U.S.: Israel plan to build in East Jerusalem harms peace process
Israel to build 700 new homes in East Jerusalem; state also may seize private Palestinian land in West Bank.
By Natasha Mozgovaya and Akiva Eldar Tags: Israel settlements Israel news East JerusalemPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to construct an additional 700 apartments in East Jerusalem is another blow to stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the White House press secretary said on Monday.
"Neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally pre-empt, or appear to pre-empt, negotiations," said Robert Gibbs. "Rather, both parties should return to negotiations without preconditions as soon as possible."
The press secretary added that the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved by the parties through negotiations and supported by the international community.
"We believe that through good faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem, and safeguards its status for people around the world," he said.
Sweden, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, on Monday said Israel's latest plans prevent the creation of an atmosphere conducive to resuming negotiations on a two-state solution.
Under the new blueprint, the Housing Ministry has invited contractors to bid on the construction of 198 housing units in Pisgat Zeev, 377 homes in Neve Ya'akov and 117 dwellings in Har Homa.
Palestinians consider Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem to be settlements and say such construction impedes peacemaking.
Israel claims all of the city its capital and does not consider those neighborhoods to be settlements. Israel captured East Jerusalem, home to sensitive Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites, in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Netanyahu did not include East Jerusalem in the temporary construction freeze he declared weeks ago, saying the slowdown applies only to the West Bank.
"We make a distinction between the West Bank and Jerusalem. Jerusalem is our capital and remains such," government spokesman Mark Regev said on Monday.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the plan, accusing Israel of exploiting what he called U.S. and international inability to halt settlement building.
"The Israeli government proves every day that it is not ready for peace," Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdainah said.
"We condemn this Israeli policy of continuing settlement activities, and we hope this will be an eye opener for the U.S. administration and other members of the international community," added Palestinian official Saeb Erekat.
Meanwhile, the state is considering appropriating private Palestinian land in the West Bank, the State Prosecutor's Office informed the High Court of Justice on Sunday.
Such a move would contravene Netanyahu's commitment not to seize land for settlement expansion.
The prosecution's statement to the High Court on Monday came in response to a petition by human rights group Yesh Din against the construction of a sewage treatment facility that would serve the West Bank settlement of Ofra.
Construction of the facility began in 2007, on private Palestinian land from the nearby village of Ein Yabrud, in contravention of the government's approved master plan for the area.
"The fact that today the state is trying to legitimize the land theft ... by seizing land retroactively, for the sake of a settlement that was not long ago classified as 'the largest illegal outpost in the West Bank,' is nothing short of an outrage," said Shlomo Zacharia, one of the lawyers representing Yesh Din. "No less grave is the fact that this conduct, which contravenes the explicit policy of the government and the prime minister, aims to cover up the failures and unwillingness of the army and the state in defending Palestinian property."
The state said the treatment facility was built illegally, without construction permits, and that demolition orders have been issued for its destruction. However, based on the state's response to the petition, it does not appear to be planning to enforce the law or return the land to its rightful owners. The state did say that it is examining various alternatives to dealing with the issue.
Flying in the face of commitments
The state's position on the treatment facility appears to fly in the face of commitments Israel has made.
"Land will not be appropriated for the expansion of existing settlements," Netanyahu said in a June speech at Bar-Ilan University.
President Shimon Peres made a similar statement at a press conference in Cairo several weeks ago, after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Eitan Broshi, Barak's adviser on settlement affairs, told the High Court that Ofra was the largest illegal outpost in the territories and said most of it was built illegally on private land belonging to the residents of nearby villages. He said construction permits were not issued and that no jurisdictional borders had been defined for Ofra.
Yesh Din asked the High Court in May to order a halt to all work related to the construction of the sewage treatment plant and to suspend funding for it. It also asked the court to order the Civil Administration and Shai District police, which are responsible for the West Bank, to enforce the demolition orders and destroy the facility. The petition was filed by Zacharia, Michael Sfard and Avisar Lev.
The sewage treatment facility takes up 37 dunams, of which 33 are underground. It costs an estimated NIS 7.8 million, which is funded by the government, according to official reports. Plans for building the plant were also carried out by government authorities.
In the early 1980s a different section of Ofra was appropriated for the construction of a sewage plant, but after Ofra's southern neighborhood was built next to that land several years later, it was decided to move the plant to a different location. That land, too, like the site of most of the homes there, is on private Palestinian land.
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When in the world, when someone points out the many existing Israeli violations of international law, UN resolutions, articles of the 4th Geneva Convention, a ruling by the International Court of Justice of the illegality of the separation wall, you refer to expired international conferences, as if they were relevant? You have done this before, as if you have not been told several times that San Remo, Balfour and the British Mandate have all expired. UN resolutions 242 and 338 are not illegal, as you know, and they are still extant. But israel is in violation of them. Try hard to learn the difference between the words "illegal," and "expired." Perhaps a tutor could help.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2319313/the_sound_of_one_hand_clapping/ "Up to this point Israel was giving, giving and giving " Israel has given NOTHING. "That land is Jewish Land and Jerusalem is a Capital(read your bibles " The bible is not International Law.
