Netanyahu: Israel and U.S. have resolved settlements row

When everyone [Pals, Obama, etc] realizes that the settlements will stop when a realistic border can be established, there will be peace between Israel and the Pals. So stop with that 1967 nonsense. It is 2009 and that is where Israel will begin discussions. If the Pals want to wait until 2010 then that is the starting point. Tic tock.

Stop calling then settlements. They are COMMUNITIES & the people who live in them are RESIDENTS for over 40 years Judea & Samaria are disputed territories......

I understand the conditions will be: Isreal agress to cease west bank building for x months EXCEPT for schools, public buildings, and a number of other exceptions... no freeze on new building in and around Jerusalem because, well that belongs to Israel. Then when the Palestinians say NO they will be called not serious about peace. Same old same old.

The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. Seems clear enough. ILLEGAL settlements is the correct name.

If the peace is reached,settlements mostly end up in the palestinian state.

Tell the world..what was decided..otherwise Is Bibi telling a lie? Is this a shell game?

The Nobel Peace Prize was not given to Obama for free. He, Obama, has to end all wars and end all occupation in the world specially the Israli occupation and the illegal settlements on Palestinian lands. I bet Obama will solve all to earn the Nobel Peace Prize

Colonel Kemp of the British Army explains what it is all about."Mr. President, based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: During Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defence Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare. Israel did so while facing an enemy that deliberately positioned its military capability behind the human shield of the civilian population. Hamas, like Hizballah, are expert at driving the media agenda. Both will always have people ready to give interviews condemning Israeli forces for war crimes. They are adept at staging and distorting incidents. The IDF faces a challenge that we British do not have to face to the same extent. It is the automatic, Pavlovian presumption by many in the international media, and international human rights groups, that the IDF are in the wrong, that they are abusing human rights." http://www.unwatch.org/kemp

There's a simple solution: allow the zionists to build as many settlements as they like, then move the colonists out and settle palestinian refugees in the empty settlements.

The king of Jordan's little tantrum against the Obama Administration suggests that the Nobel Peace Prize winner may be waking up to the reality of the threat that the Iran Nuclear Bomb poses to America. If that is really what has happened it would make sense for Obama to give up his outrageous and unrealistic demand that Jews stop building homes in Israel. It may not be long now before the Obama fan club on Haaretz talkback is cursing their Messiah like he was Bush or something. Their shocked howls of disbelief that the Prime Minister's announcement contained no details of the agreement reminds me of the way they reacted when ex-PM Olmert refused to confirm or deny the (according to foreign sources) military self-defence operation over Syria on September 6th, 2007. We will soon find out and what we don't find out soon we will find out later.

"Netanyahu: Israel and U.S. have resolved settlements row.." Really ? Then they must have agreed on the status quo - because Peace Now reports settlement building continues at a fast clip. David

and Ivar. On this occasion though, I disagree with both. The only land that MODERN Israel is entitled to is that generously given to it in 1948 by the UN. Everything else has been achieved by conquest (illegal) or settlement (illegal). If the UN condones these, then it is on a slippery slope of what is right and wrong. It would administer to the Israeli public in general and the aggressive right in particular a dose of healthy reality, namely that all these facts on the ground that successive governments have created at great cost, have been a flawed, meaningless exercise. That would be a good starting-point for sensible, real-world negotiations, rather than Israel ALWAYS pushing for more and demanding nine-tenths of the cherry cake. If they want the land up to the security barrier, then they should pay for it in cash or kind, surrendering land of equal value elsewhere. Why not? Why should illegal facts on the ground be a starting point, they certainly aren't in international law?

Certainly, any resolution or partial resolution of the dispute will have to be between the Pals and Israel. But Israel has never negotiated with the Pals in anyting resembling good faith. Obama has been pressing for exactly what the Pals want and need - and he's the only one with the push to get it. Open hostility from Obama - like that of the Israelis towards him last week - would be counter-productive. I believe Obama has been putting a lot of pressure on Bibi - thus, the pushback last week - but has been smart enough to do it quietly. Humiliating Bibi would be satisfying, but unlikely to be productive. Obama's a bigger man than that. I agree that full justice would roll Israel back to the 1967 borders without exception, but that's not likely. As usual, moderate Esther writes wisely in #45. I think the Pals will agree to some land swaps and reparations. The big question is whether Obama's quiet demands have been met in the last 24-28 hours. Only time will tell

I find it interesting that so many are assuming that Obama caved in and pulled back on US settlement demands. This article certainly does not say so and I think that if this was the case little Bibi would be bragging about it. He doesn't want to tell his people he surrendered; otherwise, he'd be crowing about success. Israel has been and remains under the heaviest diplometic pressure it has felt in 40 years. Despite the minority US conservatives who keep saying Obama is weak and weakening, he still has the approval of the majority of the US, particularly now that our economy is improving. Netanyahu and Israel are in a much weaker position than Obama. Israel's frontal assults on Obama and settlement issues last week probably got little Bibi read the riot act. I'll be shocked and very disappointed if Obama backed down. I expect the White House to announce a settlement freeze soon. Interesting that CNN is not reporting the developments yet.

