U.S. urges caution as Israel okays 112 new West Bank homes

The british did whatever they wanted in Ireland, and nobody lifted a finger to stop them. They eventually chose to evacuate southern Ireland, rather as Israel has evacuated Gaza, and then continued to do whatever they wanted in Northern Ireland. Israel can do the same. Nobody lifted a finger for the Irish, and nobody will lift a finger for the Palestinians. Also, Ireland had a large coastline for arms smuggling, while Palestine has essentially none.

I: "Britain is a country of certain status;the West Bank is an area of uncertain status and not subject to the laws of Britain." The UK is the SOVEREIGN of Britain, and therefore it has SOVEREIGN RIGHTS, first and foremost being that British Law applies. Compare and contrast... Israel is not the SOVEREIGN of Jerusalem, and therefore it can not claim SOVEREIGN RIGHTS, which means that as the occupying power it is beholden to INT'L HUMANITARIAN LAW, and not to Israeli law. I: "Actually,in Britain a householder CAN have his land expropriated.By Compulsory Purchase Orders from local councils." Eminent Domain is where the sovereign asserts that its sovereignty over the territory trumps the ownership rights to the land. Your problem is that Israel is not the sovereign... and *without* that it can not use eminent domain to appropriate land. Ian, you actually admit that this is "disputed", and yet you also insist that Israel can act *as* *if* it already owns the joint.

I don't cave into this sort of childish invective. 1)Britain is a country of certain status;the West Bank is an area of uncertain status and not subject to the laws of Britain. 2)Actually,in Britain a householder CAN have his land expropriated.By Compulsory Purchase Orders from local councils. I still await Johnboy's justification for occupying Aboriginal land in NSW. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

I: "Johnboy doesn`t seem to be able to tell the difference between available land and a back yard.People put up fences because of people with his confusion." Ian, look in the mirror. Then ask yourself why you consider this to be "available land", since you nowhere define what that term means. Israel is building these colonies because the IDF commander in the West Bank appropriates the land for that purpose, and until he does that then none of this is "available" for that purpose. The Military Orders that he issues are illegal under the Hague Regulations IV, which prohibit the confiscation of private property (Article 46) and the administration of public land other than under the rules of usufruct (Article 55). What Israel is doing is *as* *illegal* as if it were building these homes in your back yard in Newcastle.

State: "On the other hand, this is the kind of thing that both sides have to be cautious as we move ahead with these parallel talks," And on the OTHER, other hand.... "Earlier Tuesday, the Interior Ministry approved the building of 1,600 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo, with a ministry official saying the plan will expand the ultra-Orthodox East Jerusalem neighborhood to the east and to the south." So much for the exercise of caution by Israel. Your move now, State Dept....

I: "Johnboy doesn`t seem to be able to tell the difference between available land and a back yard.People put up fences because of people with his confusion." Ian, look in the mirror. Then ask yourself why you consider this to be "available land", since you nowhere define what that term means. Israel is building these colonies because the IDF commander in the West Bank expropriates the land for that purpose, and until he does that then none of this is "available" for that purpose. The Military Orders that he issues are illegal under the Hague Regulations IV, which prohibit the confiscation of private property (Article 46) and the administration of public land other than under the rules of usufruct (Article 55). What Israel is doing is *as* *illegal* as if it were building these homes in your back yard in Newcastle.

Just when indirect peace talks are getting started, along comes an announcement of another Israeli settlement on the West Bank. I won't argue whether this settlement are illegal - only that the timing is hugely unhelpful to the peace process, and an unnecessary provocation of the Palestinian side. To claim one is interested in peace is not enough - it must be shown through one's actions as well. MV

Why not precisely, Ian? You live in the UK, where none of this illegal building, illegal settlements or brute force against different races would be tolerated. Your views would have you swiftly up before a judge and off to a cell. I am surprised to hear a British Jew with such a warped sense of xenophobic triumphalism for the sorry state of Israel. Have you thought of departing these shores and making aliyah? - Maybe we could have a whip-round to speed you on your way. If you insist on behaving like a childish Zionist, that's how people will take you. Three cheers for Palestine!

