Israel seizing hundreds of millions of shekels meant for Palestinian services

"Under International Law neither the WB nor Iraq are "occupied"." http://wp.me/PDB7k-Y#Gaza-not-occupied "Political rhetoric is not International Law" Then why do you do Political rhetoric? ----- #69 "UN resolutions are not International Law, just recommendations." They often cite International Law, binding UNSC resolutions and binding conventions. "UNSC resolutions under Chap. 7 are non-binding." They're based on binding law. They call for peaceful solutions. Under the UN Charter peaceful means ARE BINDING!! "Do you really expect an organization that has been hijacked by a majority of non-democratic, corrupt, autocratic states" The UNSC permanent members are China, Russia, France, UK, USA. Non are Muslim.

Israel Owes Billions of Shekels to Palestinian Workers http://www.kavlaoved.org.il/media-view_eng.asp?id=2748

All one has to do is look at the current Israel government principals and see their role in the Johnathan Pollard spy case, then wonder if the US and Israel are really such good friends. Or is the US just the prom date, waiting to be dumped when Mr. Right comes along. The US should do for the Palestinians what was done for Israel under Truman, recognize them and their government. The US seems to be just dopey pawn. The US should stop acting like one, and that would be to the benefit of both the US and Israel.

that the State of Israel invests in Palestinian areas amounts considerably higher than the fees collected. Let's not forget Israel's security build-up against Palestinian Terrorism which must be added into this sum, because the extermination of the Jewish State still exists in the minds of many Palestinians.....

Return it all - WITH interest then return the land

Shame is a bottomless well for the Israeli thugocracy. It collects $3-5B per year (including my tax dollars) in tributary payment from the U.S., along with untold sums of tax-exempt charitable contributions from U.S. charities. Plus, it has had its hand in German pockets for reparations for more than sixty years (and recently applied the bite again). Not content with that, it steals from poor, wretched Palestinians to finance their settlements. Israel should be quarantined by the entire world community.

To the various people who insist that the WB is not occupied territory - you're saying that it's a regular part of Israel, then, right? I'd imagine that'd have pretty significant demographic and political consequences for the region's "only democracy". Military law for Arabs, civil law for Jews?

Earlier rumors that Abe Foxman's press releases (detailing the true infamy of the issue's intricacies) were stolen by mysterious masked marauders, are now rumored to have themselves been summarily gagged by a court of competent jurisdiction. (Although it is clearly uncertain if the gag order applies to (a) the rumors, (b) the press releases, (c) the marauders, or (d) the competent court itself.) In any event, folks--STAY TUNED.

Israel has sure not invested in adequate sewage/waste water treatment infrastructure in the West Bank. Ma'an News 7.4.2010 "Israel threatens to shut off taps for West Bank water." Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau threatened to restrict the West Bank water supply if no sewage treatment plants were installed in the area, a UN alert warned on Wednesday. B'Tselem's study found, however, that "During more than 40 years of occupation, Israel has not built advanced regional wastewater treatment plants in the settlements to match those inside Israel." Although the Civil Administration prepared connections in the conduit for collecting Palestinian wastewater, no village has yet been connected to it, due to Palestinian refusal to cooperate in projects that may legitimize settlements. Read in full: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=274705

poor israel

Posted: .."Ask me for whom I voted on last elections. The answer might surprise you - I voted for Labor Party. I did not vote for Likud.." Giora, do you know the term "bezel Bedrek"? It means the same sh*t. It does not matter if you voted Likud or Labor or whatever. These parties are made from the same cloth and are full of hatered towards anything that is not Jewish or anyone that opposes their policies and Israel's occupation of the Palestinians. They try to do their best to damage any chance for peace, but now America and our allies are seing our criminal leaders for what they truley are and they wiil eventually turn on us because we are costing them dearly, economically and with deaths, like in Iraq and eventually with Iran. Lets hope that it will not be too late, or we will be the ones who will suffer a great disaster.

Your knowledge of geography is as limited as your sense of justice. Rhein Main Airport is named for being close to the Rhein and Main, which are quite distant from Berlin.