Bibi thinks that by spreading this prophecy it will come true! I'll wait to hear it from Washington, thank you.

I guess we'll know then whether Bibi is right that we have reached an agreement with him on settlements. Unless Obama contradicts him, it would appear that the agreement is to give in on the settlements and let Israel go full speed ahead. Last week, Haaretz reported that settlement construction is accelerating. If Obama caves, we can kiss a peace agreement goodbye. I can only hope that Daniel Levy was correct in his op ed of Oct. 4 that Obama is maneuvevering the parties into a position where he wants them, where they will be forced to discuss engame issues. Now, when the Turkish government, Israel's only Islamic friend, has given it a cold shoulder, when the Egyptian FM has refused to sit in the same room with Lieberman, when King Hussein is near to declaring the peace process dead, when Gordon Brown allegedly engaged in a shouting match with Netanyahu last Wednesday, is no time for Obama to let up the pressure on Israel.

...Ivar, that is a provocative and unrealistic suggestion... ...something more pragmatic must suffice at-this-stage-of-the-game... ...eg. in consultation with its best friends, Israel would declare reasonable and legitimate borders between us and our neighbors the Pals... ...any settlement that breaches the declared border, even partially, would have to negotiate its status with the PA, or fold-up-its-tents and come home to Israel proper... ...peace-on-earth...

The Tomb of the Patriarchs is divided so that it is impossible for everyone to visit every grave. Other Jewish holy sites in the West Bank are inaccessible to Jews as were all of them when Jordan controlled the region from 1948-1967. Jews were banned from Jerusalem in 135CE but were able to return some yeare later. This pattern was repeated frequently for over a millenium with Muslims or Christians suffering the same treatment depending on the ruler. Since the earliest census in the 19th century, Jews were always the majority in Jerusalem.

The United States, Europe and the whole International community understand that there is no point to go back to the 67 borders. The maps and model of political settlement that almost surely will be adopted by the United States relies upon the Clinton Proposals of 2000, which were basically accepted by Israel during the Taba conversations. Palestinians should cling to that solution, otherwise they will miss the last opportunity to achieve statehood. Israel can survive this "status quo" forever, and not even the Iranians with atomic power will be able to remove.

The only relevant topic regarding the main global security headache is Israel's Settlements Enterprise, THE major threat to global peace and security today. No private agreement between the US and Israel can dictate the peace which must be negotiated with the principal aggrieved parties, Israel's immediate neighbours, and the broader Middle East community of nations. The US can only facilitate such a peace. Thus far the US has done NOTHING to facilitate such a peace, whose cornerstone is the liquidation of Israel's entire Settlements Enterprise lock, stock and barrel, everything east of the 1967 armistice line.

Little Bibi may be growing up. Having incited open hostilities with Obama, then faced the Goldstone storm realizing that Obama is his only real chance to avoid serious consequences of war crimes, he appears to have made an his first intelligent, pragmatic decision, finally listening to the advice of the only friend Israel has left. Or ... this is just another foolish attempt at deception that will backfire very seriously. The time for Israel to play games is gone. The World is now playing for keeps and Israel's gotten caught red handed. All the US has to do is abstain from UN SC votes and Israel is on its way to the ICC and economic sanctions. Be wise. Listen to your only friend, even if it is no longer blindly obedient to your every whim. The US that unconditionally sheltered Israel from all consequences did it no favor - like a parent that always protects her child from the consequences of their conduct.

... Bibi et al giving a bad name to the USA...

then Netanyahu's spokesmen will state that he has been misquoted. We've seen all this before from the likes of Netanyahu.

You're wrong, but I pray you're right. If you're right, this will be Obama's first step on a long road to actually earning his Nobel Peace Prize.

