'Netanyahu to propose 10-month settlement freeze'

actually. 2000 homes have been given the go-ahead, then another 500, now this 900. Peace Now documented another 700+ going ahead quietly in the settlements, which we were not meant to hear about. That adds up to about an extra 16,000 settlers already when these are all occupied. And how many more will quietly go ahead in the coming months, away from prying eyes? This is institutionalised national trickery on an industrial scale, Bibi's way of keeping his right wing coalition partners on side. I wonder if Obama will fall for it though?

The bottom line is that nobody is going to enter into good faith talks with Israel while it is creating more bad faith facts on the ground. E J'sem is not some special case, Israel can no more legally build there than anywhere else on the West Bank. None of it is Israeli sovereign territory and Israel does not have a legal or moral leg to stand on. If Israel genuinely wanted peace talks and a solution - which most of the right decidedly don't - it would freeze ALL settlement building for the duration of the talks. This partial freeze is just a charade. Bibi knows full well that the PA cannot participate until the bulldozers stop, or the only winner will be Hamas. That is the result he wants, stalemate, so he can claim there is no partner for peace and thus avoid the final reckoning. Unless Obama twists arms sharply, his peace talks are dead in the water.

Who in their right mind would deal with a builder who was on the verge of financial collapse? Who would order merchandise from a factory when the workers are on verge of a major strike? Answer: ISRAEL

Below this article is one entitled: Comment / Why the left in Israel has vanished Yossi Beilin is one of the reasons why the left in Israel has vanished. In many ways he did sterling work, but this latest attempt at walking in between the cracks illustrates why he ended up losing the trust of both sides. He was made a Chevalier of the French Legion d'honneur yesterday. Let's hope Mr Beilin contents himself with that and that Bernard Kouchner looks for a better oracle to explain what is undermining peace thereafter.

Nyet...don't do it...build the settlements..Israel is entitled as war was put upon her and not the other way around...she should look out for herself.

Hasn't it been about 10 months since Bibi came into power ? Hasn't there been an effective freeze all this time ? Time to pressure the PA. Incrementally approve building starts monthly in increasing numbers. Either the PA compromises now or lose more and more potential territory. In the present situation, they have nothing to lose by waiting. That must be changed.

Why continue with all this nonsense? Stop jerking your citizens around. Negotiations? Mr Netanyahu, I have heard you on countless interviews that there is no negotiating with the puppet masters in control of the Palestinians. What you need to understand is that ISRAEL is the hand that holds the stick - NOT the US! Prove it out. Stop letting the US push you around! Waste Iran's nuclear plants, and then build some more houses in East Jerusalem while the press is distracted by Iran. If you did this, I would toast your glory!

But, the anti-Israeli halfwits act as though this is no gesture at all. It's all-or-nothing for the imbeciles.

Netanyahu was elected because of fear and exhaustion from wars and terrorist attacks. He gave us a false sense that he could make Israel safer. Not at all to keep the territories. Most Israelis are in favor of land for peace in the W. Bank and about half of that group are also willing to share Jerusalem. Netanyahu has been very negative towards those goals. Where is the opposition in Israel???

Natural Growth will continue along with illegal building in outposts and possible the construction with permits already issued which is alot. For the most part only Jews can get permits to build in B and C areas, the PA controlled A areas are limited to only afew per month. The Roadmap calls for all building to stop but Netanyahu was elected to make sure that its not implemented.

The best idea - stop establishing jewish settlements on Palestinian ground for 30 seconds! Maybe there will be a better offer tomorrow- halting jewish expansiion for 35 seconds?? Israel is creating enemies every single day. Israel NEEDS enemies ? on which Israel is based on. The Gaza-war killing 1400 Palestinians created tenhousands of new enemies, including children who will never forget what nation killed their parents just for nothing. The state of Israel is based on enemies, not friends. Enemies of Israel are threatened by being attacked daily by military means, even nuclear. Friends of Israel are used being blamed of anti-zionism every day no matter the subject might be. THAT NATION DOESN T WANT PEACE. WAR SELLS.

The real cost of freezing building in Jerusalem is a 10 month municipal delay. Big deal. The psychic cost is great since Arab rights in the Old City would be obviously on the table whether Netenyahu agrees that that's the case or not. I would be really surprised if he can get a majority of his cabinet to back him on that even if that were his preference. Obama should keep up the pressure. Perhaps despite all the bluster, he will determine that he can't "manage" the U.S. otherwise and convince his government that that's the case.

No new settlements will be authorized. No new construction will be approved. 'Natural Expansion' of all settlements and enlargement of current construction will be welcomed.

As a Palestinian, I would like the Palestinian Authority dismantled, we want one state, and you can call it Israel if you want, and we want one man, one vote. Since you don't want to follow international law regarding Jerusalem and the West Bank, and you are sabotaging the two state solution, what's the point of negotiating a two state settlement? Israel thinks it's okay to talk peace while demolishing homes in East Jerusalem and housing Jews, while not giving permits for Arabs to live and build in East Jerusalem or West Jerusalem for that matter. Israel is an apartheid state. Let the apartheid state that doesn't believe in a true, two-state solution form one state for all.

Prove the cynics wrong!!!! Good step!

"Beilin's comments came a day after Israel defied American, European and Palestinian demands to stop settlement activity by announcing it will press forward with construction of 900 apartments in another Jewish area in East Jerusalem." And on the day Israel destroyed four houses in East Jerusalem, http://imemc.org/index.php?obj_id=53&story_id=57148 not that we see any reports on that in this newspaper. Why not? Along with settlement freeze, Netanyahu must also freeze house demolitions in East Jerusalem. The US must insist on that.

... freeze has to be immediate, total, no exceptions, no dispensations... ... then we will see how compliant the Pals will be, how Shalit will come home... and more... ... it could be so good-for-all, that we might even want to continue with it... that would be the ultimate achievement...

Give it 24 hours--then "there is nothing new--must allow for natural growth and 2500 approved". If Israel wanted to do something it would at least halt demolitions of Arab houses for 10 months--but not even that?

Some of my Israeli friends tell me that Bibi is the one who can make peace. I hope they're right.

I thought it would take time so he builds more settlements. But it was too fast

or ONE STATE SOLUTION!

they should reject Bibi's offer as inadequate and hold out for a better offer.