Mayor backs Netanyahu over ongoing East Jerusalem construction

Jerusalem has become a place where people with big heads and big egos build big ugly projects and are destroying the beauty of what was once a holy city. They have turned it into a religious shtetl and have paved the roads with tension and poverty.

He figures, if I screw it up enough with this haredi bonanza, then mashiah will have not choice but to come and fix the mess I have made. Just common sense.

Isn't it ironic calling President Obama arrogant and calling yourself "Gods chosen people" in the same breath? That belief is preventing peace as much as anything else.

don't remember any UN observers checking passports, whose building should be "frozen"... Keep in mind, they have 1/5 chance of running into an Arab and 1/6 into a Christian. There is only about 65 % of ethnic Jewish people in Israel... you can argue, but they are the ones who are being crucified, as a nation, in Israel by our own American Anti - Semite President... of course he will then say that we just have to be restrained, or we are, the descendant of Ieshua murderer, going to be too bad for ourselves. Imaging Israel 2000 years ago, roads stuffed with crucified Jewish people. And a man calling on our nation to offer gifts of love and compassion to our executioners... Thank you Mr. Obama for clearing our name of 2000 year old stigma.

I commend Israel on being direct and honest. I suppose that Bibi had no choice if he wants to keep his coalition alive. Still, it was a nice change. Now Obama must react and react just as strongly and just as honestly. If he sells out and Israel wins and continues EJ construction, then I will have to give them a "well done". I am hoping that Obama doesn't disappoint though. I doubt that Bibi will be in office at years end.

Have the Embassy make an assessment of the billions of dollars that have gone into Israel's colonialisation project over the decades and deduct that amount from US loan guarentees to Israel along with a ban on the entry of any products grown or manufactured in the occupied territories of Palestine. That should be the American response to the arrogance of this mayor who grants liberties to one segment of the population while denying them to the other.

America floods Israel with money, weapons and political support, and then fights Israel?s wars for them. In exchange, Israel spies on America, refuses peace making efforts, and interferes with America?s political and economical systems. There is no worse enemy that America has in the world today than this fake friend

Not all Jews or all Americans expect America to bend to every Israeli wish. Netanyahu is a Zionist first; a Jew, second. There?s a big gap between the two. Zionism uses Jews by imposing non-Jewish racist, nationalistic and colonial ideology on them. This harms Jews of conscience the world over and it?s doing a job on America, too. Time to say, "enough."

i feel secure too :)

those voices will go away if you just say no

Obama has sold his soul to satan .. for power, position .. 15 minutes in the lime light .. Filled with ego, pride, arrogance, vanity, self-righteousness, sin .. he has endangered the lives of millions of innocent, GODLY & lost ignorant ungodly people all over the world. Ohhh he will make history books .. as a liar, loser & the foolish CELEBRITY politician of all time .. who sold his soul to the devil. The same way he tried to HUMILIATE & DESTROY Prime Minister Netanyahu. Obama will reap what he has now sown .. Anyone who treat God's chosen Israeli people like scum is NOTHING to be admired or followed. GOD of ISRAEL will avenge .. vengeance IS mine I will repay, saith the LORD.

You want Israel. Fine. You want security and peace. Fine. You want to build some sort of Biblical Eden based on 3,000 years of the Bible. NO. I'm already fighting that kind of religious extremism in Afghanistan and Iraq. I will not encourage or finance it in Israel. Israel deserves to exist as a nation. Judiasm is as good, or as bad, a religion as any other religion. Israelis should live in peace and security. But religious idolatry? No. If I'm not going to condone that sort of behavior from the Taliban and al Qaeda, which were responsible for the deaths of more than 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, I am not going to allow it from Avigdor Lieberman and Benjamin Netanyahu. That's not anti-Semitism. That's just common sense.