Do you have any documents to support your stupidity? It so happen that the Muslims venerate the same Patriarchs as the Jews, and I have never seen any news of the Jews been prevented from praying there, or Christians for that matter. Whereas as Chester G. Starr states ( The Roman Empire, 27BC - AD 476) page 121, " in AD 133-35, after the final Jewish rebellion, Jerusalem was totally destroyed, and was refounded as Aelia Capitolina, and was BARRED TO THE JEWS... and from this point on rabbinic literature reveals only hostility towards the Romans." The Temple, destroyed in 586BC was again destroyed in AD 70, and never rebuilt, because there were n Jews in Palestine. So, there you go.

Given the choice of believing either Netanyahu or Pinnochio, I would choose the latter.

Who is Netanyahu kidding ? What is there to talk about ? What exactly would he be offering at the talks ? Autonomy over strips of land to be called a state ? Netanyahu has done nothing to encourage the moderates on the Palestinian side and show that peaceful means will achieve much more than violence. He's got the gift of the gab but he will only have himself to blame if a third intifada erupts.

The only way to 'solve' the issue of settlements is to remove them. This is not something that Bibi would agree to while there was a chance to steal more Palestinian land and resources. At best this is just another lie from Bibi along with the other lies he spouts in this article ie: "willing to start talks with the Palestinians without any pre-conditions".

"Deputy PM Meridor: Israel and U.S. agree on settlement issues (Israel Radio)" ... somebody is cheating on the USA... or the USA enjoys being conned in-broad-daylight... ... will we now hear some new declaration via Rahm...?!

we do not know whether there is an agreement between Washington and Israel on the settlement question. A central plank of Netanyahu's foreign policy is to issue a statement in which the whole world agrees with Israel's original stance in the hope that the world will then kowtow to Israel. Hasn't worked yet, but bless him for trying.

Mr. Netanyahu might try telling Uncle Sam he has resolved the settlements issue. Last anyone in Washington knew he had increased building.

Oh well now Israel has 'shown the US president who's boss' I am quite sure peace will break out really soon!

If you see those as Jewish homes in Hebron, I assume you see all the houses owned by Arabs in Israel proper as Arab homes? If the jews get to move back into hebron, shouldn't the arabs get to move back to their homes in jaffa, Haifa, Lod (lydda) et al?

spain has the highest enemployment rate, about 16% ,in europe. some prospering.why you people dont do your homework,occasionely.

It's untrue that Netanyahu is ready to start talks with Palestinians without "preconditions", for he has said that the Palestinian precondition, namely, a freeze on settlements, has been demolished by a private agreement with Israel and the US. Palestinians obviously can't negotiate if their minimum requirements are abolished by Israel with US complicity, when the US is supposed to be a neutral (haha!)mediator.

...guile, misstatements, and plain lies. How about a nice gazpacho and sangria to celebrate?

Actually, those are Jewish homes in Hebron. The Arabs massacred the Jews living there in 1929 and the British drove the Jews out. Have you ever heard of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. It's a holy place for Jews, the place where our ancestors -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives (except for Rachel)-- are buried. Arabs deny Jews the right to pray there, even though it is not a holy site for Muslims. Their actions in Hebron follow the pattern set by their prophet when he killed all the Jews of Medina and Mecca -- both once Jewish towns.

those are Palestinian homes occupied by illegal Israeli immigrants, whatever their religion.

US realizes that the PLO has no intention to make peace but the US must appease its oil providers so they pretend to support the PLO. In truth the US is a big supporter of Jewish communities all over Israel including Eastern Israel. Jewish homes=peace

Niccolo Machiavelli, YOU are dangerous to your country and the rest of yourself!

... this "row" says it all...

of course if Obama really has caved in so easily, then Bibi can feel smug, and with reason. however ....... if not, then Bibi may have gone (smugly) into a trap. It seems to me that there are those in Washington who want to teach Israel a little lesson in gratitude and diplomacy. why so suspicious ? because Obama got the Nobel Prize - and it looks to me like a diplomatic aligning against Israel. That's what you get for insulting and threatening everybody.

They are both very dangerous. For their countries. and for the rest of us.

....the Goldstone report, only The U.S., Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine did.

Colon, whats your beef? Tha Arabs are like any big power. they create an artificial rump state called Palestaine and suddenly it is big Israel against little Palestaine. and if that wasn't good enough they created a smaller entity called Gaza and suddenly it big Israel vs little Gaza. thats exactly what bullies do, they send their little brother to start a fight and then come out of the hiding place to seemingly defend their 'little brother'. This is a war between the enormously populated, and enormously rich in land and resources Arab League backed by all the rest of the Muslim states, against tiny Israel. The only lasting solution is to remove the arabs from the west bank and Gaza and resetle them in the vast territories of the Arab League and their muslim brethren states.

