Palestinians: Netanyahu didn't announce real settlement freeze

An ancient Jewish prophet, Isaiah, warned ancient Israel about its corrupt ways. That was before the Assyrian invasion. He talked about how peace is the fruit of justice. If we use Isaiah's definition of peace, Israel doesn't believe in peace because I doubt ethnic cleansing is a form of justice. Israel has been building settlements for decades. It's been lying to the world.

"we do not put any restrictions on building in our sovereign capital" "we will not halt existing construction" "we will continue to build synagogues, schools, kindergartens and public buildings"(ie-infrastructure). in the same breath used to announce he's freezing settlement construction, netanyahu makes clear that he's NOT. what exactly is the opportunity the palestinians should be jumping to take advantage of? the "true" reality is that israel never misses an opportunity to make it LOOK like the palestinians missed an opportunity... only bibi isn't real good at it. so far, HIS ploys have all been clumsy and transparent.

receive and the poor judgement they have in voting in leadership that doesn't want them to have peace and only wants them to live poorly and suicide bomb,learn revisionist history or no history at all and who keeps them in armed struggle, this is sickening. In 2000 they could have had piece but chose continued warfare.Nothing will change until they learn history and understand that they are being used by the arab regimes and Iran.Israel is the one country that could help them but they are locked up in negative thinking

This is a simple plan like the Gaza Pullout. Everyone here say's all the time see Israel pulled out of Gaza (Only to block the exits). So in a month or two we will hear that it's the Palestinian's fault for stalled negotiations. Sadly this will work as the Gaza pullout worked to Israel's political advantage. The PLO must disband and return all day to day control to Israel and stop acting as a cover to the occupation. A 1 state solution is growing every day so be happy and put the pressure on that outcome, forget the 2 state solution and watch the world sing a whole new tune. Simply ask for human rights.

The Israelis must do more to accommodate their Palestinian brothers.

Did Netanyahu say that ALL building would end? Did he say all construction would end? Did he say that not one nail would be driven? Of course not. All he said was that no new construction would be authorized. He did not say that other planned construction would be redirected to already planned expansions. He did not say that ALL building would be halted. All he said was no new plans would be started in the last 10 months. Given the acceleration of plans announced this month, what actual restraint has been announced? None.

Why the magic munber of a "TEN" month freeze. Does it have a significance as per "TEN" commandments or is it the expected life span of this goverment? Or maybe it is the time requested by the building contractors to catch up on the backlog of construction?

No "real" settlement freeze. Riiight. Always looking for something for nothing. Why should Israel provide a "real" house building freeze without a "real" terrorism freeze, a "real" rocket building freeze, a "real" arab boycott freeze. Israel has undertaken massive gestures to the "palestinians", not the least of which was Oslo and letting the PLO leadership enter from Tunis, allowing a PA regime to even exist, allowing foreign economic aid (which they didn't have to do) - and to date have seen ZERO evidence of any interest in a "2-state" peace treaty - refusal to recoignize Jewish Israel under any circumstances, refusal to abandon idiotic "right of return" to Israel, etc. This 10-month "freeze", real or not, should be the last chance. No Arab reciprocity, and Israel annexes Ariel, Adumim, Etzion blocs of Jewish towns, plus the entire Jordan river valley, the "palestinians can do as they want in their isolated city-states like Nablus-Jenin: zero goes in or out except with good behavior.

"Netanyahu didn't announce real settlement freeze" So what. Start talking borders and it all becomes irrelevant.

It never ceased to amaze me ;10 months freeze,and then what?let's build again.I guess what he actually meant was:Israel will never leave the territory,therefore,peace will never be realized in ME.Israel has no intention of leaving.Submitting the palestinians to an idea of temporary freeze, would ultimately be a begining of a new occupation-another 42 years.Until Israel admits that she is an occupier of someone else's land,souls and hearts ,they will never be peace in the ME,not in life time.The whole world is kidding it's self!!!

http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=52607607001 It's Mitchell's official response to Netanyahu's announcement. He doesn't sound terribly impressed, and he damns Netanyahu with very faint praise indeed.