#12 CJ this "Firecracker" as you called it" Not I dear one... Methinks you'e somewhat confused. "Sure, bash the Israelis. They deserve it for their cynical and devious actions" If you say so. I've never commented on "Israelis" in such terms. "On the other hand it would be advisable to take these stories of potential catastrophe seriously" I have no idea what you're on about? " Something you and your team of Anti Israeli/Jewish comrades find impossible to do" Quote this Anti Israeli/Jew whatever it is you're fantasizing.... False witness is against the basic tenets of Judaism... tch tch tch
"..going to show us that the balfour declaration , san remo ,the 1922 mandate the un charter 1945 article 80, unscr242/338 are all illegal!!!??" Uh? How can the UN Charter art 80 be illegal? How can a resolution be illegal? San remo and the Balfour declaration are long gone, neither mentioned a 'state'. The Mandate ended 14th May 1948. The only relevant items now are Israeli's Declaration of Sovereignty 1948 and what has been legally annexed to Israel since. 1) http://wp.me/PDB7k-Y 2) Nothing has been legally annexed to Israel.
"The Obama government ought not interfere with Israel`s decisions regarding Jerusalem b/c that is none of its business" It is our business what is done with our tax dollars. What are we giving to Israel nowadays...several billion dollars?
"Libero-fascists like you" Why not stick to the discussion?
settlements area religious issues? We believe that crimes are not a religious issue. We believe that promoting crime is a crime and anyone is free to persecute you!
EVERY country in the world expropriates land for public use. In the US, where you live, it's called eminent domain. Libero-fascists like you believe that only Israel shouldn't be able to have that power. And yes, that happens on Jewish land also in the way of highways built on land owned by the JNF, land that was bought because Jews around the world collected money. And by the way, plans are to connect the Arab village of Ein Yabrud to the plant. How terrible that will be for libero-fascists. You won't be able to carp.
The Knesset is in Jerusalem, the Prime Minister and President reside in Jerusalem, and Israel operates all of the services in Jerusalem. For the Palestinians, all of that happens in Ramallah. If you don't like that, TOUGH!
... contrary to populist Muslim belief, Islam has not superseded Judaism and is not the religion for all mankind, much to the chagrin of all those militants planning her demise.
You may be shocked to find out that Palestinians are not squatters, and that you have been deceived all your life. They had land long before Jews arrived in the area. When Joshua led the 12 tribes of the Israelites across the river Jordan into Canaan, also known at that time as Palestine, the land was occupied by semite tribes, Hittites, Amorites and Jebusites. The Jebusites built Jerusalem, and occupied it for 100 years after the Israelites entered Canaan.They weren't called Arabs then, and the Israelites weren't called Jews. Those names weren't known yet. There are many notable historians and scholars who maintain the Jebusites are the forebears of the Palestinians. According to the New York University School of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences, Middle East Jewish men and Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian men have the same genetic signature, different from any other non-Jews in the world. Some of those same tribes, and the Canaanites also occupied Judea and Samaria.
us "aid" to israel amounts to $2.5 billion of which nearly all of it is military "aid" which then must be used to buy made in the US equipment. in other words, its a stimulus plan for US military manufacturers at the expense of israeli manufacturers. the "aid" is used mostly to control israel and threats of withdrawing aid have been used in the past to manipulate israeli governments (e.g. to drop the plan for israel to make its own jetfighter, the lavie). in reality, the israeli GDP in 2008 was $199 billion and therefore the aid is hardly needed by israel. i would strongly encourage israel to not take any money from the US - it only hurts them
The Obama government ought not interfere with Israel's decisions regarding Jerusalem b/c that is none of its business. China buys a lot of our debt, but we would object to the Chinese advising us on what to build in Washington, DC.
New Flash: Canada is not Israel! Nor is Canada sorounded by 300 million hostiles, Wake up, dear, and smell the coffee!
Jerusalem the capitol of the Jewish people belongs to the Jewish people. No one has the right to tell any free country what or how to build in its own capitol. Let me ask all my peace loving friends, if a new Palestinian state is created will Jews be permitted to live free? Will Arabs be permitted to live free in the recreated Jewish State? If so, then why care if more Jews live in lands that will eventually be Palestinian or if Arabs continue to move into parts of Jewish Jerusalem. If and when a division arises, both nations will be forced to treat their minorities with respect and protection. Let everyone live freely, Arabs in Jewish Israel and Jews in Arab countries.
Where it is least likely to fit. Millions of us are no longer under the influence of fundamental religious indoctrination. We have evolved while the backwards have remained in a state of perpetual self inflicted social retardation for centuries. The bible is nothing more than a collection of stories, passed word of mouth for countless generations, written down in various languages and dialects, and finally collated into one 'cohesive' volume meant to (are you ready for this? Can you handle it?) keep people stupid, ignorant, warlike, and tribal. And it works oh so well. All you have to do is look at Christian, Jew, and Muslim die hard fanatics and you will see exactly what I mean. Those who have broken the shackles will bury those who refuse to open their eyes.
I will tell you what harms the peace process. It is Abbas doing all he can to avoid the peace table. How many times does Abbas have to spit in President Obama's face before Obama notices?
If not, then they should have no problem with the construction. If they are prevented from living there, then shame on this government.
I wonder why is your smart PM keep asking for recognition and why every country does not move their Embassy to Jerusalem.
included in the roadmap. Why is it an issue now? This is the kind of BS that is pushing the Israeli left to the right.
the western world is becoming increasingly adamant about a palestinian state that includes east jerusalem...and the u.s. veto in the unsc is growing weaker as it's allies become more apt to vote independently of its wishes; and that's IF it chooses to exercise it. it can just as easily withold its vote altogether. israel's steadfast refusal to respect those boundaries recognized by the u.n. and the international community, is taking it ever closer to possible sanctions...or even a mandated settlement of boundaries in which it stands to lose any bargaining power it might now have over retaining larger settlement blocks... and in jerusalem particularly, there's not likely to ever be an option for retaining its enclaves with territorial exchanges. israel is underestimating the growing resolve over this issue among the western nations.
