Netanyahu: I never promised to extend West Bank settlement construction freeze
Netanyahu tells Likud ministers that future of settlements will be discussed as a final-status issue in peace talks with the Palestinians.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East peacePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Likud ministers on Sunday that he had not made any promises to U.S. President Barack Obama or any other American government official regarding an extension of the settlement construction freeze in the West Bank.
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Benjamin Netanyahu speaking during the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office, July 25, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
"We made no proposals to the Americans on extending the freeze," Netanyahu said. "We said that the future of the communities will be discussed as one of the elements of a final-status settlement, along with the other issues. We promised nothing on this issue to the Americans."
Netanyahu sharply criticized the Palestinian demand for extending Israel's 10-month construction freeze, which expires September 26.
"They are building an entire city with our encouragement and then they are fighting with us over every house in Judea and Samaria," said Netanyahu. "The hiatus of construction prior to the cabinet resolution [approving the freeze] lasted 10 months, during which we called them for talks. Now, three weeks before the end of that time, they come to the talks and say that we must continue the building freeze. This raises questions about the seriousness of the Palestinians to enter talks in good faith. They are building an entire city and they fight with us over every home."
Information and Diaspora Minister Yuli Edelstein also referred to Rawabi, the first planned Palestinian city, which is being built near Ramallah and is meant to house 30,000 people. He said that while the Palestinians were building that city with Israeli support, Israel was being told to freeze all construction.
Although the Likud meeting lasted no more than 30 minutes, Netanyahu was hit with a barrage of questions, all of which had to do with the future of the settlement freeze and the Washington summit scheduled to begin Wednesday.
Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Washington at noon on Tuesday.
Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom told Netanyahu he understood the summit would deal with the construction freeze and other substantive issues, despite earlier reports that it would be little more than symbolic.
Shalom, who had argued in the past that Netanyahu was not keeping the ministers up to date on developments, asked the prime minister to offer clarifications.
"We have held talks with the Americans and there is no change in our stance," Netanyahu told Shalom. "I assume that there will be problems, but the framework of negotiations is the way it was established, without preconditions. I do not know that there is any intention to go beyond discussion on procedure in Washington."
Some of the ministers wanted to know whether Netanyahu supports Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor's proposal to extend the freeze in isolated settlements but resume construction in settlement blocs.
"What is the American position on this matter?" asked Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar. "Do they accept this distinction?"
Benny Begin, a minister without portfolio, said no Israeli gover nment has ever distinguished between isolated settlements and settlement blocs.
"In the media they call this proposal a compromise," Begin said. "It really is not a compromise. It is a clear decision to distinguish between communities, and this is not part of the cabinet decision that was made. If this is what we want to do, then a new decision is required."
Netanyahu reiterated his stance that the cabinet resolution on the settlement freeze was limited to the 10-month period of the original hiatus and said he had not discussed with the Americans the possibility of extending it.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak met on Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, and discussed the diplomatic efforts ahead of the summit in Washington.
"Peace is a strategic goal of Israel and we expect the Palestinians to come to the talks with an open heart," Barak told the king.
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Abbas outfoxed Bibi good on the freeze issue. It's a stroke of genius. Israel's already been frozen out of any building in the territories for close to a year. Now Bibi is boxed in, and Obama is gonna make him extend the freeze for another year. After that it'll be a done deal. Israel does not build in the territories. So why hang on to them then? Abbas put Bibi in a box on this one. Bibi is a terrible negotiator. All the time he's losing, he's telling you he won. Nobody cares...
If someone like Clinton was involved, someone truly committed to peace on both sides, I would be all in favor of a peace talk. Obama is COMPLETELY undeserving of his noble prize. Hamas EVEN SAID THE EXACT SAME THING-that he did NOTHING to earn that peace prize. Please Bibi, just nod and smile and don't give Obama the honor of being there for a peace talk. Wait for another guy like Bill Clinton, someone who TRULY cares about both Israel and Palestine. Frankly, there is no evidence to convince me that Obama is even American and I seriously doubt his "Christian faith."