YOU + GOD = VICTORY DO NOT BOW to BAAL DO NOT SELL YOU SOUL for ESAU'S STEW Do NOT FALL for the LIES & DECEPTION of SATAN'S PLAN to DIVIDE & DESTROY ISRAEL. When we are right with God-God of Israel- God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob- Yeshua Messiah- JESUS CHRIST .. NO DEVIL in HELL can come against ISRAEL Either we stand for God- Yeshua- God in the flesh OR we will fall for everything .. satan & all his filthy, anti-Christ, sinful, demonic spirits. It's high time to house clean REPENT & CALL on JESUS-Yeshua Messiah to wash ALL our past sins away with HIS atoning sacrificial blood .. HE IS the YOM KIPPUR to end ALL YOM KIPPUR, ABBA FATHER in the FLESH .. The WORD of GOD made flesh .. The ONE & ONLY MESSIAH we will ever have or need.. ONLY YESHUA-JESUS has DEFEATED SATAN Who is PRIDEFUL man to think he can defeat satan ? Only GOD can defeat HIS former sinful arch-angel CALL on the name of JESUS & HE will save ISRAEL With MUCH LOVE O ISRAEL

Chag sameach to all Jews and all others who love peace.

to build in Madina for worshipper. What sort of drugs you are on please. not allowed even to have bible or to celebrate Xmas never min d to build church or synagogue

in Mecca and Medina but not in our Holy Land Israel and Jerusalem

Jerusalem is united, and as Arafat used to say: Whoever does'nt like it can go drink from the Dead Sea. If someone wants to go to war over it(Arabs,Iran, the World) so be it.

to the pressure from 0bama/Clinton/Osama bin Laden&Co.It will backfire on them. Build our Jerusalem fast and let our enemies to ahout as much as they want. No more concession. May Hashem be with you at all times Hag Sameyah to Ham Israel Amen & Amen B"H NEXT YEAR IN OUR HOLY CITY JERUSALEM.

Or maybe it will. It did abandoned and tore down Gazan communities. Why not Jerusalem? IF Jews relinquish their rights in Jerusalem, the country is going to be doomed.

as bibi said himself it has been the policy for more than 42 years... and look what that has gotten us... the definition of madness is when someone keeps doing the same thing each time and expect the same results. its kind of like you have a brick wall and a door and for 42 years you keep walking into the brick wall all most cartoonish over and over because you feel that you should be able to walk through the brick wall.. meanwhile there is an open door right beside that brick wall but you stubbornly refuse to walk through it because you feel you should be able to walk through brick walls so over and over and over again you continue to walk in that brick wall? the key thing that some people refuse to accept is that no one is saying in the US and the rest of the world that you can't have Jerusalem in a future peace agreement. All the world is saying is negotiate now first if you want Jerusalem negotiate for it that is all the world is saying? enter into honest negotions

Here's reality - Obama knows he has no chance of getting Hamas to recognize Jewish Israel, disarmed and demilitarize Gaza, no matter what Israel gives Abbas. Obama knows he isn't going to do a damn thing about Iran's nuclear ambitions, no matter what Israel gives Abbas. Obama knows he doesn't have the hundreds of billions of dollars it would take to defend Israel in '67-like borders, and that Israel would demand as part of any such peace. And Obama knows he lacks the leverage to force 25 Moslem and Arab countries, especially the Saudis, to recognize Jewish Israel, sign treaties, normalize all relations, and set up embassies in Israel's part of Jerusalem, which Israel will legitimately demand as part of any "peace". Obama can't deliver on his part of the deal. He knows he's too weak to enforce Arab reciprocity. So what does he do? Try to make Israel the bad guy over 20 apartments, so the Obama "reputation" isn't tarnished when peace process collapses over his failure to support it.

The US is in the region to look after it's own interests. Don't delude yourself that they are here merely out of kindness to the Israeli government. I is Israel that was on the front line of Soviet expansion in the middle east during the cold war. Who do you think passes on intelligence on to the US about fundamentalist terrorism in the region? Who do you think has helped train US forces in anti-terrorist techniques. We're in the same boat, like it or not. Obama can try to be Woodrow Wilson if he want but realise this, Isolationism and appeasement has always been shown to be failed policies that prolong the inevitable.

he (and most probably advisor Emanuel) picked a fight over a fundamental issue that most Israelis/Jews agree - sovereignty over Jerusalem. Attempting to intimidate the PM into submission with threats and an obvious unprecedented ice cold backdoor White House reception to a supposed ally, BHO has not only strengthened the PM but has cast doubt on any U.S. commitments to Israel. BHO has singlehandedly damaged U.S. foreign policy. Alienating Israel and leaving a more popular PM/Israeli government with that age old isolated outlook, makes a sole Israeli strike on Iran ever more probable. But more importantly, the possibility of peace becomes more remote as Arabs are encouraged to hold out from sitting with Israel in face to face negotiations as they undoubtedly expect more to be squeezed out of Israel.