The actual problem is not if there should be a settlement freeze. The actual problem is if this conflict should be solved according to international law (recognizing Palestinian rights) or according to "might is right". Israel (with its huge military might and US diplomatic backing) will always win a power play. That is useless and Pals are right to refuse negociations based on that. Negociations are only useful if Israel first admits it wants to solve the problem according to international law, including UN resolutions, etc. Until then any talks are useless and should be refused by Pals.

Where is he? He has been such a disappointment! He is no different than Bush as far as the Middle East is concerned, letting Israelis do what they want. He promised so much but delivers a BIG ZERO! Shame on you Obama!

This time around, the cliché that only the right can make peace seems to be cracking. Can Palestinians make a partial gesture too, and not just protest that it's not enough?

Israel is not fulfilling its Roadmap obligations! Here's what the Roadmap *really* says: Settlements * GOI [Government of Israel] immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001. * Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements).

... what specific territory is Israel offering the Pals in lieu of what the settlements are occupying on the Pal West Bank...? ... just as there are no-free-lunches, there are no free lands for occupation...

The PA is not ready for peace but Hamas seems to be gaining and Israel is farther from peace now than 5yrs ago. Will the illegal outpost ever be removed like Israel has promised for years or will they at some point become legal settlements. Will the refugees ever be allowed to resettle out of the camps? Is PA and Hamas willing to live in peace if a state is made?

A liar to the rest of us

Its not in best interest of the Palestinians to try and play hardball with the Israelis. The Israeli government is ready to resume serious negotiations for a final settlement. IF the Palestinians feel they (Israelis) are lying then call their bluff. Demanding a full settlement freeze is a smoke screen and a tactical delay to confront and discuss serious issues such as Jerusalem. Even Obama has realize he was a complete idiot to demand this and he can be blamed for this latest impasse. From what I sense their is no consenses on their side as to what they will compromise on. I.E. Refugees or Jerusalem. And as usual they have not prepared their people for a realistic peace one that requires compromise. However if they feel Netanyahu is not serious about peace then call his bluff, but I think they realize he and the Israelis are serious about getting down to business and negotiating a final settlement.

Netanyahu's announcement of a 10-month halt in construction comes out more or less like as if he was saying that all contractors order-books are full for the coming 10 month period. It is not like as if any construction is going to stop or even slow down slightly, is it?

I don't think its in the Palestinians best interest to play hard ball with the Israelis. In fact it will seem more and more as they are being intransigent( that would be nothing new).

.Bibi just bought another 10 months time,by the end of this period,it will be half Obama's term in office.If the PA don"t screw his move,and try to negotiate with him,because they have no other alternative,then at the end of the 10 months,he will have to take another rabbit from his hat,to trick the public opinion. .Unless of course the israeli extreme right decides to turn the table and finish him,like they did with Rabin.In any case,for someone who has not a clear stand to offer,he is a smart survivor.

I'm sure they were smirking throughout the entire statement. What a complete load of nonsense from AIPAC. Only the stupidest of Americans would believe any of that.

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

There isn't anybody to able to stand up to them. Force WILL be necessary and there isn't many Israelis willing to accomplish this. When the Pals stand up to them, they are shunned. When force is used, it is met with wide range of criticism from the masses. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who the victims are between the Jordan and the Med. Good luck!

You can have the settlers as part of a future palestinian state - they will fit in with your own fanatics. But be careful they are not such great citizens, they bring down governments, and believe they are above the law.!!

Hi Shelley....I agree with most of what you said but with one correction. Indeed the so-called "religious" elements are Bible-based in their blind ideology. However, the secular nationalists have no such loyalty. They are pure blood and race nationalists whose only God is land and purity (sound familiar?). They are pork eaters , shrimp swallowers, and traif suckers who do not obey the Sabbath and few, if any, of the laws. Extremism makes strange bedfellows it seems.