Samuel Fuller
We should be used to examples of Israel being Israel. The elements of this normally include greed, deceit, and fraud, coated in high drama. We have seen this many times before. The question is will Obama react to this any different from his predecessors. So far Obamas mideast policy seems to be a set of random actions with no cause and effect.
Former PM Ehud Barak has stated to King Abdullah of Jordan that the Palestinians should come to the negotiations "with an open heart". And therefore it's understood that one can only come to the table with an open heart when there's trust. If DM Barak's commitment to PM Netanyahu is as it is and trusts that this coalition will eventually make the decisive peace agreement to the Palestinians acceptance, then why not proceed with good intentions and a positive outlook for the near future's result of coexistence? It's really a mutually beneficial approach to the talks.
Comon guys, were taking about a freeze on Israel building on occupied land. Your trying to make the case for settles to resume building on PA land based on the fact that the PA is building a city on PA land.... is just Dumb or what...it make no sense. The Israeli's would never stop building in Israel, if you really want to go tit for tat let the PA cross the green line and start building settlements in Israel or would that be way to radical of a concept for the Jewish people to swallow, but your you force that reality on PA people daily. Stupid is as stupid does with the Internet and the news coverage you have to know the world is watching. When it comes to resuming building in the west bank there really is no good reason at all unless you just don't want peace The Palestinian demand for extending Israel's 10-month construction freeze put another way arent they saying don't steal land with one hand and try to make pease with the other, lets stop and talk.
Bibi is already had to take on certain members of his coalition just to get the original 10 month suspension. If he looks like he is just going to continue the freeze indefaintly when one freeze ends another begins his coalition will collapse. There is no guarantee that brining down Bibi will bring a government Obama & Abbas prefer and even if Livni or Barak won the election chances are they will still need the same old faces to form a coalition. Its because of the coalition system that the pro settlement people have so much influence. They can make or break a government most the time. So what happens then Bibi is gone but the new government has no more power to freeze settlements than he did. Obama is here for another 2 years no matter what happens & Abbas is pretty safe politically its only Bibi who has to worry about coalition partners. If they are serious then Abbas & Obama will have to accept some building must continue he may be able to limit it to the major settlement blocks and Jerusalem rather than all over the place but if Bibi agrees to a complete freeze we will be planning the date of the Israeli election not talks in Washington. The settlement issue is complex and even if Obama starts trying to harm Israel again until he gets his freeze he won't be able to get the freeze he wants so bad so if they want talks to even get off the ground Obama and Abbas are going to have to accept a few realities.
Even if you have promised you will deny it later, it is the habbit of most Israeli leaders (the only exception may be Ishac Rabin). So it is not something new to us that you go back on your promises. I believe that Abbass must be very patient and try to reach a settlement with your govt. because we are fed up with our lives as it is going on. It is our destiny to have the worst enemy on earth.
Even if you have promised you will deny it later, it is the habbit of most Israeli leaders (the only exception may be Ishac Rabin). So it is not something new to us that you go back on your promises. I believe that Abbass must be very patient and try to reach a settlement with your govt. because we are fed up with our lives as it is going on. It is our destiny to have the worst enemy on earth.
"They are building an entire city with our encouragement and then they are fighting with us over every house in Judea and Samaria," - like its you own God Damn land
SAID: we cannot freeze NEW settlements building either while either talks go on or not. JUST GOING ON with NEW settlements - meaning: not only just ENLARGING existing ones like Ariel and many the common Jews not even know about, but equally & at the same time BUILDING NEW ones, where yet there is none - IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD that shall ENABLE us to get back what is ours: ISRAEL
So the final status issues will come up soon enough. Despite Bibi's kicking and screaming.
good, well done, give the world and, more importantly, your dwindling allies, more reason to see behind your decades of insincerity and colonization. the palestinians have little to lose and everything to gain by sticking to the final status issues and activities pertaining to them in the interim (and should). bibi's comments are totally ridiculous. not 1 new palestinian village allowed since '48 in the israeli state, while jewish communities, illegal and legal, have been allowed to proliferate since the nakba within the green line and beyond. israel, you are quickly losing all legitimacy and support and you've no one to blame but yourselves. you are the victims of your own victimization.