Like the wife of an alcoholic the US keeps making excuses

Johnboy doesn't seem to be able to tell the difference between available land and a back yard.People put up fences because of people with his confusion. His statement that my backyard is available land,by definition,is only correct to the extent that it's available to me. If he wants to follow his own argument,Johnboy had better search his conscience and see if he can justify his residence in Sidney,NSW.Did his ancestors purchase the land from the Aborigines or did they just seize the land?Maybe they decided that it was available land and built homes. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

Yes, David, what you say is the same as what I say. We both understand the logic. I'll explain it in more detail. Imagine that Israel agreed to a peace deal. Pull the isolated settlements out of Palestine, keep just the ones that are next to Israel, let Palestine have its own army and its own airspace and free trade with Jordan, etc. And suppose that then Palestine refused to live in peace but allowed a bunch of terrorists to blast a hole in the wall and invade Israel and blow up a shopping mall. Then Israel would have to invade Palestine, easily defeat the PA army, and occupy the West Bank again. That would be horrible! Having to occupy Palestine again would be the worst thing in the world! We can't take any risk that might happen! So the argument goes that it is therefore better to avoid all peace treaties and continue to occupy Palestine.

How the hell Israel will be able to live in SECURITY and PEACE, if each time there is a chance. The politicians find a way to stop that Train leaving the Station for PEACE & SECURITY maion STATION.You tell me.

#4 near sighted Vhardman, you must be looking at the little wall in front of you. I can see the writing on the bigger wall, the one behind the one you are looking at. Do the math there are only 6.5 million Israeli's in Israel. Hope your wall doesn't fall down.

Ian: "Building homes for people who need them on available land doesn`t strike me as being a big deal." You have a house, out the back of your house is A Big Ol' Back Yard. By definition your backyard is "available land" i.e. your house is up the front and your backyard is Out The Back, and whatever else you may have back there you most definitely do *not* have a house there. Does that mean that a bunch o' squatters has every right to start building a house in your backyard? And, what's more, to then exclude you from your own backyard because... you know... it's now THEIR house and is no longer YOUR yard? Am I to assume that you would have not the slightest problem nor complaint with that outcome, Ian, even though it only leaves you with half a property?

S: "IF...Canada was once the northern part of the US" .... and it is precisely there that Solomon's analogy falls flat on its face.... Canada was never "the northern part of the US". The West Bank was never "the eastern part of Israel". Your analogy is therefore nothing more than a kindergarden game of "let's pretend". As in: let's pretend that pigs can fly.... As in: let's pretend this was once ours... As in: let's pretend that Up is Down... You can "prove" anything if you are willing to suspend belief and accept that Up is Down. But, so sorry, Up is Up Yonder, and Down is Down Below, and you can no more make them meet that you can make your analogy hold together.

of bibi's peace charade. he's just following the israeli "standard" for peace negotiations, which almost invariably include a contingency plan of some sort, to be put into effect whenever progress is made, or perish the thought, peace threatens. bibi has been dancing and strutting his "talk" of negotiations ever since his so-called freeze farce, while doing everything he can otherwise to make sure they don't happen; and of course, fully expecting them not to materialize. but now the palestinian side has done the unexpected, and so bibi has barak activate the first feature of the contingency plan. look for others to follow if this doesn't work. remember too, that bibi has to worry about appearances, and now also the issue of "blame", so he'll only want to take it far enough to get abbas to nix the talks. the funny thing is that everyone knows exactly what's going on...lol.

Israel's "sovereign rights" are limited to Israel's "sovereign territory", of which the West Bank is NOT! P.S. VictorH, this just IN!(in case you missed it): George is OUT!(has been for over a year) And so too are his little winks to Israel's deceits on things agreed to in ink.