If so, then you are blind to what Israel is doing.
While there are legitimate differences on the Left and Right regarding "the settlements," thank goodness that Haaretz provides the detail necessary for an intelligent perspective; whereas the New York "paper of record" omits the key facts that these areas are suburbs of jewish Jerusalam. Would New Yorkers abide by a freeze on construction in Queens?
i agree with reation nr. 36. zionism and islam are both penicious and oblectionable ideologies, like fascism and capitalism. they all use violence, oppression, expansion, imperialism, dictatorship to a lot of people.they also violate civilian and human rights. they bring the worst (most evil) in man to the outside. they all want world-domination and world-hegemony at the cost of the majority of mankind. alas a minority of the world-population lives in a democratic constitutional state with human rights and freedom of expression, opinion, speech. i have nothing against jews, but iam against zionism, i have nothing against arabs/palestinians, but iam against islam, i have nothing against americans, but iam against american world-domination/american world-hegemony. i hope that once justice and peace will prevail worldwide for all of us!
american aid to israel has two forms, 1. 2,4 bln$ for military aid in loans, that israel always paid, more than 70% to be spent in USA. 2. several 100s mln $ for R&D which is very good for usa. GDP of israel was 201 bln$ in 2008, now is probably 230-240 bln. so it isa loan of 1% of GDP and you want to order. pay 30% grant and order, it will be in the neighborhood of 70 bln.
Maybe take Bibi to the International Court of Justice to force him to rename the state... now it is a Jewish State, thereby saddling all of us Jews around the world up with our share or responsibility, but no say, in this provocative road down to hell. Either give us a say and let us make peace, or leave us out of us, because I am unwilling to defend these retarded positions of Bibi/Lieberman c.s.
Those settlements are being built with funds from private investment sources. No American taxpayer dollars are being used.
Jerusalem is Israel's Eternal, Indivisible Capital-City of Israel since ancient time. Israel can build and build in Jerusalem as much as it wants. It is none of the business of external entities to be intruding in Israel's internal affairs.
...you are utterly wrong, more than 85 % of the Palestinians are direct descendants of the Israelite tribes, mainly the tribe of Juda (The Jews) who remained in the land after numerous Roman explusions of the Jewish elite.Those remaining Hebrews finally converted into Christianity and Islam. Google Zvi Misinai and see by yourself.
where it had been approved. Everyday Israel agrees to peace but the arabs find a way to disagree because they want the whole rather than peaceful coexistence. In 2000 when Israel was agreeing to all their demands they still wanted more. The peace process is hurt by the fact that the arabs refuse to recognize Israel. If they would peace would quickly follow. god bless Israel
You conveniently left out how much aid the Palestinians will receive. I would agree with you that coming presidents probably would not give aid to Israel due to political correctness. We forget it was a Jew that funded our war from England. Also, the only thing Obama has gotten right is that we aren't reading our bibles or we would know the land is Israel's. The bible tells us the land will be divided and God will judge the world for its treatment of Israel. Israel will also be judged, but will stand forever. (And it will be bigger- much bigger!) The USA's downfall is directly tied to our restrictions of acknowledging God and our treatment of God and His people. Our country is lost and in moral decay. $2.7 billion is nothing and of course there are always strings attached. I say stop supporting the terrorist and occupiers- the Palestinians. God gave the land to Israel. End of topic.
The Palestinians have always been transient residents from the Arab regions, the land was ruled by occupying military powers with external foreign rulers. The majority of Arab speakers arrived after the Zionist movement declared their intent to create Israel on the continuously Jewish inhabited land. Israel is the first legitimate government since the Judea Diaspora to rule as local citizens, not as a proxy state for a foreign power. Hamas is a proxy government for Iran. PA is a proxy for the Arab hegemonies. The real Palestinians are a mixture of native ethnicities that intermarried and lived in cohabitation with one another. Living in peace until they became politicized and flooded by militant Arab immigrants whose intention was to break apart the natural order of Jewish and Muslim cohabitation and instill Jewish Zionist hate amongst the Muslims. The foreign Arabs brutally repressed the pro-Jewish and pro-Zionist Palestinians until they had the entire population brainwashed.
the only squatters there are the settlers. the so called judea & samaria was gone 1000 years befor the ottomans took control of palestine.
In the last month alone, there have been 4 cases of hate crimes against the gay community reported in the settlements (one of them a murder). Continued settlement building, especially in Arab East Jerusalem is illegitimate and illegal, as it encourages anti-gay incitement.
"Both Fatah and Hamas reject the two-state solution and peace with Israel." - Joe Sittizen, #52 I honestly don't understand it when peole claim that Israel keeps offering peace and the Palestinians keep rejecting it. If that's the two state solution as proposed by Netanyahu in the Bar-Ilan speech, I think any sane person with an ounce of self-respect would reject it. Basically, they have to put up with along list of your unreasonable and at times pretty outrageous demands while not being allowed to have any preconditions of their own. It's like a playground bully playing the victim because someone won't allow him to bully them.
The Palestinians don't want peace, so why bother? Keep building settlements!