If there's a freeze, it would seem only Israel agreed. 10 months is plenty of time to make a decision and the Pals did. They've done nothing to help in the peace process EVER and want to dictate terms while they build? funnier by the minute. Bibi, hang in there, Obama will never be trusted by either Israel or the American voters. He's toast in 2012. Just say NO.
After 10 months the freeze will end, permits will be issued and people will begin to build. There is no prospect of proponents of a freeze to get the required votes to extend it. Even if Netanyahu was so inclined. Standing on the train track and warning the train is nothing but bravado and stupidity on Abbas' part. He wasted the last 10 months and he wants to sucker Israel into wasting another 10 months. ker splat.
the peace talks won't even start, if Abbas resigns over failure to make peace it will be even harder to make a deal with his more radical follow-up. Meanwhile there is a military build-up in all the Mideast. The countdown begins.
the ironic "settlements freeze" series!
The two- state plan will never materialize , so the only solution left will be one State with Israelis and Palestinians ..... of course with equal rights !
And while you're pontificating your fanasy, you might be tickeled to know that Irsael is one of the ONLY middle eastern countries to have women in Government / Cabinet positions who are ARAB! Would you like to tell me which ARAB country even does that currently? Equal rights is something shown by example, it's not an "on / off" switch. Why don' you start giving "equal rights" to your own Arab citizens inside Arab countries, and we can consider your Jewish / Arab coexistence experiment under one nation?
Israels Declaration of Independance states : " The state of Israel will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to ALL its inhabitants , irrespective of RELIGION ,RACE or SEX" ....I have a dream !
Settlements will continue. Israel will prosper and GROW beyond her bounds ! Like it or lump it. Who the hell cares what you think. Zionism is still in its infancy .
A concept outgrown in the twentieth century by the rest of the world. If Israel continues on this path, it may grow, but it will grow alone, as the rest of the world will ostracize it. Too much expansion and Israel will find itself facing not only angry Arab countries, but even its staunchest allies. Why not stay within the green line? Better for all concerned.
The games Netanyahu plays ... Finally i hope this slap in the face for those who believe that a peace is ever possible with the Zionists ... THIS IS A WAKE UP CALL TO ABBAS ... AND THE OTHER ARABS
peace is the present state in the whole mideast what is happening is the desire to split the legal land of israel ! only israels power creates peace not idiotic conferences with illegal pa reps !!
Abbas is illegal. He is in power as a dictator as of 09. The EU is laughable when it says that there should be a "Democratic" state of Palestine coming out of the upcoming talks when it isn´t even democratic now.
Who will take the word of Nethanyahu for serious? If he had lived in Western-Europe he already would have been locked-up for being a pathological liar. He's perfectly meeting the criteria for being a Israeli minister: a cheat and a liar.
And we owe it all to the inexperience of Barak Obama. For some reason he thought it was Israel who needed to pressured into negotiations, while in fact Israel was always ready to start negotiations unconditionally. I bet Obama would have done it differently now.
But never ready to reach an agreement.
It's clear Israel doesn't want peace. You can not steal and demanding peace talkings. If Israel likes to build, start with a high wall around Israel and keep the people inside. Thats better for the world.
This may not be popular with the Pals, but after the Pal +Arab War of Extermination they lost in 1948 there was no recognition of Israel or of Israel's boundaries. Then in the next attempted Pal + Arab War of Extermination in 1967 the Pals + Arabs lost even more terrirtory than in 1948. This might not be popular with Plas and Libs, but when one nation goes out to exterminate another nation and they lose, they lose a lot- and one of the things they lose is land. Another thing they may lose is independence. But even if they had not prosecuted those Wars of Extermination of Jews, the 1948 borders were only armistice lines, not national borders. A peace plan would finally write those borders.
