Construction in West Bank settlements booming despite declared freeze

I don't think this frreze will work. In this new age of made made global warming, any frreze is doomed to thaw. Leave Israel alone, and let her do handle the wreched Palis as she see fit!

What a joke. The "settlement freeze" isn't worth the paper it was printed on. If Jews want to settle in the West Bank, then Palestinians should be allowed to flood into Israel and start grabbing up land and build homes on it. Fair is fair.

In a word there is no justification PERIOD! Israel will continue to build whether some people agree with it or not. Furthermore the responders can go hang-- they just babble on because they have nothing bar a bias attitude toward Israel and "partie pris" for the Pals. More importantly let Abbas begin to discard his charter for a start. As a supposed partner for peace,he has done nothing but demand which will never be acceptable by Israel.But poor fellow still thinks he will achieve the impossible.

I have seen gypsies show more respect for the rule of law and other peoples' property rights. Dutch

I sincerely hope not. You're writing from America, and large numbers of Jews have only emigrated to Israel from countries experiencing either severe economic troubles or severe antisemitism.

There there. It ISN'T so. You've just been going to all those hateful 'anti-semitic' websites. If you just stay away from those, you can keep your mind clear. Israel: the bridge between the light and the dark. Can you see the beauty?

Well got to say no surprise really. But i guess Binyamin Netanyahu is copying Obama's style; Lying all the time and never keeps his promises. Hey i hope at least he doesn't get a nobel peace prize...This world is upside down...

Gasp! Who'd ever have thought it? The breaking of a Netanyahu promise? That which is the Gold Standard of truth? I'm utterly shocked!

"Good. 2Million of us are coming home soon" Oh really? You won't set one foot out of New York City, you're all nothing but talk...

"But if it`s true that you proclaimed a building freeze,& somehow go around your word then that is not acceptable" How true the above is, and I agree with it...

As it was the Israeli government who gave the order to freeze construction, why are you glas that Israel is disobeying its own laws? What's with the "we"? You don't live in Israel...

The construction freeze was ordered by Israel's government. Why does it make you happy that Israel does not obey its own laws? Hayyp New Year to you as well, safe in New York.

Great if true.Let the Arabs do something for us first.

Has it just become such an ingrained part of you that you simply are not capable of ever telling the truth or even recognizing it? You lie when you accuse Johnboy and countless others of claiming "...Jews going home (or being sovereign anywhere, in fact) is unacceptable chutzpa..." I've never seen Johnboy make such a claim, nor have I, nor has anyone else you have accused of doing so over the years. In fact, I am aware of none of the pro-rule of law posters here or other places you frequent who have not made clear that they recognize Israel's right to be safe and secure within its internationally recognized borders and not beyond. As is the case now. Despite this being pointed out to you dozens of times you still persist in lying, year after year. It says a lot about you Nemesis.

Israel was created in 1948. Not before. The Palestinians have internationally guaranteed rights to their land and right to self-determination and they will indeed triumph. Israel has a right to exist behind its borders and not beyond. It is time that the world forcefully reminds Israel that as a UN member state, it too has to follow the law just as the Saudi FM said today. Stop acting like a spoiled child, stop acting like you can steal land and resources outside of Israel with impunity, and most of all, stop with all the belligerent war-making. The world is sick of the shtick.

Netanyahu is right,the one who is trying desperately is,Barak. Netanyahu does not want to see a bad press.Most probably had much more modest ideas about the housing freeze -- but with Barak around, the situation will always lean towards violence against settlers. This is exactly the type of press that Barak wants to help him continue leading the Labor party.So what should we do? We should continue to build, and wherever possible, challenge the government in court. Continue to pressure government representatives and make the feel the pain of a settlement freeze -- and how people didn't vote Likud to enact policies of Ehud barak and the Labor party.

Israel abide by International Law. "By what right does anyone have to tell us what to build on our land in our ancestral/current homeland." Israel has Sovereign territory. Go build in it. "That was in the law and mandated that Jews may live on both sides of Israel`s Jordan river" Not since Israeli Sovereignty was declared by the boundaries of Res 181. http://wp.me/PDB7k-Y Remember Israel has never legally annexed ANY territory.

Time for Pals and their apologists to get off their high horse and talk peace and borders.