The quartet, the road map, the UN, none can legally force Israel to cede control of Jerusalem. The Arabs had control of only a small part of it prior to Israel's war of independence. Jordan then gained control of EJ in that war but later gave it up. The "state of Palestine" is a new concept as it has never existed in history. How could EJ ever have been its capital? Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel whether or not some Arabs want to recognize Israeli rule over themselves. Also the temple will be build once the city is secure, just as happened in the past.
"Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem? Are these colonies built on an occupied territory that were prescribed as a grave breach of international law by the International Court of Justice, or am I wrong? Israel must choose, peace and democracy (only through abiding to international rules and law) or aggression, colonization and conflict. Just don't pretend seeking peace while waging war!
Jews lived in Neve Yakov from 1924 (when they purchased the land) to 1948. Then they were expelled by Jordanians and Palestinians. In 1967 they returned back and now human rights organizations claim that they are "illegal settlers". On another hand if they would not be expelled then they would stay there legally. It means that their expulsion made them "illegal settlers". In turn it also means that their expulsion was a legal act. Why do you think these organizations are called themselves "human rights" organizations?
All, As far as the issue of US aid is concerned, Israel rejected US economic aid during the previous Netanyahu administration. However, there is military aid from the US in the form of loan forgiveness for specific items that are made solely in the US. There is some additional military cooperation such as anti-missile systems. I believe that Israel should end this by transforming past loans to grants and going to a cash purchase basis for future arms purposes. This will reduce US leverage over Israel and allow Israel to sell its own weapon systems without being subject to US veto. As far as 'equity' is concerned, US aid to Egypt, Jordan, the Pals and Lebanon have exceeded aid to Israel for the past 5 years. Aid to those countries are not loans and much of it is economic, military and 'security' aid. This is a reversal of Camp David which equalized aid to Israel vs. the Arab allies.
1. Why should Jerusalem be divided? 2. Should Berlin do it again? 3. Advise Obama to divide Washington (and for my part the rest of the country) with the Indians who are the ligitimate ownwers. 4. Obama and co have so many problems to solve, that they prefer avoid them and get involved in the constructions activities in Israel: Not even G-d will save the USA from so much incompetence. Forgot: they should continue talking to their Arab / Irani friends. 5. Israel to do what is good for Israel!
Exactly what "peace process"???One that would bring real peace and prosperity to all the people living West of the Jordan River,or the "peace of the pals" that would bring inn the iranian army the next day???Bertter no "peace" with Israel holding the Land,than a 'peace" with the iranians on the treshold of Jerusalem...
All, Abbas and the Pro-Pals are playing a smart game. If Israel accepts the expansion of the freeze to East Jerusalem, they are put in a position of declaring all of their aspirations for EJ to be illegitimate. Read the Road Map, it says 'all settlement activity' but it doesn't specify Jerusalem. This was intentional in order to get Sharon to sign it and go ahead with the Sharm al Sheikh declaration recognizing a future Palestinian state. Consequently, this is a ploy to get Israel to start negotiations on the basis that Israel has no claims to EJ. Mitchell could have finessed this by stating that while the Quartet insists on a freeze on EJ construction, this would not be regarded as an a priori withdrawal of any Israeli claims on EJ. This could give Netanyahu cover to 'postpone' construction in EJ during negotiations in order to get them started. Eventually, the Intl Community will have to appeal to Israel as well as the Pals to start negotiations.
"Palestinians don`t recognize at all the historic connection of Jews to the land, and don`t recognize the right of Jews to an independent Jewish country, and so `settlers` are not the real issue" The Jews have an independent Jewish country, it is Israel. The West Bank is being stolen from the Palestinians daily...oh! but Jesus was an Israeli settler! That makes it all okay then!
Actually, the very first settlers in America were British, French, and Spanish, with a few Dutch thrown in. Americans didn't emerge until a couple hundred years later. In any case, that was centuries ago. You know that Israel has no argument if that one keeps getting dusted off and reused. The idea is to find a fair and peaceful solution to the current situation, and not to scan the history books for bad examples to follow.
"And we build in OUR capital, Jerusalem." Jerusalem is also the capital of the Palestinians. "If you don`t like it, tough luck." And if you don't that, right back at ya...
no base of hamas in Jerusalem no base of arabs in Jerusalem, today moderate tomorrow islamist and danger. no way, Jerusalem must not be divided for any reason.
According to your own logic Israel has to hold out for five hundred years or so and then everything will be alright? Is that what you mean?
Why is he dithering on this issue? Why isn't he flat-out telling Israel: "You want to build settlements? Very well. BUT NOT AT AMERICAN TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE!!! Every new house you build on Palestinian territory shall be deducted from the American aid Israel receives annually. For example, if you build a new apartment complex at $3 million, we will deduct that $3 million from the aid. Simple as that." If there is one thing Bibi cares for more than Palestinian land, it is American tax dollars. Believe me, the man has almost a one-track mind. Settlement building will cease and desist faster than you can say "Jack Robinson". But it appears that Obama is scared of Bibi's pitbull - AIPAC. It is, after all, an election year, isn't it?
The "underlying problem" is most certainly people like you who write 100% lies and propaganda from start to end. "Jesus was an israeli jew"......but of course !! problem solved ! hilarious. Happy holidays anyway !
And Israel steals and builds in East Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine. Sorry, Kohen, your edifice is built on rotten foundations. Accept the consequences of your own deplorable actions. At least that much integrity, please!