O precondition demanded by Bibi is that wole the world will not adopt Goldstone report other Israel couldn't make peace.The second precondition is that the process will began again from the beginning and not continue from the place where an other demagogue ,Olmert ,finished his humble period as prime minister,and the third and principal is that all along the peace process will continue also the building of settlements will go on and all these ,namely the peace process without preconditions with the condition that US will stop to speak "for ever" with Iranians and decide on crippling sanctions or better ,to bomb Iran.

Only by having kicked Islam from their country has Spain been able to prosper like other European and Western states as it is today. Had it maintained Islam it would have been as diseased as Morocco, Libya, or other backward Muslim states. Spain, smart move.

Media reports state Livni "demanded" Spain vote against the Goldstone report. Did Zapatero ask for something in return - cessation of Zionist settlement building in the West Bank? Why does Netanyahy tell Zapatero to ask Obama of the settlement issue? Why isn't Netanyahu running a media circus to show the settlement building issue is "solved"? If settlement building was "solved," and abandoned, wouldn't that mean that Fatah would be talking to Mr Netanyahu? Obviously the Zionist settlement building frenzy on Palestinian territory has not been abandoned or solved. All sounds very fishy! What was really the done deal with Spain's Zapatero - concessions were previously made by Spain to cancel any legal action by Spain against alleged Israeli war criminals.

The Promised Land is holy to all the three peoples Jews, Christians and Muslims.Jerusalem is a holy city and it should be a "Free Zone" for all people.The "Land for Peace" formula and Two-State solution of Israel-Palestine existing side by side mandates freezing of fresh settlements.The "Greater Israel" issue and "Palestinian Refugees" issue needs to be addressed for lasting Peace.

what he said before was that the u.s. had accepted the expansions to accomodate natural growth... which the u.s. promptly denied. there's little doubt that a similar response will soon be forthcoming from the obama administration. either this guy is a compulsive liar, off in his own little world, or he really enjoys taunting obama. no matter which it is, he needs help, because it's going to end up biting him in the ass; at israel's expense.

suckers

As the clear sign that the US-Israel rift over the settlements had been resolved. Just ask the Americans, as Netanyahu told Zapatero. The Mitchell-Clinton report will says otherwise, and the wily Netanyahu will have come up with another Muenchausen story.

Maybe it is overly optimistic to think Israel can leave the Palestinians alone, allow them autonomy and the right to run their own affairs without Israel imposing its will and beliefs on them. Israel has not achieved that in sixty years and now it meddles with Lebanon and Iran,Syria.

Jasper - Israel already considers Gaza to be unoccupied territory. At least this has been their argument for about 4 years if you missed it. Thus, Gaza is an enemy state, and not an occupied territory, for the rules of the "game" with the missiles. Also - you can't annihilate someone for shooting missles that kill less people than shellfish poisoning in a country that tends to keep kosher. Get a grip you dolt.

I'm waiting for the State Department to make an announcement. Too many wishful thinking announcements out of Israel which have had no connection to reality.

Finally Bibi is talking progress.It`s been long due , more than talks , actions.No more settlements , no mo blockade , no more terror acts. Peace in the middle east!

Goldstone and the yet to be seen fall-out has shown that a sovereign state (if it happens to be Israel) cannot retaliate against a rag-tag bunch of terrorists without incurring world-wide condemnation from the sympathetic and fence-sitters. If a Pal state in WB started doing the terrorist thing, it would be an unimaginable situation not being able to put things in order. Conversely, the Pals don't really want a sovereign state, since they know that the missile game would no longer be considered a cute little child's game. It would be an act of war, and could spell annihilation.

Bibi creates yet another level of gossip about a potential conversation about the question of whether there can be an approach to the issue of considering the possible cessation of additional settlement building. Meanwhile, settlements continue to expand apace. That's the Israeli strategy - it's often hard for Americans to realize that Israel has the gall to act this way, but it's standard operating procedure. Only 3 more years to go stalling and maybe Israel will miss the Obama bullet on settlements.

'...Turkey, its only real Muslim friend.' Some text from 2008 seems to have sprung up.

...except for the preconditions he has named or will name. It tends to boil down to Israel is open to anything -- just so long as the Palestinians give her everything she wants.