For Israel, Good Prospects in 2010 In contrast to our rather gloomy assessment of the Obama Administration's prospects in the Middle East, Israel's prospects look rather good. This is granted, of course, that the chances for any formal peace (note the word "formal") with the Arab states or the Palestinians are close to zero. In addition there are two longer-term threats in the form of Iranian nuclear weapons and Islamists one day taking over one or more Arab states. But let's enjoy ourselves while we can. It's also important to remember in the Middle East, optimism does not mean forecasting blue skies but merely ones only lightly overcast. It's funny, though, how much better Israel's situation is then it's generally perceived. Consider the pluses: The potential of a clash with the United States has been averted, most likely for the remainder of President Barack Obama's term. All the lessons received by the United States in the region-to whatever extent it learned them-are favorable to Israel, showing how ready Israel is to help U.S. efforts at the same time as demonstrating how hard it is to get peace and how limited is the other's side's cooperation or flexibility. The possibility of U.S. rapprochement with Iran or Syria has been destroyed by the latter. --Israel has a government with a high level of popular support which really seems-after so much ineptness and ingenious plans that didn't do much good-to be on track. There is, by Israeli standards, a high degree of national consensus.

i said it once and i say twice. israel is bent on cheating. it has done it many times in the past, and will continue to do so regardlessly. what is sad is that a lot of israelis seem to be in agreement.

With construction I listened to a child who cried. He was in his teens he said submom you don't understand we left a city to have a city suddenly built around us. We wanted open and now they close us in agian. I am in rage he said they bulldozed down my favorite tree. I sat under that tree and drew,sang, wrote and designed my future. Now it is gone the man yelled at me over my tears and said others needed a chance for a home. I understand I said they bulldozed down my favorite pasture with oaks everywhere and put in a subdivision. I cried and now on heard. I hear him. Create murals of groves of trees, plant trees in pots, and in the center of walk paths. Create falling gardens of rippling vines and give these children back a mind growth zone not just concrete. Rankoo-Karoon

Akiva, Let me tell you I have see gypsies show more respect for law and other peoples' property than your carpet baggers from God knows where. Aren't you all ashame of those people? Can't you sense they are giving you all a bad name world wide? People will refuse to handle your goods or invest in your companies & stock. So it will all come back to you. Dutch P.S. I could say you can take that to the bank but the reality is you won't have anything to take to the bank in the end if you don't put a lid on that lawlessness. ....

Yup - what a nerve these great new pioneers of the new Yishuv have got to insist on building on Jewish Land!!!

By what right does anyone have to tell us what to build on our land in our ancestral/current homeland. When will Jews allowed to build on the East Bank as Arabs do? That was in the law and mandated that Jews may live on both sides of Israel's Jordan river.

You make it sound as though Jews were persecuted in isolation in the US! Don't you think the blacks suffered considerably more than the Jews ever did? How many Jews were slaves, I wonder? And in any case, they surely ain't persecuted now!

Just let them build their settlements and when peace negotiations take place, let the Settlers (and toss in a few radical/violent Religious) become citizens of Palestine (the Settlers and Palestinians deserve each other). Then pull back to the new boarders, and with this, Israel can throw out their own trash (hee hee) and live like human beings again without having to pay for the Settlers transgressions.

No problem, the Settlers can just be aborbed into the new Palestinian state.

For only a little bit longer, and only by a very small number of crooked politicians, and spineless cheerleaders. Unfortunately, when the tide turns, and it WILL turn, it will be rapid, and so many will be caught with their pants down, and their hair on fire.... So all you so-called americans cheering on Israel, please, make aliyah before it's to late. History is repeating, and we all know what that means. There will be nothing anyone can do to stop it. As sad as it is, until we ALL (both ways here folks...) learn from history, we are doomed repeat it. I wish you all the best of luck.

by the truth because its policies in the territories are lies and it refuses to see what it is.

Petra, my friend--happy new year, you wrote "America supports israel" is true but there are limitations on the US support. And that base of support is changing in the US and it's becoming more generational, especially among American Jews-young and old. The Taxpayers from middle America will have a stronger voice on Israeli policy. Pushing for peace will continue this year.

I always read how the Palistinians are not "partners" for peace, implying they can not be trusted to honor their commitments. I do not know about them, but it is clear as crystal Israel rarely honors its commitments. So why is it always written and argued by the Israelis and Jews that it is the Palistinians that can not be trusted?? Seems even these individuals can not speak the truth or see the perfidy of Israel.

We never thought the Arabs would give us our country back willingly, but after 100 years since starting to take it back we're not doing that badly, wouldn't you say? The fact that to people like you Jews going home (or being sovereign anywhere, in fact) is unacceptable chutzpa, well that's old hat and we are used to it, mate (by the way, what's with the full stop after every letter, is that an Oz way of showing you're one of the few lieterate ones?)