Netanyahu is an opportunist. He stood against Sharon, and, now, while he is in power, he takes a position similar to Sharon's and Kadima's, and Labor. At least, he is doing that on the surface. He is not freezing settlement on Jerusalem, so he is playing a game. He knows Palestinians will refuse if Jerusalem is not included, so he then won't have a settlement freeze. He is trying to placate America and look like the good guy, not the ethnic cleanser, the one above world opinion and international law. He does care about image. He doesn't ignore it. I don't mind living in peace with Jewish settlers who become Palestinian and vote in Palestinian elections. They can also keep an Israeli passport, but they have to contribute to Palestinian society and their religion shouldn't matter. They should end this conflict.

FYI Eban's actual quote: "The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity"

...you have to face it sooner or later. Israel will rue that September '67 day when the first settlers crawled across the Green Line to steal land. Colonialist always lose in the end. Justice prevails.

Common Sense, please save us from that old Eban cliche. It's worn out. What Abba Eban probably meant was that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss the opportunity to give up more of their land.

I can imagine the rage.... toooooo funnnny!!

The notion that the nation must be hostage to the wishes of those whose first loyalty is the bible, and not the present state of Israel is offensive. The damage that can be caused by the status quo is incalculable. What Chutzpah these people have.

Let's not forget that Sharon 'fell ill' at a convenient time for rightists.

Not a minute too late with this settlement freeze plan -its about time . Its 30 something years too late since the days of Sebastia and the anarchy in the west back settlements . Hard to be proud of Israel with these fanatical rabbi's and military refusal and settlement youth thuggery . Will Israel come to its senses? Hal.

Poor, Bibi is taking on the right and taking it on the left. That's because the Likud party is out of sorts with international law, the UN, all major powers and simple common sense.

The settlements have brought no good to Israel - they and too many of the settlers endanger the future of the State of israel - The whole concept was misconceived. The time has come for the country to take hold of itself and not let the extreme right strangle the future and destroy the country with their use of "religious justification".

after 'limited' 10 months. Clearly the pressure is on them, not us. Patience is advised for all.

but the simple reality is: "The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."

...Barak said during cabinet meeting, "Freezing the building in Judea and Samaria is a step of responsibility, leadership, and clear judgment... Time is not necessarily on our side, and it is vital to move towards a two-state solution. All other alternatives are worse," Finally, Israel is starting to realize what it should have done in the past, must do in the present, and WILL do (like it or not) in the near future...and these decisions and realizations are coming from the Israeli's themselves.

Spitting in their faces - not since Rabin?? That's as close to an implied threat as a settler MK could get. Did he or his friends say such things about the almost late Sharon on the evacuation from Gaza? As to the proposed freeze, what does Netanyahu expect to happen in 10 months? That the Palestinians will rediscover unity and make peace? For all his pronouncements on his economic plan for the Palestinian W Bank, he turns a blind eye to the separation fence route that cuts people off from working their land, and to the the settler vandalism of Palestinian private property and to olive trees. Will he release Barghouti? Will he ever actually negotiate for peace? His record leaves only the questions unanswered.

He's spitting in lots of faces. Abbas, Obama, the EU and a few settlers. He's posturing for ignorant Americans.

We've seen it all before. This kind of racist, rightist hyperbole can lead to political violence and murder. This segment of the population is strident and fanatic but in reality they have less to fear than they think they have from netanyahu's "freeze". East Jerusalem is excluded (Silwan, Sheik Jarreh, Gilo, Ma'ale Adumim) natural growth will continue in existing colonies and nothing will come down in the illegal outposts. This is a ruse once again meant to placate the US. It means nothing and should not be acceptable. East Jerusalem is to be the capital of Palestine and that is that.

Netanyahu has heart. Unfortunately he has no backbone to withstand the pressure from Obama and the Israeli left. You know the old saying "if you cant take the heat etc."