I love Israel, and I find myself defending it, at least verbally, every day. But no country can continually have neighbourhoods where only one type of people live. A contractor builds houses and people buy them, and it shouldn't matter what colour or religion those people are. Israel is a Jewish State, but other religions call it home, and in a home you move around freely. Israeli Arabs are not Palestinians. Loyal Israelis should be free to live in each other's neighbourhoods. I am a Jew who feels at home living in a predominantly East Indian part of my town.
And we build in OUR capital, Jerusalem. If you don't like it, tough luck.
Because only Jews are getting it?
You are talking of events which happened in the 1500s. The occupation began in 1967. Does Israel really want to backdate itself quite so much?
The normal growth of an illegal neighborhood is a negative one.
The US Constitution forbids govt. to mix in religion+ International Law calls for close settlement between jordan River And Medit.Sea.see 1924 treaty betweeen US-Britian & Article vi of the Constitution treaty
The building is only blueprints while bibi refuses to issue building tenders. Every month there are stories about more building but it is lies. In israel the planning is done at city level and plans are made but the final tenders aren't being issued by bibi. Yet the left doesn't appreciate bibi that he has stopped building and continue to bludgeon him. And the U.S official is a leftist who knows all new tenders have stopped yet is playing politics. Haaretz keeps bludeoning bibi even though he stopped issuing tenders over the green line. Bibi takes on the settlers and gets hell from the left.
"What's yours is ours, what's hour's is our's whats their's is our's". The very first words by the first settler in the USA upon meeting the very first Injun just before scalping him and stealing his Land. But how did YOU know???
...would be a good addition to the Israeli flag, to represent all the thousands of Palestinian homes which have been demolished... "This is another nice motto for the flag of Israel. so many to choose from. Just a plain star of david tells nothing of the nation and the people"
"Why do Arabs protest against sewage treatment? Is it too modern? Do they actually prefer to squat in a ditch somewhere?" Because it will be a "settler only" plant. As if you didn't know that already..."settler only", just like the roads...
"God please help Israel stand against blind hatred, jealousy and stupidity mixed with religious intolerance and hypocrisy." Too late! The Zionists have already conquered the area.
Israel won't allow materials into Gaza to repair, let alone build sewage plants. As a result, raw sewage is going into the Med. This particular sewage plant is being built for an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank. It will steal Palestinian land, in contravention of the Geneva Convention, and will provide no benefits for the Palestinians. If built like some similar plants, it will pollute Palestinian land and even, eventually, Israeli water supples.
Stop this non sense US dollar legend.Jewish clever and intelligent in off to make Israel advanced exporter of technologies and science is the matter of fact one of the reasons Jews survive over the millennia?s because average Jew very hard and clever worker. Now combine Israeli scientist with American let them work together here you talking real power the only power I believe in to.
This is another nice motto for the flag of Israel. so many to choose from. Just a plain star of david tells nothing of the nation and the people.
"SOMETHING FOR NOTHING", should be embroidered on every flag of Israel since it is the national past time. Israel is the only nation unable to declare their borders. The reason is that Israel will continue to expand until America cuts them short. After Israel has all the west bank they won't stop. Jordan and south Lebanon are too easy and defenseless. Only America can stop this super grand larceny. The easier it is to rob theirneighbors, the more certain it is that Israel will never stop.
... are fanatic about establishing-facts-on-the-ground... and to he** with the rest of the world... ... it's high time that Obama tried some genuine clout in defence of Jerusalem... on behalf of all those who hold the city dear... ... Jerusalem is not an exclusively Israeli city... has never been... never will be... ... it is fast becoming an unholy city of contention...
So you would know. USA gets a lot more from Israel then just return on their money(not to mention that Israel only country in ME that promtly repays its debts). US cannot afford to lose the only democracy in the ME. Israel is in avangard in research and developments in science and technology including NANO-TECHNOLOGY and US greatly benefits from that. And please Do not compare South Africa with Israel. Currently South Africa is #1 Children Rape Capital of the World. In Israel many arabs own businesses and live in villas.
My what big words.! If you must insist on trying to present a quasi scientific/ medical analysis, start by becoming informed that there is no such word as "criterias". The word "criteria" is already plural for the singular, which is "criterion". Your nonsensical post at best appears to be an attempt at self analysis. (And by the way, the correct spelling is Narcissistic)
Lip service has to be given to the Palestinians because of Muslim terrorism and Arab oil but they won't be taken seriously until the Palestinians accept a 2 state solution that is made of Jewish and Palestinian states. Palestinian Muslim states ONLY will not cut it. Waiting around in the hope that maybe one day in the future Palestinians will relent after tons of appeasement will not do either.Palestinians have chosen to wait around until Israel disappears and Israel will not wait around with them. It will move forward.
In this holiday season it's perhaps appropriate to point out that Bethlehem, just South of East Jerusalem is in the "occupied West Bank". Jesus (according to the flesh)was an Israeli Jew, his relatives were Israeli Jews. Bethlehem was an Israeli Jewish town. As was Jerusalem, East &, West. Others lived in those areas too, but the area as a whole was Jewish. People may ask Israelis to give up ancestral connections to land in the hope of achieving peace, but it's unfair to claim that Israeli Jews are there illegally. And counter-productive, since Israelis are more likely to be willing to give up religious, historical & cultural ties to a particular piece of land if at least their right to be there is recognized, and if the sacrifice is appreciated. The underlying problem is however, that most Palestinians don't recognize at all the historic connection of Jews to the land, and don't recognize the right of Jews to an independent Jewish country, and so 'settlers' are not the real issue.