MfG: "First, according to the article Israel never agreed to a total freeze." Yeah, everyone understands that the "freeze" was always meaningless. MfG: "Second the article states all construction that was pre-approved prior to the agreement would go on," No: any project that had already poured its FOUNDATIONS would go on. MfG: "AND that there could be exceptions." I promise not to steal from you.... except for those things that I decide to continue stealing from you. Not much of a promise, is it, Mark? MfG: "This was an exception for security according to Israel." No: the stated reason was "safety", not "security". MfG: "So Israel has defied nothing." Israel made a meaningless promise. Israel is now taking advantage of the very meaninglessness of that promise, while you appear to be attempting to make a virtue of dishonesty. How splendidly zionist of you, Mark.

IF...Canada was once the northern part of the US except for Quebec (which was unilaterally created by the British for the Quebequoises) and Quebec then attacked the US and conquered what is now Canada and then the US re-took Canada in response to threatened annihilation, both in word and deed, then Yes, the US could settle Canada. However Canada is not just a neighbor but part of the north american family, supporting the US throughout history; a wonderful partner and friend. The Arabs are anything but. That is why the first paragraph is only an analogy, Thank G-d.

really? three cheers for isrl? don't you mean three cheers for the terrorists state of isrl? taking land from the arabs to make room for more jews is not a step towards peace. it is a threat of war. and if i know your kind u will blame the arabs if there is a war. u tend to twist the facts but the world is now awar of the terrorist ways of isrl. for in todays world there r other means of finding facts outside of the zionist controlled media. Power to the Pals, for they r the true victims of the holocaust.

Pretty soon many Americans will volunteer to throw the Jews into the sea for the Arabs. What disgraceful and inexcusible lawlessness. Beyond outrage and in revolt,...Dutch and The Real Tea Party

Brod If Israel wants the land. Then take the people. As well as those driven out in 1948 including their offspring. Anything less is Ethnic cleansing. What do you say Brod?

this may or may not be breaking the israeli 10 month building freeze. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT IS BREAKING INTERNATIONAL LAW

I: "Building homes for people who need them on available land doesn`t strike me as being a big deal." And if you awoke tomorrow to see that some homes are being built in YOUR backyard then would you still be so sanguine about it? After all, what's YOUR ownership rights compared to THEIR "need" for a nice house? And, let's face it, that land is "available", because your house is on the front block, and they are building down the back.... so what have you got to complain about? I: "I suppose that the idea is contrary to the PA`s anti-Jewish apartheid principles." Of course if the people building an illegal squat in your backyard happened to be (say) Pakistanis then you can not complain about it, because to complain is to reveal yourself as a racist. Correct? Ian, it isn't the PALESTINIANS who decided that only Jews are allowed to colonize their land. That's ISRAEL's decision, so at least have the good grace to point your "racist" finger where it belongs.

When Obama demanded a total freeze of "settlement" construction, Israel told him to drop dead. Obama beat an almost immediate retreat which indicated to the world that he is unwilling or unable to apply pressure on Israel. This present shuttle diplomacy effort is only window dressing. Netanyahu and his racist foreign minister have confirmed, time and again, that Israel has no interest in peace: a permanent state of war allows it to invade, kill, kidnap, torture and enslave at will. Forget about the two-state solution, disband the PA and turn the whole area into one state with a real democracy, not the apartheid system no in existence in Israel and the occupied territories.

If the point of talks is to stop Israel building illegally in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Israel keeps on building them, there is no point to the talks. This is all just a big game, all sound and fury signifying nothing. I can't believe the wimpish statements coming from the US. Are they real? Is this situation real, or just a mad joke. So long as the world plays along with this nonsense, there will never be peace. The provocation is continuous to give Israel the excuse to keep on using the excess of force that it is addicted to like a drug. It is an absurdity of a state and can't complain about being deligitimised. It is deligitimising itself.

Romans do not exist? Then who were those lovely individuals who hosted me so richly on my last visit to ROME, which has existed since c. 735BC? And I am going back to visit CUESTI BELLISSIMI ROMANI to enjoy their charming conversation, excellent food, heart-warming wine, music, joie de vivre, the ancient monuments which are an everlasting symbol to their glory. ROMA AETERNA!