First of all it is not "occupied" territory by Israel. Secondly, it should be considered a fee for protecting Israeli citizens from "Palestinian" terror attacks.

The ones who never approach you:i.e the CJ's Roo's and ilk leave you in peace knowing how well,and if I may say so put your cogent posts without delving into a diatribe,but putting the onus where it belongs? i.e The The funds come from quarries etc, overwhelmingly from Israeli Citizens. Exactly,but to their discomfiture they omit it not knowing. Now that is one:Digging away, sure, with Palestinian workers. These royalties are to be paid to the PA. And:OK, so why are they not paid to the PA.? Because the PA has no leg to stand on.? Right,that is it,without having to repeat it all verbatim. As usual your posts are not only sensible,but accurate as to the reasons behind it. And the resulting responses are such they are calling Israel THIEVES. That is how low they sink when they try to justify their actions versus Israel.

The ones who never approach you:i.e the CJ's Roo's and ilk leave you in peace knowing how well and if I may say so put your cogent posts without delving into a diatribe,but putting the onus where it belongs? i.e The The funds come from quarries etc, overwhelmingly from Israeli Citizens. Now that is one:Digging away, sure, with Palestinian workers. These royalties are to be paid to the PA. And:OK, so why are they not paid to the PA.? Because the PA has no leg to stand on.? Right,that is it,without having to repeat it all verbatim. As usual your posts are not only sensible,but accurate as to the reasons behind it. And the resulting responses are such they are calling Israel THIEVES. That is how low they sink when they try to justify their actions versus Israel.

Under international law (Article 42 of the Regulations Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land annexed to the Fourth Hague Convention of 18 October 1907), territory is considered occupied if it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. A "belligerent occupier" is one that has occupied territories outside its own borders during war, whether aggressive or defensive. International humanitarian law requires that belligerent occupiers protect the health, welfare and homes of the occupied civilian population. It also prohibits deportation of those living under occupation and the transfer of the occupier's own civilian population into the occupied territory. Israel has, for forty years, violated international law through its demolition of Palestinian homes, its deportation of thousands of Palestinians, its killing of Palestinians and its construction of Israeli-only colonies and roads. Though the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice have repeatedly criticized Israel's violations of international law, no effective action has been taken to halt the violations. The UN Security Council issued its opinion on Israel's actions in the following terms: The repeated violation by Israel, the occupying Power, of international law and its failure to comply with relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and agreements reached between the parties undermine the Middle East peace process and constitute a threat to international security (ES/10/2 22 April 1997).

Thieves in the night correctly defines Israel.

UN resolutions are not International Law, just recommendations. UNSC resolutions under Chap. 7 are non-binding. Do you really expect an organization that has been hijacked by a majority of non-democratic, corrupt, autocratic states, which can only unite in anti-Zionist rheroric, should be taken seriously for the good of the world?

READ about Menahem Begin ' account of the war with EGYPT. Then read Gen. Moshe Dayan's account how they keep on PROVOCATING the Syrians in order that they retaliate. THE 67 WAR was a pretext to Grab more lands, as PM B. Gurion once said, let us accept what we get today then later taking more lands" something of this effect.

"To you this is robbery. To me this is not." Thieves often deny that they are criminals, even to themselves. They also pay taxes. You are admitting that your notions of morality and legality are somewhat faulty.

Uh? Gaza is still occupied.... No.... Gaza is not occupied at all. There is a blockade, even of lower quality than American blockade to sovereign Cuba. Israel has NEVER legally annexed ANY territory. 1/3 of what Israel claims, has been illegally acquired by war. `aquired` i.e, not not sovereign Israeli territory, not legally annexed. Interesting. For all the International community and even for palestinians the debate is about the territories legally accquired by Israel in a defensive war. No debate about post 48 pre 67 Israel territories. Israel should not thank anybody about that. ILEGALLY ANNEXED????? Who cares? CJ cares. Who cares about what CJ cares? Nobody cares, however, it is interesting. Occupation??? Israel occupies Syrian land. It occupied Egyptian and Jordnaian land, and was returned. The West Bank did not belong to any country. Thereby no occupation. The palestinian NON STATE ENTITY is a fiction. Has no rights whatsoever over all the West Bank.