One cannot clap with one hand. Up to this point Israel was giving, giving and giving and palestinians attacking, brainwashing and instigating. Finally someone with a balls(Lieberman) started doing it right. That land is Jewish Land and Jerusalem is a Capital(read your bibles real careful and you might find mention of that). World better concentrate on tending hot spots elsewhere where attrocities and real genocides occur every single day. Seems like it is very stylish to single out Jewish State I suppose for old times sake.
You are right...Read any newspaper outside Israel, this is not among the latest and most important news of the day!!! It is also many times with other articles dealed here in Talkback. So many seams to think that people abroad are concerned only Israeli things -and of course criticizing only Israel.
Many Arabs and Muslims believe the US has three wars in the Middle East and Far East -Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. It's at war in all three places. Why Palestine? It's because American guns and tax dollars are used to kill Palestinian Muslims and Christians and take their private land. Since Jerusalem has some religious significance, it also encourages Islamic fundamentalist thinking in the region. Americans can thank Israel for exposing them to so much danger. Also, hawkish pro-Israeli Americans pushed for going to war in Iraq. Does the world need their old thinking? No.
I think put in those terms, many Americans would agree with that proposition.
"We feel" followed by "We have mentioned". Well, yah. Hardly the first time Israel has said it will do something and then it does another. It simply baffles the mind how the US just sits back and takes it. What the US and Mitchell should tell Israel publically is what it apparently has been telling them behind closed doors for years: "Just go ahead and do what you have to do".
When one digs into Jerusalem's soil it isn't the remains of muslim conquests that one finds, but thousands of years of Jewish habitaion, culture and nationhood. The land of Israel, comprises historically of Judea, Samaria and the Negev, anyone who argues otherwise should please study age-old and ongoing anthropological studies. for those who belive America should not support Israel, let me remind you who supplies your oil, not Israel, but the very states who seek your destruction, while Israel provides the CIA with military intel.
This charade is an embarrassment to the United States. Why even issue such statements? What is required (whether behind closed doors or in public) is a clear warning that these actions will have serious consequences regarding the relationship between the two countries (including the annual $3billion pay-off). Until that happens, the US should quit disgracing itself by issuing the same rote "condemnation." This is a bad joke.
It is criminal for the USA to support such an apartheid state! We condemn it everywhere else in the world but we condone it in Israel. Shame on us!
so more workers will lose their jobs manufacturing weapons etc for what? to make what point there is NO East Jerusalem there maybe arab neighborhoods but there is just Jerusalem..remember when the arabs had control
All a Jew needs to read any of his prayer ! Those who are negotiating for Peace, they are NOT doing that for the Jews !
Well said. All US Taxpayers aids to Israel have to stopped immediately. Stopping the aids make Israel listen and obey its creator.
In spite of the Obama administration's criticism of this new building spree, the US Congress has just passed the largest foreign aid package to Israel in its history, some 2.7 billion dollars for the coming year. President Obama has not yet signed this into law but is likely to, I am afraid. It follows a ten year "letter of understanding" between the US and Israel signed by George Bush a few years back calling for continued US aid to Israel for at least ten years. AIPAC pushed that gem through because it was afraid no future president would be as big a doormat for Israel as Bush was. They were probably right.
Nobody got killed on purpose by a building plan, but an Israeli was purposefully and willfully shot dead by Palestinians last week. Where's the American statement about "harm" to the peace process? duh. The Pals are not our partners for peace. Get it through your heads, folks. Both Fatah and Hamas reject the two-state solution and peace with Israel. Read it. It's on both their websites. Anybody who believes that Fatah endorses the 2-state solution is a gullible idiot.
...is the civilized way of getting even huh ? What different dictators in Arab dictatorship is now the collective responsibility of the Palestinians ?? Are you repsonsible for what individual Jews have done wrong in the course of history ? Are you as an individual or nation responsible for the very high ratio of Jewish slave-traders in medieval Europe ? Of course not. The blame-game is outdated in discussions between civilized persons.
It is past time to stop US tax monies going to Israel to allow it to continue illegal settlements and to buy more weapons. I would be part of such a movement. Vhardman et all never utter one word of thanks for past US favors which likely saved the "Zinoist enterprise." They are beyond arrogant. Israel has never and does not now want any peace settlement if it requires giving up land and water it has taken. The "wall," the occupation, the settlements will all contiune, while Israel's "finest" diplomats (and AIPAC) continue to obfuscate, lie, delay, hoping that the world will forget. Not a chance. Anti-semitism is on the rise and will continue until Israel withdraws unconditionally.
How can you make peace with the Israeli government, when it shifts its position on a daily basis and persists in illegally buildings and expropriating in land that does not belong to Israel?
Jim Baker to Shamir: Call this number at the white house when you're ready to talk peace. George Mitchell to Bibi: The US will make peace in the middle east with or without you.
and tell Netanyahou to call the white house when he's ready to make real peace, just like when Jim Baker told Shamir.
The land in Neve Yakov was bought by Jews in 1924 and legally owned since then. I wonder if only Jews cannot build houses on the land they own or somebody else cannot do it too? Is that strange "international law" which claims that Jewish presence on the land they legally own "illegal", was it written specifically for Jews or is it effects the followers of other religions as well?