It is not surprising - but it does not make it any more sickening to see the Zionist game of doing what is clearly not wanted by piece makers in order to get a better deal. I suppose if these buildings are criticized by those who care about peace in the middle east - there will be a uniform - you are anti-Semitic. You know people are getting more and more fed up with this game - but it is not a game it is destroying the lives of 10,000s of thousands of people - and Israel is becoming less and less liked sad - Constance Blackwell

I guess I'm not very bright! How does building 112 new homes not violate the moratorium on the freeze. Oh, I get it now, they are building them for the Palestinians to replace the ones they bulldozed. It takes me a while!

Vhardman just wants to be school boy and call people names. Israel has NO rights to any land beyond the Green Line. All arguments to the contrary run against the truth of history. The world is becoming increasingly educated and restless about the obfuscations and delays by Israel. Lets make nice to Brazil!

I guess you'll have no problems when the native Americans rise up to liberate their historic homelands from you lot then??!! The OneState binational solution is the only solution.

not only get evicted, but be forced to dismantle the illegal structures and put the property in its original state.

FB: "This article doesn`t explain them, nor does it say whether or not the Ministry of Defense explained what they are." Barak gets away with these things much, much too easily; he does not explain what they are nor, indeed, does Defence even DEFINE what that term actaully means. It means, apparently, whatever Barak chooses it to mean, in which case it is a meaningless term. A catch-all phrase that can justify anything. It's Alice in Wonderland stuff, and NOBODY ever calls them out on it.

As a palestinian who blindly beleives, from the bottom of my heart , in peace ,harmony, and equality for both peoples I feel impotent and useless when something like this Barak,s decision to construct more settlemens becomes the hot potato news piece on every TV, and Radio Station. I wonder what can be done, is there any way to make these politicians understand that a lot of people ,on both sides, are sick and tired of this endless and ugly conflict. why these people are so selfish to the point of forgetting that future generations on both sides would appreciate a peacefull and lasting settlement .

Shai, I congratulate you for the excellent message. If all Israelian people, and government, thought like you, the so desired Peace would be a reality. Down with radicalism, from the both sides. Luiz Felipe Haddad.

Just a few days ago the US said it would ensure that those impeding the peace process would be assigned blame and what do we get even before anyone sits down. 1,Israel announces a further expansion of Illegal settlements in the West Bank, 2, The USA sees no real problem. forget this facade Abbas---call a halt and disband the PA and demand your rights as citizens of the State the zionists are bent on creating. "the Greater Israel". It is the only way to call their bluff---and the us,s aquiesence. No more games or charades---call them now.

Oh look... Israel has started to produce pins and needles... OH my god Allah be praised Abbas will say. We cannot have ISrael make pins and needles, lets stop the talks. Abbas is a lame duck in a lame l;eader with no pull or authority. He cannot deliver any concessions whaysoever regardless of what gets agreed upon and he knows it. finish the wall let the palis languish for a decade or more until they decide peace is better than being stateless in their own land

giving palestine away to the jews...joe owes his success to the jews who he gave his soul for....little does joe know he shares their future

Your evaluation is roughly correct. One has just to look at Gaza to understand that Israel will not relinquish strategic assets for a "Peace" accord that is just a piece of paper. Jewish historical rights to this land,notwithstanding.

Enough is Enough. Israel became a spoiled child and needs some beatings.

Urges caution!!?? Urges caution??!! You know, Israel could bring in trucks and move out their Arab population and drive out all of Sheik jarrah and turn all of Silwan into a "park" and these US officials would still be talking about "caution". They can provoke and incite all they want and the US dores absolutely nothing. Appalling

Beitar Ilit is a settlement located very near the Israeli border, not more than 10 Km South of Jerusalem. It has a growing population of 33,000 people of which almost 20,000 schoolchildren. So why this decision by Barak just prior to the renewed although indirect talks with the Palestinians? It's quite simple. Since the Palestinians have already put their hands on the priorities for the next negotiations, namely to define the future boundaries, Barak puts rightly the Israeli cards on the table. He probably knows well that the Palestinians will claim and stick to the maximum stakes in the aim to obtain at least Israel's complete and unconditional withdrawal from all the disputed territories. These predictable Palestinian/Arab intentions (with the addition of the claimed right of return of all refugees) can not be met by Israel for obvious reasons, last but not least security and demographic reasons. Some major important settlements will have to remain Jewish also in the finale stage of any future peace accord. What's at stake and what's to pay must be high not only for the Israelis, but also for the Palestinians. So Barak's move is well thought and correct: it makes this core principle of equity right away clear to the Palestinian hardliners and their sponsors. If they truly want peace and a Palestinian state, they must prove it by their willingness to compromise, not just to claim.