"king David has choosen this little tiny piece of land 3000 years ago for the Jews" It is better to come to reality and stop dreaming with NOSTALGIA of 3 thousand years ago. Time has changed!

Zealots are often out of touch with reality. Bush-Cheney were the USA equivalent of zealots, and now Obama is having to clean-up their mess. Hopefully soon someone will step forward and start cleaning up the Netanyahu-Lieberman-Ultra Orthodox mess.

that it was the "palestinians" that were the wild donkeys who created their own problems. Calling them "poor" only exposes your susceptability to propaganda.

That is one of the problems of Israel. Its cause have been hijacked by the religious fanatics of he US Christian right, And some Israelis believe them!

More and more Americans are puzzled about the point of American engagement in this never-ending and obviously intractable morass. It seems that the interest of all parties would be best served if the United States disengaged itself from region, as US involvement has brought little more than strife, financial squander, and a precipitous decline in US credibility and prestige. Perhaps it is time for Thailand or Colombia to step up and attempt to do what has remained impossible for over 60 years. Or -- better yet -- just let the disputants themselves settle it, either amicably (which is preferable) or violently.

John, you ought to read the deed to the land of Israel. It is given in the Holy Bible in Genesis chapter 15. In the USA it has long been accepted that any records of your family written in the Bible would be accepted in the courts and for Social Security purposes. Also if you read the history of David and Solomon you will learn that Jerusalem was under the rule of Jewish kings beyond 1000 BC. Face it John you don't know anything about the history back of the Jewish nation.

BB is headed in the right direction imo. The entire population of the world seems to be desperately grabbing at what they can in their hatred against the Jews. If America or any of Israel's arab neighbours were REALLY concerned about a Palestine state, or a home for the Palestinians, why not offer them a piece of land from their own country's estate??? It seems to me that people are just merely using this issue as opportunity to beat on Israel and the Jews. Thank God for a PM like BB who has backbones in times like these when the international bullies rear their ugly heads and raise their fists to bully a lone single state.

Precisely. The inclusion of Silwan, Sheik Jarreh, Section B of Ma'ale Adumim, laying claim to large areas of the Muslim Qt. in the Old City, is precisely intended to create an irreversible demographic reality. Its goal is not only the municipality itself, but to surround that municipality with the already existing metropolitan area which will make any expansion or growth of the remaining and reduced Arab sections impossible which in turn will act to reduce the Arab population. This is clearly the direction of the government and it is one the international community,now confronting desperate land grab in EJ, will no longer countenance.

The only time Jerusalem was under Jewish rule was during the Kingdom of the Hasmoneans. around 170 yrs. or so. The Muslims ruled it and built it over 1191 years. The egyptians, ruled it as a vassal state for several hundred yrs. in the 2nd milleniun BCE. The Italians ruled it for 444 yrs. The Greeks ruled it for 160 yrs. So you see it was others, other than Jews who actually built Jerusalem.

this makes israel look as out of Law State!

Not sure if Haaretz will publish my response but here it is: You can't claim or prove that our prophet has slaughtered any jews and these are unreasonable, unreliable claims to be connected to this issue. As a muslim, I don't see any problem with Jews building al Madina for worshipping or any other religious forms. Looking at the current situation, there are millions of Palestinians who long to live in peace and build their state with Jerusalem as a capital. Your unreliable historical claims disregard this right and this would be offensive and inhuman.

Best post on talkback in months. A perfect analysis!

there is a problem with BB that is shared by no other PM or head of state in any weastern democracy...he is actually try and do what he was elected for! what a novel concept!

#15 thank you for your short and intelligent response. the world always look for something to use to hate jews.THEY LOVE HATING JEWS. JERUSALEM is their new ISSUE.

to surrender it so Obama can win this week's newscycle?

The international community does not and will not recognise Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem. At this critical point, Israel senses that more than ever and in response is frantically flaying its arms to chomp off bigger and bigger pieces of territory so it cannot be reclaim by the Palestinians. Establishing demographic facts on the ground has worked for Israel in the past, but no more. The world is fed up and sees how this has nothing to do with security. Israel is being "davka". It's intransigence is apparent. Israel is on the thresehold of an internal conflict not seen since the foundation of the State. Over the past 40 some yrs, Israel has created a segment of the population that feels itself apart from the state, liberal, democratic values, indeed from the international community itself which it sees as inimical to its divine right interests. It is as uncompromising as the Islamicists. netanyahu has his hands full.