That anyone can actually fight, murder, and slaughter, and all over this "ugly" little country where we live in. Idiotic religions, identification with names (Jews:Palestinians;Christians) These are clearly the weak minded of the world, children in overgrown bodies still believing in a Santa Claus figure they call GOD. Nature will always punish those who do not realize we are one, and who identify with these silly, neanderthal like religions, and cultures. People your greed also extends to your hunger for name, and culture your constant narcissistic need for belonging to some useless group or the other. Do you not know that you are dying, every moment a rotting piece of meat. You create all these silly religions, and then create GODS in the image of yourselves, wear clown like costumes, and childish little hats. Will this save you from death? Give up your need for identification, and your constant greed to feed this rotting piece of meat with sensual pleasures, and learn to love.......
While I read the antisemitic responses to this article I wonder why the writers only feign indignation over this declaration to build homes. Big deal!!! Islamic militants(terrorists) killed 20 and wounded 81 people(civilians)in Pakistan yesterday. In Iran the Police murdered 15 protesters wounding many others and arresting a least 7. All had nothing to do with Israel. As most violence in the world today involves only Islam not Israel. A fact lost here by the anti-Israel writers. If this had happened in Israel the outrage(hollow indignation) here on these boards would be unbelievable the talkbacks would number 3-4 hundred most anti-Israel. So I laugh at your alleged outrage masking your true motives, your whining over an "announcement" of apartment construction. At least have the courage to say what your feeling. Mark from Georgia
In these dire environmental times, anyone building a sewage treatment facility no matter where in the Holy Land, should be encouraged and not thwarted. Gaza desperately needs treatment plants...
retain after final peace agreement, otherwise we'll have this interruption of construction in these areas which it seems Israel insists on continuing rather than waiting to finalize the borders between the two states. If there's consensus that there'll be a sharing of the capital, why leave the ambiguity of its development last? The Palestinians have given former PM Ehud Olmert indications during their discussions that approx. 17 settlements in the West Bank will likely be annexed by Israel, therefore the suburbs of Jerusalem can also be addressed as there seems to be a need to continue construction in these regions.
Bhaviour of Israel starts to resemble the symptoms and criterias for narscissistic personality disorder - some criterias: -a grandiose sense of self importance -takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends -shows arrogant,haughty behaviour or attitudes -this person regulary disregards rules or expects them to be cahanged because he/she is in some way special ...
God please help Israel stand against blind hatred, jealousy and stupidity mixed with religious intolerance and hypocrisy. There is no nation on religion that can be tolerated by Islamism period.
why does the Government keep provoking the International community? Does anyone reall believe Israel really wants peace? I shall not see it in my lifetime
Was Jordan within their rights in in 1948-52 to kill and expel Jews from WB? Were you complaining back then? When Jordan left, and said they didn't want the place, that left a vacuum. Jews returned to where they lived. Nothing surprising or illegal about that.
You're playing with words. Lets substitute Arabs for Palestinians. In 1948 some 800000 Jews in various Arab countries were driven out or fled and all Jewish owned property was confiscated. No compensation then or since. So, to answer your question, of how often Palestinians appropriate Jewish land, the answer is once, since there was no more left to seize. All the twisting of words and history will not change that reality. You should get the message.
Taking more and more land. Creating more facts on the ground. Can anyone in Israel see where this is all leading? Do you expect the Palestinians to disappear or all move to Jordan? Do you really expect them to remain in a giant prison in Gaza and simply go about their lives or accept improved economics in the West Bank while going thru hundreds of checkpoints and being treated like animals? Unless there is a two State solution within the next ten to fifteen years Israel will become an Apartheid State far worse than South Africa ever was. The demographics are a ticking time bomb and Israels current leaders are living in a fantasy world where the Palestinians will either disappear or be content with their present situation. An intifada worse than ever before will explode unless Israels leaders care more about democracy and a State with a Jewish majority than they do about "greater Israel."
...way out of line. There are numerous Palestinian deeds to prove their legal acquisition of land and property. When Israel was established, less than 7 % was actually bought by zionists. Apart from that, who would come up with CRAZY CONCEPT OF for instance Jewish "squatters" outside of Israel ? They to have deeds - ownership has nothing with religion or nation to do. Should we outside of Israel suddenly deny those Jews their legal possessions of land and property ?
Unlike other governments that stand in contravention of international law, those despotic regimes that make no pretense of being democracies, Israel really takes the cake. On the one hand it claims to be a great ally of the US, a dependable friend. It also makes claim of being a Western style secular democracy, unique in the ME. Wrong on both accounts. Israel stands out for its facile ability to agree to what the US is asking of it and then do just the opposite. What other nation, an ally, would get away with that? As for democracy that too is a misnomer. Israel is an ethnocracy where the defining factor in achieiving full citizenship and full acceptance in the public arena is based solely on religion and ethnic identity. Hardly a secular democracy.
Perhaps the fact that it is stolen property and contrary to a formal commitment of the government might have something to do with its becoming a political confrontation.
Are you joknig #1 and #8? Do you know what Jewish money means to Anerican politics? It is the fuel. Do you know who gives the most? Hard-core Zionists? Love to hear Obabma -- yeah, Obama -- tell the Democraatic party, the next election epecially, he is cutting support to Israel. Suure.
While were so busy telling Israel What to do. Maybe someone would tell that USA official to mind his own business. As long as our government spends like a addict and is trying to force health care down our throats.While 65% of Americans say no to health care. I don't think that official should tell any other country what to do.
Sure, bash the Israelis. They deserve it for their cynical and devious actions. On the other hand it would be advisable to take these stories of potential catastrophe seriously. Something you and your team of Anti Israeli/Jewish comrades find impossible to do. Now why is that?