The US is not Turkey. Be careful you don't carry your humiliation of us too far.

it is clear to even the most uneducated person, that the action of the Israeli government were solely to inflame the Palestinians hoping they would back out of talks. Israel is running scared because now they have to act and not talk. This would be funny if it was just not so sad. The US will clearly label Israel as the obstruction to the peace process and this is the first incident the US will note as it assigns blame. You are going to tick of the only country in the world on your side. Keep going until we can stop sending you money because the failure of peace is the strategy of Israel.

Was this approval as big welcome for Joe Biden? Just curious.

Yet you will see people Blame the poor palestinians for it... Provocation and Hate crimes is legal in israel... but reactions are forbidden. So build a Settlement and watch the palestinians react. this has been Zionist policy from centuries. Non-jews are criminal and jews are legal.

Building homes for people who need them on available land doesn't strike me as being a big deal. I suppose that the idea is contrary to the PA's anti-Jewish apartheid principles. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

"A true Jew is one who knows the GOD of Israel and the Land of Israel" Why are you living in America and not Israel?

This article doesn't explain them, nor does it say whether or not the Ministry of Defense explained what they are. 112 houses for an ultra-orthodox settlement is a safety issue? How so?

The settlement freeze is very dangerous. Only establishing strong and secure settlements will ultimately pacify the region. The disgraceful withdrawal from Gaza (a historical indignity, catastrophic strategic mistake, and a gross and illogical crime whereby the Jewish state ethnically cleansed Jews from their own land) and its replacement by Hamastan only occurred because the settlements there were not strong enough and senior politicians believed that they would have to be conceded as part of a (non-existent) peace deal. It's imperative that the West Bank is settled and pacified as securely as possible, and that means more homes.

Israel is willing to address its muslim no go zones....when will the Europeans start doing the same.

This madness will only stop when Israel change their voting system away from proportional representation which give the smaller extreme right parties FAR too much power. I have had enough of the Orthodox Jews in Israel controlling policy, steering us towards eternal war while at the same time refuse to serve in the Army. I hate extremism whether it is Jewish, Muslim or Christian. I would personally make Israel/ Palestine one country and only allow people who renounce religion and hatred to live there. I am sick and tired of the keyboard warriors, the ones who blame Israel for EVRYTHING and the ones that blame the Arabs for EVERYTHING. I truly wish that Obama grabs both sides by the neck and allocates a 6 months? timeframe to solve this problem once and for all. If they don?t comply, impose it on them until, eventually, people from both sides realise they are just human beings wanting to get on with their lives. JUST SORT IT OUT!!!

Brod, it is also Palestinian land. just like jews it is holy to Muslims and Christians, wake up already u do not have Gods deed to those lands, or exclusive rights to God.

am I not surprised?

Untill the UN vote for the partition of Palestine with the creation of two independent states jewish and arab and an internationaly governed Jerusalem, the majority of the then Ishuv had opposed such asolution quite bitterly. But then as the war of independance broke, this solution seemed to be the only acceptable one. As time passed and bloody conflict followed the previous one and as the human lives price has become higher and higher, it became evident that this solution is not the one acceptable to both parties. consequently we'll have to go back to the one state common to all peoples living in the old-time Palestine.

Israel is exhibiting classic colonialist behavior, including typical deceptions to justify their policies. It is clear that the government is not serious in peace discussions. Indeed, if roles were reversed the Israelis would be outraged by encroachment onto their land. No more excuses. This Jew is repelled by Israeli conduct.