C.A.Investment is on Private Roads for settlers only, on the SECurity Fences, and them mushrooming settlements, check points,road blocks, and the illegal Hill side caravans. Fancy that!, what a coincidence!

That's all agreed Giora. Israek is to blame but Arabs have their part of responsablities as well, don't worry. Israel should just stop this non sense called "occupation" and recognize a Palestinian State once and for all. Continuing settlements expansion is not the solution and brings hatre. I'm not blaming you personally. Shalom Leicha.

The more people like you and Crazy Natalie Durson are talking, the more palestinian cause is hurting. Blind hate shows through every sentence you people utter.

I am ready to accept that there are extremists on both sides. Ask me for whom I voted on last elections. The answer might surprise you - I voted for Labor Party. I did not vote for Likud. Israeli public opinion was for the peace process 4-5 years ago. And 10-13 years ago there were LOTS of people in Israel who were for the peace process. Things have changed since then for the worse, and not only Israelis are guilty of that negative change. You blaming Israelis who insatiable desire to expropriate more and more land. There are people like that. But I am not like that. And there are lot's of people not wanting to expropriate, but instead wanting to find real solution of coexistence.

... monies due to the Pals... a veritable life-line to all the swindlers...

I am ready to accept that there are extremists on both sides. Ask me for whom I voted on last elections. The answer might surprise you - I voted for Labor Party. I did not vote for Likud. Israeli public opinion was for the peace process 4-5 years ago. And 10-13 years ago there were LOTS of people in Israel who were for the peace process. Things have changed since then for the worse, and not only Israelis are guilty of that negative change. You blaming Israelis who insatiable desire to expropriate more and more land. There are people like that. But I am not like that. And there are lot's of people not wanting to expropriate, but instead wanting to find real solution of coexistence.

Under International Law neither the WB nor Iraq are "occupied". Political rhetoric is not International Law.

"And if you think that Gaza is still occupied ." UNSC Res 1860 Recalling all of its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), Stressing that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and will be a part of the Palestinian state,

Not exactly news. More likely the tip of the iceberg.

'International Humanitarian Law is quite clear on this ...' Not to quibble, but the international law of interest is more closely related to that dealing with illegal resource exploitation, and not quite so directly to humanitarian law, or the law of occupation, as you stress. You might review the International Court of Justice?s decision in the Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (DRC v. Uganda) case. It covers a developing area of case law which fills the 'cognitive gaps of jurisprudence' (as international law scholar Robert Dufresene call them). Either way, I think the Deputy AG's decision was a correct one. MV MV

Who pays the the billions and billions of shekels of additional security necessitied by Palestinian terror, hate education, jihad, bombings, criminal acts and acts of war?

I have been involved in the issue all my adult life and ahve read many books most by israelis describing the war.I went to hear General Matty Peled of the IDF speak in the Detroit area in the early "80s".He told the Kenesst"This was a war for more land,nothing else.I suggest a current book by an israeli"Walled".Iraeli intel,the CIA,U.S.military all said Egyptian troops were in a defensive posture.

I am ready to accept that there are extremists on both sides. Ask me for whom I voted on last elections. The answer might surprise you - I voted for Labor Party. I did not vote for Likud. Israeli public opinion was for the peace process 4-5 years ago. And 10-13 years ago there were LOTS of people in Israel who were for the peace process. Things have changed since then for the worse, and not only Israelis are guilty of that negative change. You blaming Israelis who insatiable desire to expropriate more and more land. There are people like that. But I am not like that. And there are lot's of people not wanting to expropriate, but instead wanting to find real solution of coexistence.

Don't try to catch me, I used the word "conquered" by mistake, English is not my first language. And if you think that Israel still occupies Gaza ... - then we really can not agree on much in common.

What happened to the idea of Israel?

