Mitchell, Clinton welcome Israel settlement moratorium

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/world/middleeast/26israel.html?ref=world "The building moratorium had been anticipated and offered previously to the Palestinians via American mediators. It was turned down on the grounds that it did not include Jerusalem." Got that? The Americans had ALREADY proposed this to the Pals, and then reported back to Netanyahu that such an offer simply wasn't a goer. Q: So what does Netanyahu do? A: He goes public with the "offer" anyway Who cares what the Americans have already told him in private i.e. all Netanyahu has done with this announcement is publically poke his finger in the eye of both the Pals and the Americans, and for no other reason than to score some propaganda points. Going to go over like a lead balloon....

Go here, and watch Mitchell's official response: http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=52607607001 He tries to be positive, but it is clear he isn't terribly impressed. And he doesn't really try to hide that as far as the USA is concerned this simply isn't going to be enough. If Bibi thinks this with get Mitchell off his back then he is about to be very disappointed indeed.

But Hillary did. Last month she "praised" Netanyahu for his "unprecedented" partial, limited, short term, maybe just a little, pause-y freeze, and got all sorts of well-deserved hell for doing so--and now she is jumping in again with praise for what will almost certainly be another slippery proposal from Israel's truly yucky Prime Minister. Abbas has it just right. Stop the settlements and the building in East Jerusalem. And stop means stop. And then, to show good will, start packing your bags so plans can begin for a Palestinian state.

"Jews lived in Israel before the America was discovered" And so did the Romans, the Greeks (of several different states), the Persians, the Egyptians, the Philistines, the Arabs ... I could go on but the point is that the Jews were only one group out of many. In any case, why should 21st century Americans have the right to live in ethnically cleansed areas of the Middle East just because they have a similar religion to a few people who lived there 2,000 years ago?

The settlements ARE illegal, Cohen, every last one of them, including those in Jerusalem. Everybody knows this, including Abbas & Co.

... to sit in Canada and advise the Pals and Israelis how to conduct themselves... not to mention Obama's domestic and foreign policy...

Joshua your right is the same right for the arab palestinian!

"I am getting a feeling is Obama & Mitchell are stoking the fire and causing a fire-storm by making such comments regarding `legitamacy of the settlements". You clearly don't get it. The settlements are illegal. How many more times do you need reminding? The international community is giving Israel time (Ad nauseum) to come to terms with this fact but, well, you know the rest.....

And after Israel screws around for the next ten months---then what---back to the business (Officially) of the greater Israel. Forget this scam Palestinians---declare your state and let the UN sort Israel out. No point in wasting vauable live on this pariah state ---get the Resolution ready and file it with the UN.

"Red Cross visit the kidnapped soldier for three years, or have him released from the clutches of the terrorists?" If Hamas were "terrorists", Gilad Shalit would be dead long ago. They exist to fight against Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands.

That's because it was aranged and workedout by Nat..Clinton and Mitchy...Americans can not be trusted anymore and they will never be honest.

And who you talking to,Hamas does not recognize Israel and calls Israel the enemy .The Palestinian Authority is like the government of Iran ,not wanted by the Palestinians ,but then The USA of Obama ,Clinton and Mitchell do not care for democratic values ,nor would they recognize Israel's Historic rights to the biblical land ,afterall Jews lived in Israel before the America was discovered

I don't understand. The Palestinians want a total freeze before any more negotiations can begin. A "freeze" is just a temporary thing. So why doesn't Bibi just call a total freeze so that these negotiations can begin? He can always say the freeze is off if he doesn't like what he hears. Why make a big deal out of this announcement when it seems to be just more of the same?

""the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps" says Hillary. Is this the first time that the American gov has explicitly said they foresee a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders (including mutually agreed 1-1 land swaps)? That step could be more important to the peace process than Netenyahu's non existent freeze.

settlement freeze was unacceptable without halt in construction in Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of a state.

it is giving finishing to what was built before. All settlements must be removed and those colonizers must return to where they came from

"I am getting a feeling is Obama & Mitchell are stoking the fire and causing a fire-storm by making such comments regarding `legitamacy of the settlements`" Something wrong with asking Israel to adhere to the law? That is all anyone is asking.. "Israel government will not tolerate his nonsense because people from this part of the world, no matter who is starting to get disgusted." Imagine how the Palestinians feel about their territory stealing neighbour..

"We have heard this mantra ad nauseum for decades." No we haven't .. the US has protected Israel via the veto vote in the UNSC. "Now what is the US Gvt. going to DO about it ?? For a change ?" With hold the veto vote in the UNSC...

The reality being that the U.S. cannot win against the power of the Israeli Lobby and big Wall Street money. Israel will have its way, unless of course there is another war in the Middle East.

As the ancient Greeks would have said, enough of these Phoenician type tricks. We know these tricks, This is just a tweaking of the last offer to the Americans because they weren't satisfied, so, Israel, is giving a counter offer while Netanyahu is still trying to look palatable to his right wing while knowing that allowing for home demolitions, land annexation to be something the Palestinian side won't accept. Just follow international law, spare Palestinians and Jews from more and violence. We look horrible in the eyes of the world? Do we really need this kind of life?

I am getting a feeling is Obama & Mitchell are stoking the fire and causing a fire-storm by making such comments regarding 'legitamacy of the settlements'. Now abbas & Fayed will begin repeating these statements. Obama is no fool and a good political inciter. This time, Israel government will not tolerate his nonsense because people from this part of the world, no matter who is starting to get disgusted. He should look at the Afganistan, Iraq & his country health care system & come to gripes instead of looking at Israel. How come he has not insisted that the Red Cross visit the kidnapped soldier for three years, or have him released from the clutches of the terrorists? He should look at the history since the birth of the State of Israel & the wars against this State before he come up with his ridiculus, forceful suggestions

"....He also noted that the U.S. government does not recognize the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements...." OK, OK. We have heard this mantra ad nauseum for decades. Now what is the US Gvt. going to DO about it ?? For a change ?

Well I guess that's the end of the so-called peace talks.

How is this "freeze" different from what was promised before to Hilary Clinton?