If you agree to the Saudi Peace plan that was backed by all Arab states you will have a Jewish state in 67 borders with a Jewish majority and ambassadors in all Arab States. Palestinians can have their country also, even if it is 1% chance why not take it? You can't imagine having normal relations with the surrounding countries and normal acceptance as a benefit because you have never lived it but it is actually the only way to have a real country in any area in the world.

this why there can be no peace the pals have no partner

negoiations like a hot potato

First Israel couldn't stop settlements because of natural growth. Now the newest excuse is "safety issues". Once again Israel proves to the world that it's not interested in peace - only stealing more land. Israel doesn't deserve peace and I hope it never see's it!

NaritA, you might want to check the latest US Gallup Poll results before you continue to assure us that sympathy for Israel is "getting smaller and smaller." Some of the more hostile and vocal minority appear here and elsewhere but they are indeed quite a minority.

tell me how do you feel when the uk bonbed the living daylights out of germany ? did you fell that they had lost two wars and we should be sorry for them ? the arbs have made their own problems why should israel solve them for them ?

Barak, Lieberman, BIBI, all the religious partie etc. they all reject the two states solution, so there will be one state for many peoples with temporarily jewish majority.

Netanyahu, Barak, Liebermann, and the settlers. Only Netanyahu could make concessions for peace, and only for political expedience if they could not find another way. Just remember that Netanyahu silently prefixes every sentence with "I am telling you what you want to hear, not what I believe or plan to do". This carefully planned and timed announcement is meant to signal one thing only: Israel is not sincere about any peace process. GOI is not even being subtle about it any more. But the voters wanted it, so it must be democracy and good right? Kind of like Hamas.

This government is unabashedly arrogant and its timeing for insulting and embarrassing visiting political or diplomatic dignataries is unbelievable. You simply cannot trust this govenment. They will spit in your face every at every opportunity, just to prove to you who's the real boss. Peace simply is not possible with a government that behaves like this.

Honestly I have no idea what is on the minds of the present Israeli leadership....but it seems to me that the Palestinian workers constructing these new homes in the west Bank are probably building them for their future homes. Eventually in a peace settlement these homes will go to the Palestinians.

Geheimliche Stats Polizie-Check. Ghettos-Check. Torture-Check. Mass arrests-Check. Barbed Wire and Guards with Alsatians-Check. Mass murder-Check. "The word emulation refers to: * An ambition and effort to equal, excel or surpass another; to compete or rival with some degree of success, especially through imitation."

IF I YOUR ENEMY STRETCH OUT TO YOU AN OLIVE BRANCH DO NOT REGARD THIS AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS FOR IT IS THE FORCE OF THE MIGHTY AGAINST THE WEAK THAT DIMINISHES BOTH OF US. IF WE DESTROY THAT WHICH WE FIGHT OVER THE FOR WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING AND IF IT MAY COME TO PASS THAT IN TIME THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT TO FIGHT OVER...THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE IF THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO SUSTAIN LIFE LET NOT THE SUSTAINING OF LIFE FLY OUT THE WINDOW FOR THEN NO_ONE WILL BE LEFT TO STRETCH OUT AN OLIVE BRANCH...TO YOU...TO ME..TO ANYBODY. MORAL:PEOPLE(ANY AND EVERY ONE) ARE MORE INPORTANT THAN LAND OR POSSESSIONS

This decision is good news for the economy and offers welcome relief to Israeli and Arab workers.

Beitar Ilit is a settlement located very near the Israeli border, not more than 10 Km South of Jerusalem. It has a growing population of 33,000 people of which almost 20,000 schoolchildren. So why this decision by Barak just prior to the renewed although indirect talks with the Palestinians? It's quite simple. Since the Palestinians have taken care in a hurry to set their priorities for the next negotiations, namely to define the future boundaries, Barak puts rightly without wasting time the Israeli cards on the table. Israel knows too well that the Palestinians will claim and stick to the maximum stakes, in the aim to obtain the most from the counterparty but at least Israel's complete and unconditional withdrawal from all the disputed territories. These predictable Palestinian/arab pretentions (with the addition of the claimed right of return of all refugees and descendants) can not be met by Israel for obvious reasons, last but not least security and demographic reasons. Some major important settlements will have to remain Jewish also in the finale stage of any future peace accord. What's at stake and what's to pay must be high not only for the Israelis, but also for the Palestinians. So Barak's move is well thought and correct: it makes this core principle of equity right away clear to the Palestinian hardliners and their sponsors. If they truly want peace and a Palestinian state, they must prove it by their willingness to compromise, not just to claim.