The blazing headlines suggest something is wrong here. Perhaps not. This multi faceted matter is far too complex to seriously comment on until the results of the inquiry are in. Am curious though as to why this issue has only been brought to light now. As one person opined some sort of a peace gesture? Maybe not that far fetched.

There is absolutely no doubt that the palestinians are the victims from the start. Speaking of trust. Read a bit of "The first Israelis" by Tom Seguev. Very instructive. Israel's policy has been consisting of strenghthening Hamas against Fatah and Arafat 20 years ago and destroying palestinian national aspirations ? the PLO was ready to negociate with Israel in the 70's. Why palestinian "moderates" have been deported or assassinated ? Don't be surprised and outraged that Hamas has influence amongst the palestinians. Israel wanted it and knew exactly the consequences. I believe Israel creates its ennemies and "Casus bellis" so it does not have to negociate anything and can continue its territorial expansion East-Jerusalem and the WB in the name of "security" and "defensive wars". You're asking yourself the wrong questions. Should the palestinians accept more expropriations ? The answer is no. The source is here.

Don't try to catch me, I simply used the wrong word, "conquered" is not the right word. English is not my first language. And if you think that Gaza is still occupied ... - then we will never agree on something.

First I read the story about the organ trafficking and now this story. All I can say is that freedom of the press again is tantamount in Israel and nothing is hidden from public scrutiny.

They stood up to the Bushies' attempt to use the military justice system to repeal the Constitution. Looks like Israel's has some military lawyers who also have the guts to do the right thing.

Is Israel's version of the facts universally accepted? Israel's claim of an impending Egyptian attack has been widely accepted in the West. The Israeli public had been led to believe that it faced a threat of imminent attack, and perhaps even annihilation. However, the veracity of Israel's claim is increasingly questioned. A number of senior Israeli military and political figures have subsequently admitted that Israel was not faced with a genuine threat of attack, and instead, deliberately chose war. Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli army chief of staff during the war, later stated: "I do not believe that Nasser wanted war. The two divisions he sent into Sinai on May 14 would not have been enough to unleash an offensive against Israel. He knew it and we knew it." (i) General Mattityahu Peled, a member of Israel's general staff in 1967, opined that "the thesis according to which the danger of genocide weighed on us in June 1967, and that Israel struggled for its physical existence is only a bluff born and developed after the war." (ii) Menachem Begin, not yet prime minister but a member of the Israeli cabinet, allowed that: "The Egyptian army concentrations in the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him." (iii) http://imeu.net/news/article005371.shtml

"territories occupied" = Military rule. Israeli civil law is illegitimate in "territories occupied" Israeli civilians settling are illegal in "territories occupied". The only way your twaddlespeil works is if you ignore the law completely.

Reading wikipedia, aren't we ? That is good, Johnny, keep it up :) But if you say A, don't forget the B. Don't forget that Israel attacked after on its boarders Egypt and Syria amassed the troops, tanks for their attack. Israel is not suicidal. Arabs had the superiority in arms and manpower. Who would attack in this situation, unless you understand that only by surprising the enemy you have a chance to survive ?! Learn, Johny, learn, it pays in the long run :)

territories were invaded? "Under any future agreement with Pals settlements will belong to Israel" A) 'Pals' is that like 'Isrs' ?? B) You're telling us what the agreement will be? Amazing!! "If and when the settlements do get evacuated - Israel gets rockets fired from evacuated territory as a gesture of gratitude ( read about Gaza lately, CJ ? )" Uh? Gaza is still occupied. Israel still illegally claims 50% of the Palestinians rightfull territories since may 14th 1948. They should be gratefull? AMAZING!! Israel has NEVER legally annexed ANY territory. 1/3 of what Israel claims, has been illegally acquired by war. 'aquired' i.e, not not sovereign Israeli territory, not legally annexed. "In this situation any sane people would get tax money earned by JEWS living in the territories back to Israel. This is common sense" Only to someone intent on justify theft.... The West Bank is NOT Israel. Fact

Don't make Palestinians look like the most innocent law abiding citizens of the world. It is enough to look at Hamas to understand what might happen if you would have your state in the West Bank. There is absolutely NO trust. I personally was for evacuation the settlements from Gaza. Today I think it was a mistake. Hamas now fires rockets to major southern Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. This is DIRECT RESULT of evacuating the settlements from Gaza. Should we evacuate more ? Really ? Have said that, I am not saying there should not be a Palestinian State. I am also not saying that Israel should continue to build the settlements.

