Netanyahu: Settlement freeze is 'one-time, temporary' move

Talk with whom ? Isn't that why none of them is talking; not to lose face with one another & each of them will look the strong man. Another silly illusion ? And for how long Israel will have to wait ? Another 60 years ? Building settlements will cross the Ts & dote the Is. !

"We shall resume building once the moratorium is over" Bibi.

"We shall resume building once the moratorium is over" Bibi.

...nothing to it. Have the Palestinians illegally transferred 500,000 of their citizens into occupied Israel? Nope, the Palestinians are not the occupying power, Israel is and the Palestinians have continually lost land and resources to the Israelis, not gained any. Have the Israelis illegally transferred 500,000 of their citizens from the occupier country to the occupied territories? Yes, from the West Bank to East Jerusalem (and the Golan), Israel has violated international customary law more than 500,000 times. There, I hope that clears things up for you.

...at Bibi's repeated slaps. Pity Israel when he gets a little more free time...

... if it is a temporary freeze, or permanent freeze, or partial freeze or full monte freeze. Construction is only the current distraction that Abbas hides behind to come to the table and work out the borders and make compromises on his outlandish demands. The truth is that he can't make any compromises without losing his life. The Arab position has never changed: They won't settle for less than ALL of Israel. Once you understand that, you start to understand the entire conflict.

When construction does recommence Netahyahu will claim that there is now a new "legitimacy" to this Israeli construction (a.k.a. "Israeli colonization") because, you know, that was then and this is now. In short: he will attempt to claim *after* this farcical "moratorium" that any new construction is now (somehow) perfectly kosher. Err, no. If it was illegitimate BEFORE this nonsensical "moratorium" then it will be just as illegitimate AFTER the "moratorium" ends, and no amount of ludicrous "Keystone Cops" running around by Israeli "building inspectors" will change that.

Just as everyone expected, the latest so-called freeze is nothing but a circus stunt and not a valid peace offering as claimed. The Palestinians have been proven very wise not to trust Israel and reject its latest ploy to fool the West. There is no need to negotiate with Netanyahu and the rest who currently claim to govern Israel anyway because Israeli and its military is controlled settlers. The US should stop wasting its time talking to Netanyahu and instead begin discussions with the settlers directly, because Netanyahu jumps to their commands and not the other way around.

Israel is currently ruling over 5.5 million disenfranchised Palestinians who don't seem to be slowing their population growth. And Israel is hell bent so much on preventing them from having independence the country has lost sight that the timer on the demographic bomb is ticking. Where are the towns being built inside the green line? The Israeli right doesn't seem to care. How long did the Sunni dominate and disenfranchise the Shia in Iraq? How long will Israeli right wingers do the same in Israel?

This "group of rightist extremist settlers" Has very good reason for being where they are and very good reason for their struggle against the very same government that initially supported their cause. You only need to read the Six day war story in order to unerstand where they are coming from.

"Who is in charge in Israel? The settlers?" - Marie Yes.

So what is the purpose of the freeze? To placate Washington, make Israel look like they want peace, get the PALS to the table, and then do what they want 10 months later???? Stupid and a waste of time. Freeze all settlements and building in East Jerusalem until final status talks are completely done.

that is the problem. Survival of the state is hanging on the slender thread of a rag-bag coalition pulling in different directions. That is a recipe for disaster but that is how Israel is governed. Fractious and questionable.

Netanyahu has no sincerity, when he speaks to the rest of the world. He launches every backburner construction project he can find, then announces the "painful sacrifices" of a ten month freeze? I am so sickened that Hillary congratulated him on his unprecedented gall. He seeks diplomatic kudos at a cost of nothing. Meanwhile, the spoiled rotten settlers don't even need prodding to complain about a ten-month red tape delay on new projects. The settlement process makes me sick. It's goals are immoral and illegitimate. And some of the nastiest settlers are American rejects who think it's some kind of game hunt or cowboys and indians adventure. Bibi - please - shut up until you have something real to offer. Smoke, mirrors, stalling, and self congratulation as more facts on the ground - oops - appear, are all nonsense not worthy of a real national leader.