I find that hard to believe, because the offer was for EITHER to declare INDEPENDENT Sovereignty. Independence is by it's very nature UNILATERAL. Perhaps you can point out where both parties were required to co-sign. I'd much appreciate it.....thx. BTW UN 181 is STILL enshrined in the Declaration of Jewish State. Must be some mistake I guess.

..and the Israel corner is getting smaller and smaller - hardly any place for all of your friends ..

I may not be religeous,but I wish Israel to continue to exist and prosper.We both want that.But some of us feel(know?) that we are undermining our future. If there is ever to be peace,difficult compromises need to be made ON BOTH SIDES. To make this announcement at this time is seen by interested parties(except you?) as a provocation to the Palestinians so that it incites them to riot or retaliate,then IDF go in to sort it out and say'I told you so THEY dont want peace' If you are capable of any feeling for anyone else just stop and reflect how you would feel as a 3rd generation palestinian in a situation not of your personal making.Only then will we get somewhere,.

"the entire Jewish population of the planet were sold out by the Jewish People`s Council when they accepted and declared sovereignty over the boundaries recommended by UNGA res 181." You may not have heard about these things, but the Arabs rejected 181 and a few other minor events have happened since. These various events render irrelevant, your constant gibbering about 181.

to see this article listed under the heading "Defense"

A true Jew is one who knows the GOD of Israel and the Land of Israel.

were sold out by the Jewish People's Council when they accepted and declared sovereignty over the boundaries recommended by UNGA res 181. Under their notification of that declaration to the International Community of states, Israel was recognized. http://wp.me/PDB7k-Y#the-big-lie You'd be better off railing at the folk who sold us short by demanding a separate Jewish state. Because of them, our choices are limited to Israeli Sovereign territory. No more no less. Anything else is ILLEGAL.

To #19..you do not speak for Israel.You are a minority.to which favours are given in return for supporting the ruling party to a 'majority' Meanwhile the rest of us logical citizens in the state, are being put at grave future risk because of the self centred and blind to reason nature of the settlers,most of whom came from the US anyway. Unlike yourselves,I am unable to put my trust in G-d, since he didn't help our brethren in Europe in the 40's.So please do not quote religeon or history as any precedent for future action. Yes our leaders are making it plain to Palestinians,US and the rest of the world that we dont want peace.It will come back to haunt us,if we are all still here.

Israelis are desperately afraid that if they sign a peace treaty they might be forced into a war regardless. That would be *horrible*. That would be the worst thing in the world! So they see they are better off without any attempt to make peace, to stay at war instead. Until you fully understand this logic you cannot begin to understand the middle east.

First, according to the article Israel never agreed to a total freeze. Second the article states all construction that was pre-approved prior to the agreement would go on, AND that there could be exceptions. This was an exception for security according to Israel. So Israel has defied nothing. You could argue about the timing of this move as being poor from a PR sense. But the main obstacle to peace has been Arab rejection of Israel and the education of the Arab children on a diet of of hatred. Until that changes the rest is just window dressing.

Judea and Samaria are Israel's liberated historic homeland. The Islamist-Jihadists who live there should learn to abide by Israel's Law and live peacefully as members of the minority group in the Land of Israel. They should stop usurping Judea and Samaria from Israel.

I totally agree with you. It is time to end this stupid pretense of a Palestinian "Authority" - all they do is do Israel's dirty work for personal privileges and an opportunity to line their pockets. Enough!!

The timing of this announcement is not coincidental, and it really is time that all of you took the blinkers off and admitted it. Go on, admit it: Barak signed off on this decision PRECISELY SO that it would have the effect that he was looking for i.e. jabbing his pudgy little thumb into the eye of both Abbas and Mitchell.