The Arab Declaration on the Invasion of Palestine was the OFFICIAL stance of the Arab States. They did not threaten genocide. They outlined their case for invading what was left of the non-state entity of Palestine after Israel declared sovereignty. They had a right to protect those territories from Jewish forces already outside of Israel's brand new declared boundaries on 14th May '48 I'm betting you've never bothered to read the Arab League declaration, instead you spout Hasbara fallacies designed specifically for one purpose. To Justify the illegal acquisition of Palestinian territories.

Israel attacked first Egypt then Syria at dawn on that day in June.Please take your meds.

The so-called "international law" does not cover "appropriation" of fruits economic activity by Israel from its own citizens, nor by US from US citizens. It is a complete fabrication to claim that the US follows this "law" in Iraq - or for example, in occupied Germany 1945-1953. Proceeds from the operation of the PX commissary in the US holding of Rhein-Main Airbase in Berlin do not now and never flowed to Germany. Further, the monies are fungible in any case, idiotic to claim there's requirement even where applicable that the EXACT SHEKELS collected have to be remitted back to the territory in question. Israel is entitled to deduct its security costs, expenses, expenditures and damages (such as rocket damage from Gaza!). Israel spends far more than it earns in the W. Bank, as Israeli Left never tires of pointing out. No NET "appropriating fruits of economic activity", what Israel collects from its own citizens is not "W. Bank economic activity", as Mr. Fayyad will certainly agree!

Israel occupies part of Syrian territory. Israel occupied part of Egyptian territory and Jordanian territory and was returned in exchange for peace. Israel is not occupying any others territory in the West Bank. Occupation is a fiction. The fate of West bank territory will be settled in negotiations. Israel might abandon all of it or remain with part of it. Most likely the borders will be redraw considering demography. Some jewish settlements will be paid with......maybe Umm el Fahen???? Why not? Israel is condemned by the SC? Nobody cares until the US takes away its veto. It might or not. Veto however, is part of the law, and sanctions are the only relevant thing in law. By the time being..I see no sanctions on Israel "misbehavior". Nothing to care about.

Germany is still paying war reparations after so many years and it is as it should be. Israel should be forced, just like Germany did, to pay for its criminal acts.

I did not say that the territories were not occupied. I used the word conquered - wrong word.

anti semitism? the word is a lie in itself...ashkenazi are aryan not semites...arabs are smites...every thing you do is a lie and a crime

Under the Geneva Convention, funds raised in an occupied territory by the occupying administration must be transferred to the civil power. The civil power is the PA. Israel has been stealing the PA's money to fund this Jew-only settlers' benefit bonanza. That is theft, a common crime, and it is also a crime under the Geneva Convention, a war crime. To make matters worse, it is illegal for the occupying power to be settling its own citizens on occupied land, which is a further crime. So Israel is using stolen money from the Palestinian authority to pay for the support of illegal Jewish settlers on illegally stolen land and committing three crimes in one. Or four, if you add stealing it from the occupying administration in the first place! It only ever gets better watching Israel in action, it is a real object lesson in total duplicity, venality and racial prejudice. Never mind, there's lots of empty cells in the Hague awaiting just the kind of people who commit these kind of acts.

The US has always looked he other way, but now it adds pressure and as the illegal settlements expansion expensives are to be deducted from US aid to Israel, the US are now considering the deduction on next years "foreign aid" to Israel. That is if Israel doesn't itself rectify the theft.