"We shall resume building once the moratorium is over," Netanyahu told a conference organized by the financial newspaper Calcalist. But the thing is, to resume something, you actually have to stop doing it. And seeing as the construction crews will be kept busy during the 'moratorium', you can't say that you've stopped building.

How can you, Israeli people, accept to be ruled and dictated by a group of rightist extremist settlers imposing their will on both your government,your army and your Knesset? Is this the face of democracy in your country?

all my life i have heard politicians talk about temporary measures ?? they always lie !!

... is a phenomenal daily feat... ... no wonder he is feeling a tat unwell...

It's quite simple, Israel is breaking every thing it promised when it declared Sovereignty. The UN Charter. The Laws of War and Geneva Conventions. UNSC Resolutions. Even it's own Declaration. Letter From the Agent of the Provisional Government of Israel to the President of the United States, May 15, 1948 // ?MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to notify you that the state of Israel has been proclaimed as an independent republic within frontiers approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution of November 29, 1947, and that a provisional government has been charged to assume the rights and duties of government for preserving law and order within the boundaries of Israel, for defending the state against external aggression, and for discharging the obligations of Israel to the other nations of the world in accordance with international law. The Act of Independence will become effective at one minute after six o?clock on the evening of 14 May 1948..//

...START If, as the UN states, the final status is to be decided upon negotiations, than, Abbas, being unwilling to negotiate on pre-conditions is certainly a bad start to what will be a NEGOTIATING PROCESS. Perhaps if Abbas dismantled every last remnant of a Terrorist organization and ensured a full moratorium on the priting and dissemniation of Hate literature. Then Bibi would oblige in kind with A FULL FREEZE. (this is of course a little far fetched as bibi, and I agree, will not stop in EJ because it would be a sign of giving in, and Jerusalem, well good luck to you. you have Stockholm behind you for whatever that is worth) But seriously, if the restarting of NEGOTIATIONS is to be done on the basis of demands I do not think we will have much to look forward to when the times comes to NEGOTIATE, rather than Assert demands.

"The cabinet's decision will be carried out and enforced fully," Barak said. "On the other hand, it will be carried out in a way that ensures as much dialogue as possible with residents." Yeah -- ten months' worth.

There is no freeze...if 2,500 units continue construction and another 480 units will start soon, that does not comprise a freeze. Bibi has done little to really promote peace..this freeze is a joke. Settlements are illegal..it's been US policy since the 80's & that settlements are not approved by the USA. Your political acumen is weak by your silly statements; Obama stills enjoys 57% - 60% plus in likeabilty.&.approval, but agreement on his policies are another story. But voters vote on who they like..America still likes Obama. The entire Democrat caucus in Congress depends upon Obama succeding..so majorities in Congress are behind him. Doc Brnd why are you more interested in the success of Israel instead of USA? Why don't you migrate to Israel? Is life too good in America to give it up?

Attempting enforcement of the 10-month construction freeze will lead to settler violence. I hope no one gets killed. Wonder who will win out - the enforcement authorities or the settlers. Basing my opinion on past experience (ever since the Park Hotel in Hebron), I'm not too optimistic.

And Barak said: "The cabinet's decision will be carried out and enforced fully," Barak said. "On the other hand, it will be carried out in a way that ensures as much dialogue as possible with residents." Well, judging by the decades-long dialogues, this latest dialogue will certainly exceed the 10 months and the "freeze" will duly "melt" away. David

Netanyahu is obviously getting flack from the various political factions that propped up his campaign to get him into power. In short he has painted himself into a corner with his promises and is now trying to placate by issuing ridiculous statements like this. How on earth can anybody take Israel's political initiatives seriously when he comes out with this nonsense? Is there anybody going to take control in Israel and come up with some immediate and meaningful dialogue? Don't hold your breath!