Palestinians are building in their territories. Nobody is objecting to Israel building in Israeli territory(Tel Aviv, Haifa). But the objection is when Israel builds in Palestinian territories. THAT NEEDS TO STOP
Judea (=Jew land) & samaria are Israeli territory which only yhanks to Pasha Glubb had been occupied for 19 years by Jordan.
despite years of media crap annd ignorant politicians THERE ARE NO PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES ! refer to unscr 242/338 then san remo 1920 mandate 1922
yesterday's(literally) vision was "peace for generations.today's is "i said nothing about freeze".expect "freeze peace and build for generations" or "generate settlement and see what happens","peace is best served frozen" etc.
as if nothing has happened in the interim... no promises, no hopes, nothing definite, nothing emphatic except Ovadia Yosef...
You are not allowed to move parts of the own population into any occupied territory
abbas will have mubarak and king abdullah holding his hands.
... and the Mizrahi and the Russian votes in-the-bag...
mubarak and abdullah are foreign arab leaders.
... the bias is the same bias... ... the point is that each comes with his own backing... ... whatever, gooday to you!
.... then it is axiomatic that you can't keep building in them whilst the other side disputes their fate. Which, of course, they do..... Freeze those settlements in place, and THEN argue what is to be done with it..... and once you have that "agreement" (even if only "in principle") then you know where you can re-start the building and where you can't .
... when the agreed policy is procrastination and fumbling right and left... while the settlement houses are building their second stories, not to speak of the essential out houses for the 2nd & 3rd generation...
Have you ever seen a cement quarry?
mark thinks he owns the world.
If you want to build it and then doze it Cipora, that's fine with me. If you want to be prudent, that's OK too. If you think you'll just win and get it all, that's fine too. But I cannot imagine 2.5 - 3 million Palestinians moving out to please your demographic senses. They are likely going to want to vote if you prevent them having a viable state of their own. But the choice is entirely Israeli. Just be sure you can live with your own choice. The problem is that Israel must decide. Stalling is a decision, by default.
my remark was meant only as a reminder that we do not like being bullied by anyone. whatever netanyahu negotiates is fine with me. i am rather convinced that he could come arrive at a solution.
the fate of Texas was determined back in an age of empire-building and colonial expansionism, Miron. That age is loooooong, long past, and the **only** people who choose to pretend otherwise are.... zionists. Because tThat's the problem with zionism: it is old-fashioned 19th century colonialism dressed up in a religous cloth. it's dead, Miron, and it doesn't even know it..
Bibi said regarding the Palestinians "They are building an entire city and they fight with us over every home.' NO the Arabs do not fight with us anymore, they have all our former oppressors, and those on the Left that have joined the war to ensure the next cycle of genocide against the Jews.
that Rawabi was east of the Green Line. Obviously it must be, if the PM is comparing it to settlements west of the Green Line. (Seriously? That's the comparison you want to make? Did someone drop you on your head when you were a baby? Do you not recognize the difference between apples and oranges?)
so the collapse of israel is 100% sure,sooner or later
Therefore the pals has no partner in the peace efforts! Blah. blah. hot air, footdragging and even more hot air...... Same story as allways!
Isarel receieves $12Billion a year as Egypt(Plus $5Billion in military goods) give the Palestinians $12Billion as the above. Egypt is paid for not attacking Isarel and destroying the Jews.
Not the $12 Billion + $5 Billion, as you said. Egypt, by the way, receives $2 Billion. But who cares about real numbers when you can make up anything you want, right?
If there is an important lesson in history is that Jews are indestructible while we have seen our enemies dissapear. Where are he Pharaonic Egyptinas now, the Babylonians, Assyrians...?
like 2.4 billion for iron dome.
If all monies were withheld from the Pals, there's be no wars, rockets and kidnappings. If the oil rich msulim nations want them to survive, they should pay for them not the U.S. Americans support Israel, always have, always will. Obama opened a can of worms and this too shall pass and fail.
Remember the fact that HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF onimo !
For Iron Dome, Israel received $205 million from US government. Where do you get your crazy numbers from?