G: "Settlements were started on the land that was conquered during DEFENSIVE war." Territory can not be "conquered", Giora. Not in a "defensive" war. Not in an "aggressive" war. Not in a "whoops, it just kinda' happened!" war. A state's "right of conquest" was definitely ruled to be illegal in the Nuremberg Tribunals and the Far East Tribunals in 1945 i.e. territory seized by war is OCCUPIED territory, and can not be unilaterally annexed no matter what the excuse. G: "Under any future agreement with Pals settlements will belong to Israel" A brave call indeed, Giora. I would suggest that Netanyahu is doing everything in his power to ensure that this does not happen. He is simply too thuggish to realize it....

As a result of this war UN resolution was passed (242). This resolution has never been applied. Palestinians accepted it. Today these territories are mostly populated by palestinians and revendicated to be become a Palestinian State and Israel continues its settlement policy, expropriating the palestinians. You're sorry ? you should be indeed.

Why ? Judea and Samaria is a jewish land. Jordan is Palestine.

PSM: "CJ The border between Israel & the WB is?"... ....immaterial to the question of wether the West Bank is under Israeli belligerent occupation. International Humanitarian Law is quite clear on this, PETER i.e. "occupation" is something that applies to "territory". And if "occupation" is an attribute that can ONLY be applied to "territory" then the question of the legal status of any line that separates "occupied territory" from "unoccupied territory" is irrelevant. An example: Alpha and Bravo lines in the Golan are not "borders" under any definition of that word, but there is no question that everything between the 1949 Armistace Line and the 1973 Alpha Line is "occupied territory", and no question at all that the occupying power is "the IDF".

There is a simple fact that in 1967 Israel fought with Egypt, Jordan in Syria. In the process of that war West Bank was occupied. Now, you want Israel to walk away from there as if nothing happened ? I disagree with this point of view, very sorry.

Listen Giora. My family was born in Jerusalem. I'm not trying to confuse the argument. I know the history of my country and i know the history of your country. We all know that in the name of "National interests", countries decide to make war and pretend it was "defensive" so they look like victims. In 67, who was in power in Israel ? probably the champions of Land Conquest ! Israel's goal is to grab as much land as possible....and it's always been so.

You're trying to confuse the argument, won't work :)) 1. 1948 -this is a completely separate story. You wanna talk about it ? I guess not today. 2. 1967 war was defensive from Israeli standpoint. It is accepted universally, almost like universal truth. Check official position of your country, the French Republic :)

The wars were between STATES fighting over the territories of the non-state entity of Palestine. --- Nonsense. ----- The SC has tools to deal with violators of International Law. No sanctions against Israel. That is the bottom line. Therefore, Jews can settle wherever they want in a territory that has not been stolen from any other country. "Defensive war" plus "non other state territories" makes "a vacuum" that is filled by Israel sovereignty, till the moment that negotiations will decide the fate of the territories. The frame of negotiations will be the 242.This frame was accepted by Palestinians since Oslo and by the International Community.

You need to do something to get out of the "official version" (settlements, defensive war etc). "Defensive war" ??? what is that ? when palestinians were forced out of their houses in 48 as they were a very large majority on their land, is this what you call "defensive war" ? Don't tell israeli leaders did not know what they were doing in 48 and 67 ? The more military power you have, the more land you want to conquer. Israel's vision of things is not always right. There's nothing Israel can do about Palestinian will to be independent. Get used to that.

It is a straight forward matter of looking at the funding of building roads, sewage centers, and other infrastructure projects in Judea and Samaria and comparing that sum to the amount transfered for taxes and fees. The government has invested heavily in roads that are used by Palestinians and Israelis, it isn't wrong to fund that by such fees.

Israel is the best moral country in the world.

If Palestinian state will be declared unilaterally - then for sure settlements will remain as part of Israel. And WITHOUT land swaps.

White Americans stole the land from natives and they do keep it. And they occupied the land during "offensive operation" called colonizition. Jews got into settlements after the 1967's war. Defensive war, John. Defensive. You don't see the difference ? In light of this your phrase "You can`t steal the land and expect to keep it" is considered hypocritical at best.

"Under any future agreement with Pals settlements will belong to Israel" What future agreement? Doesn't seem to me there will be peace talks. In August 2011 a Pal state will be declared with the whole world recognizing it. End of game for Israel.