Terrorism comes in may forms. Taking Palestinian land for Israeli settlements is institutional terrorism. It is Israel's attempt to extablish conditions on the ground that interfere with a contiguous Palestine and will be used to deny Palestinian access to Jerusalem. Who really is the terrorist?
Until US freezes its construction in NY (which never been a historical land for immigrants fro Europe), Israel refuses to freeze the construction in West Bank not to mention Jerusalem (which is the historical Jewish land!)
Is it too modern? Do they actually prefer to squat in a ditch somewhere?
Show us the deed to the property, because I, for one, don't believe it was given to you by God.
If the Palestinians can build around Ramallah and Gaza City, so can Israel build around Jerusalem.
This is the story which proves the twaddle about Netanyau being ready for peace talks is just crap. "Actions Speak Louder than Words" - Theodore Roosevelt
is going to show us that the balfour declaration , san remo ,the 1922 mandate the un charter 1945 article 80, unscr242/338 are all illegal!!!?? DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH EVERYONE!!!!!!
And Israel will do what they want in their capital.
There has been arab palestinians on this land way before you and your friends were aware of its existence. Keep your legends for yourself.
Another to create the perfect conditions for tensions and confrontations between palestinians and israelis. Isn't that what this government and the previous ones have ever done for decades ? Thousands of Palestinians have been killed for protesting against land grab and occupation but who was there to defend them ? nobody. They've been treated like terrorists and outlaws ALL THE TIME thanks to the shameful israeli propaganda. There will be a price for that.
Israel claims not to be racist but never announces new homes for Arabs. Hard to whine about world reaction when there is no modest attempt to be even handed.
It is the only nation in the world that thinks it can get away with stealing others' land and settling it illegally to change the demographic balance. Why on earth do the major players put up with it? Is it all really down to 7 million Jewish votes in the USA and the malign influence of AIPAC on the US Congress? Surely Obama is going to knock this on the head once and for all, the Democrats have nothing in common with these kind of neocon, racist policies. Seems like Netanyahu is already counting Pisgat Ze'ev and Neve Ya'akov as future Israeli territory, without bothering with the talks and agreement needed first with the PA. The Har Homa housing is just a try-on, it will end up in Palestinian East Jerusalem as sure as the sun rises each morning. Still, more nice new homes for the Pal refugees to return to one day soon.
..it wants land, plain and simple and it seems that it's always been the plan since 48, and wants 'peace' without discussing refugees, Jerusalem or ending settlement construction.. all illegal under international law..great peace partner.
Yesh Din vayesh dayan. That's a great move that need not anyone permission. Jerusalem was & be forever Israel capital. No one got the right interfering with Israel policies. I was never a bibi's fan ever B4 but now i'm. Bark has to diced who is he. All the rest are Nonsense.....
What is it that you and your fiends don't understand about illegal?
was in Jerusalem a short while ago! beautifull, clean, good roads, etc. E. Jerusalem will remake city as it should be in the 21st century! it must be Gods will!
The sooner, the better.
This is just more irresponsible building and lawlessness from the myth makers in Israel which will have to come apart at the seams one day... Or as the 14 justice panel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled in 2004 will have to be "void" . Their term not mine. Dutch
Seriously, Israel has descended to a state of collective punishment and apartheid. And before anyone complains about the use of that term, kicking out Arabs to settle Jews is textbook "Apartheid".
Clearly you do not comprehend the distinction between ownership and sovereignty. The Ottomans held sovereignty over the land, but the arabs in the villages held ownership of he land, going back hundreds of years. The Israeli expropriation laws, such as the "law of absentee property" do not change the ownership, even if it strips the rightful owers of using the land. How often do you see Jewish-owned land expropriated for Palestinian use?
I keep hearing of "private land" expropriated from palestinians. Who sold them this land & where did these peasants get the money to buy such large tracts of land in the first place? I call b.s. These arabs who call themselves palestinians are mostly squatters. Most of them would never have the money to buy-up property if they saved their entire lives. Maybe Jordan gave away some land when they illegally occupied Judea & Samaria, but it wasn't theirs to give away. The fact is the last owner of these lands was the Ottoman Turks, who are now out of business, so the lands up for grabs.
Jerusalem is your capital, your city. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
History is full of injustice, it only works for a time and no matter how long it takes, it will no last. As much as I feel sorry fo the Palestinians. I feel sorry for the Israeli who really wants to live in peace. Their future is so bleak because Palistine will be and those who are destroying the homes of the Palestinians and replacing them with Codos for the Israeli are also destroying any chance for Israel to exist forever. Those are facts of history. The Israeli must rise now and make it right for them and for the Palestinians. Every time we see women and children kicked out of their homes to be destroyed, we feel the injustice in our soul and we begin to believe that Israel will be no more and will disapear one day. Fix it now before it is too late.
it becomes a political confrontation instead of normal growth of a neighbourhood !
This is just the way to get Abbas and Obama to the table to discuss the Netanyahu peace plan. Abbas must be chomping at the bit to negotiate with this announcement. But why the halfway measures? Maybe you could also announce the plans to destroy a few thousand Arab homes in Jerusalem, too? That's sure to be a winner with Abbas and Obama.
It worked in South Africa and it will work in the Middle East. We have cut off the Palestinians and now we need to make initiatives to cut the Israelis along with them. Our security is more important than their land grabbing. We do not need any more 9-11's because of crap like this. Sanctions!!