Whardman, all Israeli settlements in the West bank are illegal, Israel hgas zero sovereignty outside its borders. Can the USA build settlements on Canadian land? No. Can israel build settlements on palestinian land? No.

Not even a try to hide the willingness to torpedo all the efforts made also by US to start the negotiations...

By dissolving the PA and submitting the Palestinian people to the occupying force. The sooner Israel formally annexes the West Bank and Gaza (and for that matter all the land greater than that allocated to it in the UN GA 181 Partition Plan which currently defines Israel's borders) the sooner we can get on building a single state for all peoples.

Israeli spin will have it that the timing of this announcement is completely by chance. Yeah right.....safety-concerns my foot. The only concern Israel seems to have is keeping contractors busy and settlers happy and to hell with the rest of the world, the US and the Palestinians included.

It was Ehud Barak who once said that if we was a Palestinian, he would have joined PLO. So he surely knows that Israel treats Palestinians very unfairly. Despite this, and despite being a decent person, unlike many others in the Israeli politics, he approves these 112 apartment which is guaranteed to be a blow to the peace effort. Lesson ? Israel does not want peace. Not with Palestinians, not with Syria, not with anyone. Why ? Well, because Israelis never feel safe enough or prosperous enough, no matter what, they would not stop even if you give them whole Lebanon and Jordan, they are addicted to to abuse and to have power. It is like porn addicition which is a clinical psychiatric disorder by which the person feels it obligatory to look at new porn everyday (look at wiki). Barak and Netanyahu are two very different persons with different levels of intelligence, obsession or morality but in this issue their instincts are almost the same.

Sounds like wishful thinking on your part. It may know trial and tribulation, but disappear it won't. Israel exists and the Romans don't. Sorry.

It is known that Washington DC has very low expectations for these indirect talks, that instead, they are designed to give Obama something to brag about in the upcoming congressional elections in the fall. The two sides are very far apart and there are no currently known viable bridging proposals. The positions of both sides are well known.One wonders what they have to talk about since neither side is expected to budge. The only reasonable explanation, is the one which describes a political motive in Washington. If I am reading the 'weather', The Democrats are poised to be hit hard and since many contributors are Jewish Liberals, Obama needs to show he got something done, but it's all smoke and mirrors. Jewish Liberals who supported Obama appear to be the clear jackasses...and they are..'YEE HAW'.

I read just yesterday that Barak "recommended" Netanyahu to show flexibility towards the Palestinians and be serious and forthcoming in the upcoming initiative of the US administration to resume indirect peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Today, he defies the PM order to freeze construction activities in the WB settlements for 4 months to give negotiations a chance. In one word, Barak was a liar and he gives anti-semitism a huge push for those who never trust Jews. Still, I am asking myself; who has more power, Netanyahu or Barak? And what about the highest instance in Israel, the Nobel-Prize winner and the President of Israel, Mr. Peres. Or all is only a show, one hand cleans the other?

I'm afraid with that kind of attitude, you (Israel) will sooner or later disappear from the landscape.... ....but if that happens, I will make sure, that at least you will find a safe place in lovely Switzerland, since you seem to be a rather nice guy (despite of your deeply wrong political views) !! :)

left the station. I would not have expected much different. Now, the violence will heat up a bit, a new cycle in order to demonstrate that we tried but the other side was not sincere. It is not difficult for one side to provoke the other.

Israel has no soverign rights over west bank territory!Outposts and settlements are illegal under International law. Every country even the US says they are illegal. Israels soverign territory is the area Israel declared their state on in May of 1948. Period!

this is the greatest impediment to peace. don't go on blaming the PA or hamas or the terrorists. this is utter defiance in the face of the palestinians or the americans or the EU or the road map. israel's attitude and response is only to ridicule the world.

that no agreement with the arabs will ever happen , so barak is sticking to israels sovereign rights ! after talking to george !

Just the thing to start off the peace talks with, a confidence building measure. How should the PA reciprocate?

at the indirect peacetalks. nice move. Very timely too.

....to say that the Jewish people never contri- bute to anti-Jewish stereotypes. With his nonstop "trickser-attitude" he clearly does, not the slightest doubt about it....