Israel gets $2.4 billion military aid ( a US government subsidy for the US arms industry ), it receives very little in financial aid these days. As finance minister Bibi negotiated with Bush an increase in military aid in exchange for an end of financial aid. Iron Dome was $200 million not $2.4 billion and the reality of Iron Dome is it was a pre midterm bribe the Democrats are expected to loose big time so try buy a few votes from pro Israel voters. Thats also why Obama has suspended military aid to Lebanon. Generally Israel gets from the US military aid which is for Made in America. The occasional help in subsidizing certain military projects like the development of Arrow although even then the bulk of the missiles are built by Boeing in the US not Israel. In exchange for these little bribes the US has alot of influence. They can boycot the export of Israeli domestic weapons even if they were built without US subsidy or have any US technology inside. Israel wanted to sell its Phalcon AWAC to India. The US objected and instead offered India the Boeing version. It was only after India rejected the american system that the US dropped its objection to the sale of Phalcon... they tried to use their veto to steal business from Israel. As long as Israel buys american weapons its not profitable for israeli companies to develop their own versions which means Israel has no choice but to buy american and as Israel didn't develop anything there is less competition on the export market. If Israel wants to buy weapons it doesn't have the luxury of shopping around to see who has the best product the way countries who don't get military aid can Israel is obligated to buy the bulk of the weaponry it pays for in cash ( the majority of weapons are paid for using Israeli taxpayer money ) they have to be american so less business to the foreign competition. We can't spend $2.4 billion in the US then the rest of the military budget in Europe. Israel has talked about ending military aid for a long time now but the US objects to the idea because its good for them. The only reason the US has the political influence over Israel is because of the military aid give Israel more independence it is in a better position to say no. In reality Israel looses much more as a result of military aid than it gains.
Netanyahu is telling Obama that regardless of Barak's craven capitulation, Israel will just blow off the peace talks. The casterati Obama may sing praise to Jesus in sweet high tones, but Israel and Fox news have rendered him irrelevant to anything. Netanyahu never had any intention of destroying himself by talking peace, and now that he has destroyed both Obama and Abbas, he has no need to pretend anymore what his intentions are. To take, piece by piece all of Judea and Samaria until there are no Palestinians to make peace with.
its strange that I agree with you... I wonder how long it will take to turn them from refugee camps to reservations(Native American style)... And for the two state solution to only include Gaza…
... Netanyahu sailing between all those rocks (of course, created by him), trying to achieve some middle ground acceptable to all those crazy parties? Do you know that Bibi's IQ is 180? And you shooting right and left with words....revealing your deep belonging .... I can't say it but it's not to America, as it is, and not to Jews, as they really are....
both netanyahu and abbas will show up. netanyahu has much more to lose since he is the one asked to give the palestinians a state. you need also to learn that no american president can impose a settlement. obama has learned this after twenty months of serious petulance and posturing.
... but it's so esoteric, that it eludes one ...
And look at some of his brainy ideas! Bibi should have used his business acumen to run a company not a country and Yosef should keep his nose in the Books.
....that no one could do better. ...or as I wrote, and you didn't understand, "trying to achieve some middle ground acceptable to all those crazy parties" ......And never mind he created this situation. I find it interesting to watch where he's leading....
netanyahu also has an excellent circle of advisors. knowing how to choose advisors is an art in itself(forget chicago). shavua tov, cipora
...he's manipulating for the maximum for the settlers, at the dire expense of the Pals... doubt if he will budge from that (Pa won't let him)... then blame it all on the Pals, for not imbibing the bitter bait (and forgive all the mixed metaphors...) Gooday to you, E
Several months back when Obama, and his bulldog Hillary, made Netanyahu look like a weak fool during his visit to the united states. To be followed by negative comments about Israel from the white and even the American military general puppet in charge was critical about Israel and the security of both wars the United States are fightibg. Now the arabs feel empowered because of the Muslim agenda of Obama.
The agenda is peace but the rhetoric so obfuscates everything that most forget this...because it suits them to. The day the Palestinians feel empowered is a long, long way off thanks to disingenuous politicians.
the democrats are running away from Obama, if they remain democrats at all. Most are becoming 'independent' so as NOT to have Obama at their rallies. Both Obama and Ms. masculine Clinton are regarded as temporary at best.
