The approval by the committee [in July] was final, and not an approval in principal, and therefore the granting of [last week's] approval has no additional significance." The municipality added that the most recent permit was automatically granted after the site's owners had fulfilled their financial obligations. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171668 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/britain-protests-to-olmert-about-illegal-settlement-447535.html The British Ambassador Tom Phillips, has raised serious concerns with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office over proposals to demolish the empty Palestinian Shepherd's Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, and build apartments for 122 Jewish settler families in its place Now every little thing will be made into a big story by peace now who tried to ambush the meeting

The US needs to forget about Israel as long as he choses the nutty extremists over Kadima to form his government. Of course, he choses them because he agrees with them. The guy is a waste of time; why invest effort there when so many other worthwhile matters need attention? It is impossible to do business with someone who neither recognizes nor values the truth. Israel will still be there in a few years. We can wait it out.

On March 18, the municipality gave final approval for a request to construct the homes on the site of the Shepherd Hotel, which is slated for demolition, according to Hagit Ofran of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch. “The request was approved in principle last year, but final approval, which requires bureaucratic permits and the payment of funds, was given last week, according to the municipality’s Web site,” Ofran said. In a statement released on Tuesday night, the Jerusalem Municipality described reports on the fresh building permit as "distorted," adding, "The plan was already approved in July of last year. The approval by the committee [in July] was final, and not an approval in principal, and therefore the granting of [last week's] approval has no additional significance." The municipality added that the most recent permit was automatically granted after the site's owners had fulfilled their financial obligations. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171668

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/britain-protests-to-olmert-about-illegal-settlement-447535.html The British Ambassador Tom Phillips, has raised serious concerns with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office over proposals to demolish the empty Palestinian Shepherd's Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, and build apartments for 122 Jewish settler families in its place

Come on be real how is last thursday hours ago.

Obama should send Bibi packing without anything in his suitcase except a note that says: leave all occupied territories and end the occupation and we might be your friend again. Until then we consider you an enemy of the United States. Maybe that will get Israel's attention. The world is becoming impatient.

New Jerusalem Homes. Say are those people in Netanyahu's government normal !? I have repeatedly said that with such a huge government,you can only look forward to more of the same. In a small country like Israel, no more than Nine Ministers are required, And only two vice ministers.Each Ministry responsible for his/her department.

It goes on and on. Obama won big time with his Cairo speech but Israel has been eating away at that ever since and they will continue to do so. And, more importantly, they are eating away at any chance for a a peaeful settlement of the mideast conflict, or at any chance for a two settlement solution which is their only chance for a wholly, pristine, Kosher, all Jewish state that can ever be called anything like democratic.

This is a great decision. I support Israel. It is your land, dont let any other countries who support terrorist control you. Dont you know Obama is terrorist symphatizer? He has a whole bunch of muslims related terrorist activities in his administration. If you listen to this crazy Obama, you will lose to Islam. Obama has never dared to challenge Iran while Iran on the other hand challenge Obama by words and actions. This coward Obama will soon be a history.. Viva Israel.. Binyamin Netanyahu.. I know you are there, please be firm to defend your people and country.. Develop your own most advanced weaponary that defeat both USA and Russia. You are a great nation of so highly intellectual. Use it.. and USA and Russian or even China will not dare to dictate you less Arab countries.. In regard to Britain, just consider it a lost to Islam where there is sharia law that equally par to the British law.. Such a stupid government but too shame to admit..

Go and build and build and let us see what the end will be? The settlers will burn Israel. Believe you me.

Every Israeli PM for the last 40 yrs has built in Jerusalem. Bibi yesterday re-iterated that Israel would continue to build anywhere in Jerusalem. Why is this headline news on Haaretz like it's reporters discovered some secret plot?? The freeze in Jerusalem makes no sense, Israel will never give up it's eternal capital, but depending on where you stand politically Israelis may be willing to share it with a peaceful Palestinian people but that should not limit construction of homes for Jews now. No one is being hurt by this, Palestinian land isn't being ceased, this property was purchased fair and square, the owners of this property have the right to sell the apts to anyone they choose! Why does the international community object so much to Jews building homes but look the other way when Palestinians build bombs??

East and West Jerusalem have a future as affiliated metropolises. A one state solution is a recipe for disaster, but a one city solution is inevitable unless you think that the residents of the Shephard Hotel are simply going to leave East Jerusalem. It's not going to be accomplished by drawing a line down the new and old city. It will be achieved by coming up with some sort of bi-national or super-municipal control over the City. Wonder how many people have to die and how much property destroyed before Jews and Palastinains get real on the subject. Muslims and Jews will co-habit Jerusalem like husband and wife, and their marriage will be Catholic: No divorce. At least after the ideologue extremists are dispatched to Gehenna, the residents will like it. It will be great for the tourist trade.

Obama and Hillary Clinton need to realize that they work for the US Government and the US Government does not have jurisdiction beyond US borders.

The land was not confiscated, so whats the problem?

If the whole "West Bank" (I will call it that so I don't get attacked by rabid anti-semites who can't stand it being called its true name of Judea and Samaria) could be settled and pacified then we wouldn't suffer the appalling problems of a conflict with the so-called "Palestinians" (i.e. Arab-speaking land-thieves and immigrants, under their novel, fictitious pseudo-national identity). The restrictions on building there must END, whatever Obama thinks he can impose on Israel! Certainly there are enough millions of Jews in the world that the whole area could be reclaimed and civilised, if only there were the necessary construction programme and government encouragement. Then we could think about fixing Gaza too.

... will Obama continue smiling, and AIPAC continue applauding Bibi...?!

Are they trying to offend the US president and the United States? Because that's what it's looking like. After the debacle with Biden, you'd think they'd have the sense to not pull this sophomoric stuff again. Wow...