It was only 50 years ago that Jews could notbuy homes in Coral Gables Florida. It was less long ago than that they could not stay at hotels at St. Petersburg Beach, also in Florida. Actually, it was not until the declaration of independence for the State of Israel that restrictions against Jews in the US began to disappear gradually. These barriers for Jews even existed right after WW2 when the devastation wrought by the Nazis, helped by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and his MuslimSS llegions, were Known

had enough, There was a time when the Land of Israel was called Eretz Yisrael there were Jews who lived there who were called Halutzim aka Pioneers. When the Turks were in charge the Jews who owned the orchards preferred to hire the local Arabs because they "knew how to work". The Halutzim didn't know "to work", or so the orchard owners thought. Actually, they were not hired because they were considered troublemakers who might ask for a decent wage, but . . . Soon enough the Halutzim went to business for themselves and proudly called for Avodah Atzmit, and Avodah Ivrit, a policy that stated that meant Jewish labor, and only Jewish labor. That worked until Profitability entered game. Non-Jews of the Land of Israel cost less, then came the Phillipinos, the Romanians, the . . . and by then the State of Israel became one of the twenty leading industrialized nations of the world. After that, the rest is history.

please, stop your aid to israel, usa will be a big looser. we will sell for blns$ to china, india etc. and we will develop our own jets better and cheaper than yours. please do it.

09:43 Iran opposition leader Mousavi: I`m ready to die for our people`s rights (DPA) what kind of rights is negative iq puppet talking about? drinking alcohol and pollparroting? or what?

but it does seem that God allows it.

Clarification. If you intend building ,then build without beating about the bush ! But if it's true that you proclaimed a building freeze,& somehow go around your word then that is not acceptable. Remember one thing in life. Come out directly & make your intentions crystal clear.People will respect you for that. But if you act sneaky,only derision will be thrown at your face. Explain. what is Israel going to do with 500,000 settlers,in Judea & the Shomron (Samaria) ? The only feasible answer can be; is to let all those settlers remain put where they are . Just as there are Arabs living in Israel w/full rights, (about 16% of the population) So also the Israeli settlers must enjoy precisely the same rights. To think of evacuating the 500,000 is nonsense ! They haven't yet found arrangements 4 the Gaza evacuees! Another alternative make a dual transfer;Israeli Arabs 4 Settlers ! Whatever.DON'T LIE !

Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish People. Creating a new nation that did not exist 80 years ago can not change more than 2500 years of Jewish history.

From the first time the Jews stepped into the land flowing with milk and honey, they immediately began to steal it from its existing owners. Joshua presumably fought the first Arab/Jewish battle over the town, and the milk and honey already belonged to someone else. I wonder whether that really was in God's plan or did it all go wrong from the beginning?

Someone has to take a lead in the peace process at the moment extemists on both sides are dictating what happens. Maybe just maybe Israel should take a chance and freeze all building in the West Bank now, this will rmove one of the arguments used by Palestinians for the continuation of violence. This is what the British government did in Ireland when it began talks with the IRA despite previous governments stating that they would never negotiate with a terrorist group.

It doesn't mean anything which has begun can continue....that's an Israeli version of the meaning I suppose! Abbas wouldn't dare to accept that meaning of "freeze."

The construction of west bank settlements are built by Palestinians for Israelis I find it difficult to comprehend,they build ,they are paid to do so and then they complain for building them!!!?

Don't forget us - we have the foundations in and so by LAW, we are allowed to build...and so we shall. May every stone represent another 1,000 as we build and make our land strong. From strength to strength, despite the apologists amongst us (you listening, Akiva? Israel will be strong DESPITE those whose politics taint their writing).

Hey, do not forget about Mitzpe Yericho! We are building 43 houses at the moment, and planning to continue with another project of 96 units! Blessing for the builders of our Land.

Ok - can you read? The "freeze" states no NEW construction. Get it? NEW...like in...where nothing exists. If a house was started 3 months ago, they are ALLOWED to finish it. There is no freeze on existing contracts for houses which already have foundations in the ground and all permits. Shame on you, seriously, shame on you for attempting to yet again damage Israel's image abroad to promote your own agenda. That is not journalism. I suggest you run for political office...not because you belong in the Knesset, but because you for sure don't belong working for any newspaper or Internet site that wants to claim itself as a legitimate news outlet.

Israel is cheating and lying all the time. The promised stop of construction was and will never be realized. Israel is the God's chosen people, who has the the right to ly and to cheat the rest of the world, this is evident since the creation of the state of Israel.

Don't expect honesty from israel , They only know to conquer others land. And harash and kill innocents.

Nobody is capable to bring about said humility.

who are these 'Jewish' laborers? the only laborers I have seen here lately are Chinese and African illegal workers. And it's not apartheid to religiously discriminate, its just WRONG...