" You will not be able to evacuate 600,000 jews from there - it is not feasible. There will be land swaps, etc" I agree. The settlers can become Palestinian citizens. No problem as Fayyad said as much. You can't steal the land and expect to keep it.

only die-hard rightwingers, and there are plenty of those going around in the talkbacks will be able to deny that indeed occupation corrupts! But than anything goes does it?

Settlements were started on the land that was conquered during DEFENSIVE war. Under any future agreement with Pals settlements will belong to Israel. If and when the settlements do get evacuated - Israel gets rockets fired from evacuated territory as a gesture of gratitude ( read about Gaza lately, CJ ? ) In this situation any sane people would get tax money earned by JEWS living in the territories back to Israel. This is common sense, CJ.

Money is only one thing. What Israel is against is any kind of Palestinian structuring of anything that may serve as a building block for an institution of a future Palestinian state. Archives, money, but mainly archives of any kind, land registry archives, citizenship archives, economic arvhives, that is why IDF sometimes bomb admin-related buildings in Gaza. This is typical. Israel's conspiracy of the future Palestinian state is extremely sophisticated and this money thing is just part of it.

Let's think positively about this...it looks like things are headed in the right direction toward peace talks. After 15 years of doing this, I'm sure the government didn't "all of the sudden" realize that it wasn't being done correctly. This is deliberate on the part of the Israel government--probably part of the deal made to show the world that it wants to work toward a peaceful solution.

It is amazing what the PA expects. It is the PA that incites violence and chooses to say no to peace. They refuse to any negotiations, etc. Israel would simply be stupid to award such intransigence. The Palestinians must fight against its violence if expects normality. Finally, something good for Israel!

Occupied does not mean you will get it all as you want it,there will be land swaps such as a road through Israel to Gaza and the main settlement areas ,about 10% of the WB will be traded for land in Israel to the Arabs. Should of thought of that before "On the day that Israel declared its independence (May 15, 1948), Azzam Pasha, Secretary General of the Arab League, at Cairo press conference, (reported in the New York Times, May 16, 1948) declared "jihad", a holy war. He said that the Arab states rejected partition and intended to set up a "United State of Palestine." He then stated: This will be a war of extermination and a momentous massacre which will be spoken of like the Mongolian massacres and the Crusades". &"Khartoum Resolutions The Khartoum Resolutions resolved to commit to continued war with Israel and the document was popularly known as the three nos' because of the resolution in ... www.sixdaywar.co.uk/khartoum_resolutions.htm - Cached - Similar

Why give money to people who are trying to kill you?

Israel is not the fair-haired boy anymore. Things around here are looking more and more sleazy.

all in order to justify. One day PETER SM will stop justifying and find out he's forgotten how to be honest.

Needless to say you "missed" it. You want it all for free?

"Under International Law, the WB is not occupied" It is. The wars were between STATES fighting over the territories of the non-state entity of Palestine. The states ARE High Contracting Powers. The ceasefires, armistice and peace agreements were signed by High Contracting Powers. "..although she voluntarily upholds many of the rulings as if there was an occupation" Very funny "Because of Israel`s good-will.." ..hilarious...

The settlements in the West Bank will belong to Israel after final status agreement. You will not be able to evacuate 600,000 jews from there - it is not feasible. There will be land swaps, etc. So - these settlements technically are part of Israel. Or can be considered as such in minds of some people. Like me, for example. I am Israeli citizen, I pay taxes for the army, I also pay taxes for the settlements, whether I want it or not. So some of these money return to Israel as taxes pay by Israeli citizens who live in the settlements. To you this is robbery. To me this is not.

"Israelis who live in the west bank - these are jews, CJ." Israeli civilians in "territories occupied" are there illegally. Israeli civil law in "territories occupied " is illegitimate. "..Arabs who live there - they are not citizens of Israel. " But THEY have a right to be there, Israeli civilian citizens do not. "Learn the facts before you write" Hasbara is not fact, it's justification for insanity.