So Bibi thinks that we expect "paradise" from him! If there will be other moves such as this one, we'll end up with no Arabs in Jerusalem and settlements dominating the north west bank; I mean in Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem. So I am happy its a one-time move!!!!

...what the left hand is doing in Israel and I do not mean the political views. Normaly the result is Zero ot total mess.

While it is true that a number of Americans are unhappy with some of Obama's policies such as sending more troops to Afghanistan, when it comes to Israel's occupation/settlements - many Americans wish Obama would kick ass and enforce consequences for Israel's continuing "smoke and mirrors" games.

This guy is pulling our legs - there is nothing more permanent that "temporary". I don't believe you Mr. Prime minster. You are just trying to calm down those who voted for you and trusted your commitments. Shame on you!

decide to openly defy the law and are not confronted by the government , democracy becomes the rule of the mob .

Since the basis for the "freeze" is to enable immediate resumption of talks, enforcement action has no legitimacy unless and until the PA actually does so. Bibi should set a deadline of, say, 30 days for PA reciprocity. No serious negotiating by then, and the "freeze" unfreezes for good and Israel builds where it chooses. Obama has little political support in the US among voters or the Congress for pressing Israel on this, and has zero support if the Arabs don't swiftly reciprocate. He'll fold rather than rick a fight he can't win. All signs are that they won't reciprocate, so Barak is digging his own political grave (again) by putting the cart before the horse. Just as well, Barak's bungling "leadership" has been a disaster both for Israel and his own party, now on the edge of evaporating.

Barak means to say that Obamas decision will be enforced. Why are they so afraid of Obama? Do they not know that his popularity here in the US is plunging downward. Most Americans are sick of Obama and his failed policies.

"Despite the settlers' warnings, defense officials said Tuesday that the Shin Bet will devote resources to help the government implement a building freeze in Israeli settlements. " Gosh, that's gracious of them! What are we talking about here, a country or collection of fiefdoms? Is the Shin Bet at the service of the state or Don Corleone's right fist? Sounds like another reason why our protracted sojourns in Lebanon weren't good for us. We thought we were going to sort them out and their sectorial arrangements seem to have ended up inspiring imitation. Or is it emulation?

does it not have police?

And so the Kabuki Dance goes on. The government pretending to freeze, the Settlers performing ritual opposition. The stage even includes private highways for the Settlers which are like the hanamich, extending through the Palestinian spectators. The problem is that if the government performance is not credible, or the Settlers over act their part, the Kabuki Dance will turn out to be a Shinju.

...why fight? Just cease the IDF protection of settlers at any point where they behave unlawfully. For good. Get out of there.

So the Shin Bet guy in charge of surveillance on settlers is a settler himself, as was his predecesror. And Barak's reaction to the settlers obstructing his every move is to call them 'responsible, patriotic and Zionist'. Ooo Barak, you're really going to scare them with tough language like that! This is a farce and it's actually quite funny because none of it means anything. The freeze is a fake and the whole world knows that, so we can just sit back and enjoy the show while Barak attempts to make it look real, without actually in any way enforcing it. Hopefully the EU will press ahead with its plans to emphasise that the whole West Bank is Palestinian territory, so making the settlers future Palestinian citizens. I'm sure the Palestinian authroties will be able to institute a freeze on illegal settlement building VERY rapidly.

The minority Israeli far-left thinks nothing of going over the heads of the Israeli government in asking outside sources like the US to implement their rejected policies. The minority far-right tries to bully their rejected policies through.It's a wonder the NORMAL people in the centre left and right are able to keep this country together with all the subversive elements within.

Is the Israeli government going to condone this? What would happen if say, a Palestinian village would refuse to cooperate in any way with Israel interference? (hint: raids, arrests etc) Time to make the settlers realise that they are not above or beyond the law. Will it happen? Nah, very doubtful