Nothing better than to see Israel develop all of her land and to fill it w/Israeli's. AMERICA SUPPORTS ISRAEL!!!!

The Palestinians are randomly throwing stones, throwing firebombs,murdering a father with seven children etc etc.Are we supposed to cry tears because not every house being built is stopped?If Palestinians want all construction stopped they will have to have a peace deal with Israel and that won't happen unless they come to terms with a Jewish-majority Israel.

I hope Israel keeps 'em coming....build baby, build!

First, the item says something about large contractors. What about the small contractors, or the homeowners themselves, building the houses with permits they obtained before Barak started his campaign. Didn't know that Israel had ex post facto laws. What's illegal about what was legal yesterday. If I recall once an Israel couldn't hold buy or sell US$ and now . . . Ah, but that was so long ago, you say! Same difference with construction in Judea and Samaria. Then too, most of the settlements hire people who pay their taxes to the . . ., neighbors, so to speak. If what goes on in the Gallilee is any indication of what Jews and Arabs living together can be, the Peace Now and others are promoting Apartheid instead of preventing it by telling us "Jews must leave immediately" if not sooner. If that is the case you have to wonder who has the Ghetto Mentality, the settlers or the Peace Activists.

what are the Palestine works going to do for 10 months with out work. blame Israel or may be start another intifada. Building in juda and Samaria works for both Israel and the Palestine. peace now will end creating a war wake and open your eyes

Well at least it emphasises the right of return for Palestinians! The arrogance of Settlers is breath-taking, but there is a red line and they are pretty close to it.

l: "Good. I am glad that Israel frustrates you" h.u.b.r.i.s. l: "Happy New Year. And I am looking forward to more actions by Israel that will frustrate you in 2010." h.u.b.r.i.s. l: "Am Yisrael Chai" You have a bad case of hubris, sunshine. Better have it looked at - and soon - because hubris is invariably fatal if it isn't properly treated with a serious dose of humility.....

Easy solution for the US. We're providing, what, $3 billion annually to Israel in military aid. We stop providing aid and selling on military equipment and Israel may do whatever it wants. If we can't compel action through reason we should compel it by force. We are after all taking the blame in the end in any event.

they probably are using Arab construction workers too.. apparently giving job to Arabs is OK building there is not !!

No wonder the Palestinians do not trust Israel. Israeli settlement construction has continued after every negotiation. Terrorism comes in many forms, and there is much terrorism that originates from Israel under the guise of security and religion.

""The Civil Administration has made it clear that "warrants for the suspension of construction" are relevant only for buildings for which the foundations were not laid on the day a warrant was issued."" Israeli smoke and mirrors at its very best. Isn't lying a sin? Only if somebody notices the day you tell the lie? Ethical cripples!

... but all Israelis are finally accountable, whether-they-like-it-or-not...

Glad to hear that construction is continuing. No one and nothing can stop the Jewish people from building their homeland. The Palestinians have no one to blame but themselves....more than once, Israeli leaders have offered to turn Judea and Samaria over to them and the repeatedly refused to take it. Too bad for them.

Most people who have at least a minimal mental capacity had to laugh at Israel's declaration regarding the settlements. Only those who like to be fooled believe in such a freeze. As long as the U.S. President is cowed from pressuring Israel and imposing sanctions on its lawlessness, one has only to expect continued Israeli rejectionism and lawlessness. If Netanyahu stops settlements on his own, I can swim across the Atlantic Ocean!

other than israel's activities are downright sickening!

Lawlessness is not part of democracy.

Good. I am glad that Israel frustrates you. Happy New Year. And I am looking forward to more actions by Israel that will frustrate you in 2010. Am Yisrael Chai

The jews are just acting on their right of return rejected by the world of islam in its decay since 1882 despite that mohammed regarded many jewish laws as high in value but adapted them to his peoples .Jewish return to eretz yisroel and also the great nations from avraham having their bountiful lands are part of the DIVINE PLAN .

we pull the plug. Same thing, incidentally, for any progress towards peace.

The two words that come to mind when Israel is mentioned are "sneaky" and "deceitful". The moment Netanyahu agreed to the temporary freeze, the entire world knew that it was a lie. There is nothing more predictable than this story.

Israel only wants land.The government dont want peace,the setters care only for them selfs. You have to see this to believe it, Women in green "Jewish Presence on the Neguhot Road" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1i2erBXy5c&feature=player_embedded .This is only a day or two old.This settler lady "Nadya Mater" is a racist and also a scary peace of work.You would not want to get on the wrong side of this lady