"BURRIED in the article" in the past 15 years the state has invest" PSM "CLAIMS that in the past 15 years the state has invested in the West Bank" PETER you left out the word 'CLAIMS'. must have been an oversight[ha ha]. Rather an important omission me thinks?

I read it correctly the first time. The fact is the money is supposed to go to the Palestinians. It is in fact being used by Israel for various purposes. If it belongs to the Pals and Israel is spending it. Thats stealing!

"-in the past 15 years the state has invested in the West Bank, apart from the settlements, more than double the amount it has collected-" What else is new in headline journalism?

Israelis? I hear tell there are no such people in Israel - just Jews, Arabs, Russians, Buddahists etc and "others". ie Israeli is not a nationality within Israel only in the outside world.

Under International Law, the WB is not occupied and Israel is therefore not subject to the associated 4th Geneva Conventions, although she voluntarily upholds many of the rulings as if there was an occupation. Because of Israel's good-will, the false assumption has been made that there is an occupation and the associated 4th Geneva Convention are to be legally upheld. Similarly here, the funds might be more appropriately invested straight back into the WB but under International Law there is no obligation.

Israel has seized land, and now funds from the West Bank coffers. The war crimes just keep piling up.

Israelis who live in the west bank - these are jews, CJ. Arabs who live there - they are not citizens of Israel. Learn the facts before you write.

well i just wonder how could it be "overwhelmingly from Israelis" since there is 2.6 million Palestinians living in the west bank?? Settlers do count up to almost 600,000 including in east Jerusalem. Palestinians have to pay for every request of traveling permission magnetic card and much more monthly that can reach a total of 120NIS so people u do the calculation, would it be 80 million annually or more, and is it overwhelmingly from Israelis or Palestinians

"Read it again, John. These money were paid by jews in the first place" Israeli citizens illegally in "territories occupied" "May be technically it is improper to transfer collected money to Israel, but it is not robbery" Embezzlement is a METHOD of robbery. Fraud involving property or money is the METHOD of robbery. //in contradiction of international law/ = CRIME. Crime involving the usurping of other folk's money, IS robbery. These money were paid by jews.. The article says ISRAELIS. Why do those who justify Israel's illegal activities need to conflate Jews with Israelis? If they were Italians or if the monies came from the Palestinians themselves and it seems some has, it's still ILLEGAL.

"The funds should be used to build homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria" Why?

A question Andrew: is it not a little childish to distract the attention from a disgusting act to another one. I find it even interesting to see how you lower yourself on the level of your socalled enemy - think before you write!

I suppose that now I have somebody's attention we should delve into the intricacies of above article. The funds come from quarries etc, overwhelmingly from Israeli Citizens. Digging away, sure, with Palestinian workers. These royalties are to be paid to the PA. OK, so why are they not paid to the PA.? Because the PA has no leg to stand on.? Because the PA allows this practices to continue and when they finally achieve Statehood, Israel will simply pay out with interest these royalties. One can understand why the military fellows are not that happy, for the PA has yet to prove that said funds will not be "lent" to Hamas. Hamas, is very active in the West Bank. Although little reporting has been seen by our erstwhile talk-backers. They are there. Deep undercover.Ready to pounce. For the West Bank is a fat cow,with lots of infrastructure and above all, with a banking system that works. A nice day to all.

And the billions in donations from the international community to the Palestinians over the years that disappeared into Arafat's pockets and those of the PLO/HAMAS?

Read it again, John. These money were paid by jews in the first place. May be technically it is improper to transfer collected money to Israel, but it is not robbery.

All contrary to International Law! This could turn into a very public lawsuit at the world court.

You don't mention that you keep harping on and on to put all the blame on the current govt.

The funds should be used to build homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria.

'"It should be noted the question of whether the funds are registered as state income or Civil Administration income is a technical question, because at the end of the day the State of Israel invests in the area amounts considerably larger than the fees it collects. ' Why do I have a feeling the amount invested includes spending on the settlements, building the barrier, constructing Jew only roads, etc?