Bibi: "We said that the future of the communities will be discussed as one of the elements of a final-status settlement, along with the other issues." Note that he is talking about the ultimate fate of those communities i.e. wether they are to be abandoned by Israel, or wether they are to be ceded by the Pals. It makes perfect sense that until you reach that agreement that YOU DO NOT CHANGE THE FACTS ON THE GROUND, precisely because every such "change" will strengthen Bibi's hand, and weakens Abbas'. The solution: freeze those "facts on the ground" until there is agreement about what is to be done about them. Otherwise, of course, Bibi is insisting on the right to keep tilting the playing field in his direction even as the game is being played.
Now you pretend the reason for your "resistance" is 1967 occupation. And what was the reason for your "resistance" in 1948? How about 1929 (Hebron massacre)? What was the reason for your "resistance" then? Your true reason for "resistance" (hatred of anyone who is ethnically and/or religiously different) isn't going anywhere, whether we continue to build or not. So why bother?
Please Sam, take your lies to a right-wing forum where there are people stupid enough to believe them! Any resistance is normal when you see your home is taken away from you! So, yeah, in 1948, when the State of Israell was declared, what would you have the Pals do, send flowers for kicking them out of their homes! Get real man!
thanks to the great USA
But as soon as Green Energy Technologies become the norm, I'd like to see what Arab countries will do for money..????
When the petrol runs out, or green energy technology becomes the norm, Israel will lose its importance equaly as arab countries to the world.
and hopefully soon, all of her land including Judea and Sumaria. King David united both Judea and Israel into one nation, Israel over 3,000 years ago. The thieves are soley the pals who would steal anything not nailed down.
Honey, was it not G-d who expelled the Jews from their land because of their inobedience 3000!!!!! years ago? And what the HELL does it have to do with today's world anyway? And you know damn well that the real thieves are the Zionists who kicked the Palestinians of THEIR land!! Mind that many of the Pals are actually the descendants of Jews and the real SEMITES in this situation, unlike those Russians and other Eastern European wannabes? In any case, it does not give Israel the right to treat other human beings as if they were less than dogs!
He's just another yahoo who lies and obfuscates, and is likely to ultimately bring about the destruction of Israel and perhaps the entire world. I once admired this person, but no longer.
As Palestinians build in the Palestinian Territories if you don't like what's being said (the truth).
If Israel will not freeze the construction then Why talk?Come to the table with an open mind and the willingness to have a true peace agreement.
Why does,nt Obama tell the Russians where they can build, or China or Iran, Judean and Samaria are in the covenant God made with Abraham. Read the will
Why do you expect the world to accept your religious interpretation of everything. We have secular laws and nations are expected to abide by them. You are entitled to your religious beliefs. You are not entitled to force them on others.
It is the Muslims who are persona non grata, not the Jews. 9-11 was their battle cry so, don't expect any favors for Muslims, look at New York. When it comes to religion may I remind you it is America who adopted the Judeo Christian ethos which made her great. America will NOT bow down to the muslim sword, never. Although Obama claims to be a Christian, we know better and he'll lose office in 2012, if not before.
The question should be: Why freeze construction if Pals won't talk? After all, construction has been frozen for almost 10 months...and the Palestinians wouldn't begin peace negotiations until now that it is almost over........
Did we promise israel we'd continue providing financial aid so they could continue to build in the settlements they didn't promise us they'd extend their construction halt in? Or did we just promise we'd continue to fund their country's continued existence so that they could publicly disrespect our ongoing efforts to stabilize the region where they represent the sum total of the destabilizing factor that we're trying to protect? Big talk from the PM, but if the US ever wanted to get tough on finishing this peace process, I suspect we have the bigger stick to wave at them across the bargaining table...
and maybe educate yourself on the $200 Billion annual GDP Israel runs on, versus your $3 Billion United States annual donation.. You're absolutely right... Without America's $3B every year we would crumble to pieces.. Or maybe, without China's trillions into the American economy America would crumble to pieces? i guess you better start doing what the Chinese tell you right? ;)
US has indfinitely sworn allegience to support Israel in whatever they do even if it means doing it by double standards. That is so mainly because of their religious beliefs.
Convenient for you, a reality that slaps your lies smack in the face.
Tell Obama to go fly a kite. He has been insulting to the PM.