Bibi does not have a mandate from the Jewish people. It looks he does not even have a mandate from Israelis, as Kadima had more votes. Israel is fast transforming itself into South Africa before 1990: isolated, self centered and unfair. As a Jew I feel more and more disconnected from Israel and its policies.

I just want to let Prime Minister Netanyahu and most of Israel that our Obamma Admin. just dont have a clue of what they are doing. Seems like they are siding with the enemies of Israel which is going to stir the fire even more. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel.

Not one of your comments is rooted in reality or geopolitical fact. Your silly posts give women and Floridians a bad name.

If you wish to open Jerusalem to all wealthy Arabs in the vicinity (some 50 million as I recall), Would it not be appropriate to allow Jews to build in the city they were driven from by your prophet, the city of Medina. Again as I recall, he slaughtered thousands in the course of taking the city and expelling the Jews. Fair trade, No?

Waaoo, the F word, etc. What else is your home? from Algeria to Egypt, from Arabia to Persia, from Turkey to Afghanistan,You kicked or killed one million Jews from Arab land, we are so sorry that king David has choosen this little tiny piece of land 3000 years ago for the Jews, but you know what? we love it and thats where we will stay, and this time you have to kill us all, TRY.Maybe Hussein can help you.

If Israelis have the right to build in Jerusalem then Arabs should be given the same right. Let all wealthy Arabs come and build in Jerusalem. Both Arabs and Israelis have rights in Jerusalem.

To ask Palestinians to come to the proximity talks ATM is telling them that East Jerusalem will never be their capital. Seems its either Palestinians accept loss of east jerusalem or Israel stops building there or the option NO ONE WANTS - war. What else is there. almost seems like one must solve jerusalem before any real talks start (well any talks that might actually ever truly get anywhere) Seems the world - israel and palestinians are actually having indirect talks and on the most important topic of all - Jerusalem. The outcome will determine weather or not there actually is and or will ever be a peace process! If any one asks Palestinians to come to the table at this exact moment you are asking them to give up east jerusalem. That's all coming to the table without israel stopping is ATM!

Jews built Jerusalem 3000 years before UN emerged and before Obama was born. Buzz off guys, hands off Jerusalem.

No one has a right to tell Israel they cannot build in their own land or capital. This land is ours. God gave this land to us and no man will dictate otherwise. This Obama is an impostor, a false political prophet, and he is no friend to Israel. Israel needs to worry less about what Obama thinks and worry about what they must do. Jerusalem will never be a capital of the so called Palestinians as long as I or any Jew has breath in his body. The roadmap to peace will open up a whole new Pandora's box of issues and conflicts and will lead to a great war. Israel will win this war.

There are two possible redeeming rationales for the Administration's obsession with Jerusalem construction, although not for its complete abdication of responsibility for blocking Palestinian resort to violence and concomitant manipulation of negotiations: a) The President has become convinced that Bibi will actually never concede any portion of the "united capital" to Palestinian authority, ever, in final negotiations and b) the bits and pieces of the construction plans are intended not merely to buttress Jewish neighborhoods that had been assumed to be ceded to Israel in past negotiating understandings but to integrate a united capital that precludes division--that is removes the possibility of any portion of Al Quds to serve as a capital for a Palestinian state. If this emerges as the direction of the current government there could not only be further nastiness but a tipping point in favor of the American President.

Who's in charge in Israel? Is it the PM, who keeps getting blindsided by the likes of Yishai? If the PM doesn't control his gov't, why is the US wasting its time even talking to him? And if no one is in charge of Israel, why bother talking to anyone in its gov't? The US boycotts Hamas. Time for us to boycott Shas.

It seems like complete Isolation from the International comunity for Israel is not so far away... With no peace in mind, no willingness to give and absolutely no sense of diplomacy whatsoever, it is going straight downhill...

Finally, we have a prime minister who isn't afraid to do the right thing for his country and tell everyone else to go to hell.

When the right starts emitting all this hard-line braggadoccio, it's time to mark your calendar... they'll be caving in within days. Go ahead, check me, you'll see.

I think, from what I have seen lately, that many Jews in this world would give Silvan Shalom an argument as to whether or not Bibi has a mandate from them to continue with his present course.

The Wild Dog that UK and USA intoduced to the poor Palistians has gone so wild that the two big powers can not controll it and more and it serves tight.