Heavy-handed in the capital
Israel's unilateral steps in Jerusalem corroborate Hamas' claim that the Oslo process was a mistake.
Haaretz Editorial Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Israel settlements Israel newsThe peace process, intended to advance Israel's main strategic interest by achieving a two-state solution, is in deep crisis. Efforts by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell to renew negotiations on a final-status agreement have reached an impasse. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced his intention to retire from political life; over the weekend he called for "resistance" along the lines of the protests at the West Bank towns of Bil'in and Na'alin. The dispute focuses on the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. The international community, led by the United States, supports the Palestinian demand that Israel stop creating facts on the ground in the territories during the negotiations.
The approval of the plan to build 900 housing units in Gilo over the Green Line does not conform to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to renew talks. The demolition of Palestinian houses in the village of Isawiyah in East Jerusalem does not improve the murky atmosphere characterizing Abbas and Netanyahu's relationship. Israel's unilateral steps in Jerusalem corroborate Hamas' claim that the Oslo process was a mistake and strengthens Hamas' call for violent opposition to the occupation.
The Israeli claim that there is no difference between Gilo and the central Jerusalem neighborhood of Rehavia only throws sand in our eyes. Although the Knesset has extended Israeli law to annexed areas east of the Green Line and has defined them as part of Jerusalem, Israeli governments have committed themselves to negotiate the issue of sovereignty in these neighborhoods. Two prime ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, even discussed the issue with the Palestinians.
In his first term as prime minister, Netanyahu acceded to Bill Clinton's tough demand to use his authority to evacuate Jewish settlers from the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he had agreed to do so out of a desire to push the peace process ahead and maintain calm in the capital. These explanations are still valid, even more so. If Netanyahu is dedicated to a solution that will ensure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic and safe country, as he says he is, he must immediately order a halt to construction and demolitions in East Jerusalem. His claims that he did not know and cannot intervene are not persuasive, and they are being interpreted as a lack of leadership.
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Continuing illegal land grabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank will not bring peace. It will make a two state solution impossible. The Palestinians should declare a Palestinian State and seek international support. They should give up armed struggle; the Jewish state has been so well armed by its US sponsor that armed resistance is futile and counterproductive. Continuing Jewish attacks on Palestinians invite a violent response, one that has far more moral justification than the continuing violence and thievery of the illegal occupier. A non-violent approach by the Palestinians would -- as Israeli planners know -- put the Jewish State of Israel in an increasingly untenable position. Likudist hardliners know this, and commit provocations whenever Palestinian defensive action subsides. The entire world -- except for the paid off and craven congresspeople in DC -- will support Palestine, eventually igniting international boycotts in the face of Israeli intransigence and brutality.
even a blind man can see that the israelis are abusing the arabs..they seem to have learned all the wrong things from their own opression
Does anybody realize whow much of Israel's defiance actually depends on America's blind support??.And how far can its arrogance expand without such stupid support?.Its apparant that negotiations will retieve no land for the Palestinians.On the contrary,it may result in the lose of both West Bank and Gaza. The irony in this process is that the US,the supposedly neutral, even-handed mediator as promised by President Obama,will end up siding with Israel.So,the only available path for the Palestinian to take is to go back to where they started from,Resistance.
Arabs should keep track of Israel's violations to the internationally recognized partitioning of Palestine.Time will certainly come to declare the existing changes as null and void.
"No negotiations, no Palestinian state. No Palestinian state, no peace nor security for Israel." - Zeev Haaretz, however got one thing inaccurate, in the first sentence no less. "The peace process, intended to advance Israel's main strategic interest by achieving a two-state solution, is in deep crisis." Haaretz Editorial Board This presupposes that Netanyahu agrees that this is a strategic interest of Israel. He has told the Israeli people and the world that no Palestinian state can have either independence or sovereignty. Unless he's proposing US or even German-style federalism, that is not what is commonly thought of as a state. It's more akin to South Africa circa 1970.
a: "Jerusalem was negotiated in Camp David, Taba and will be negotiated again. The final status will come after negotiations. In the meantime Israel is right in building and unifying the city." Follow that "logic" i.e. 1) nobody can agree who owns Jerusalem. 2) its ownership can only be determined via negotiation. 3) UNTIL those negotiations are completed THEN Israel can treat Jerusalem as if it owns it, even though (1) and (2) makes clear that Israel doesn't own it. As arrogant presumption goes that takes some beating, arik, if only because that "logic" dictates that the only sensible strategy for Israel to adopt is to... ensure the negotiations never reach fruition i.e. last forever but never go anywhere. Because, axiomatically, the longer Israel delays then the better its poke hand becomes. And that sounds "fair" to you, does it?
CBK: "Anyone who knows Gilo and has been to Gilo knows its a neighborhood in Jerusalem and not anything else." That makes a difference **only** if the state of Israel has sovereignty over that half of the city of Jerusalem. It does not, and it's protestation of "Do too! Do too!" have fallen on deaf ears from the moment that Israel started up that chant. Gilo is being built on territory that DOES NOT BELONG TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL, and therefore it is - by definition - an Israeli colony on foreign soil. It shouldn't even be there, Chaim, but seeing as how it is then the very least - the very least - that Israel can do is freeze it until such time as everyone agrees what to do with it. Anything else is unilateral presumption and arrogance on the part of Israel.
Israel, building and unifying the city while claiming it is subject to negotiation, is like someone eating a pizza while offering it for sell. The Palestinians will never be "starving" that much. No negotiations, no Palestinian state. No Palestinian state, no peace nor security for Israel.
Jerusalem was negotiated in Camp David, Taba and will be negotiated again. The final status will come after negotiations. In the meantime Israel is right in building and unifying the city. It does not matter what Israel does because the final status will be defined in negotiations. If there is no definition of a final status, the current "status quo" will prevail. I see no problem with this. Jerusalem, is not recognized by the world, but for the Jews it is still the united capital of Israel already 40 years and will remain so... maybe forever. Who cares? The same with the West Bank. Israel has not annexed offically and Jews have the right to live wherever they want. In the future they may become Palestinians citizens, they may be annexed or may be expelled. All depends on negotiations that might...last forever.
The whole world is horrified at Israel`s blatent disregard for the rule of law. All occupied lands should be returned,then maybe the muslim world will respect us in the west.... The world horrified is exaggeration "in extremis". Who cares in the world about settlemens?. Iran Afghanistan, Pakistan....There are few other issues to be horrified about. Muslims despise of the West has nothing to be whatsover with Israel. Western colonialism even before Israel was born can provide some clues to understand Islam's hate of the west. However, no matter what, Israel settlements expansion should be halt because it does not benefit Israel.
When was Jerusalem legally annexed to Israel?
Chaim Ben Kahan, Are you suggesting that Israel should give up all of Jerusalem to Palestine to keep it united ? "retorical question"Just because we want something does not make it ours,These guys are never going to give up the Palestinian half of Jerusalem,who can blame them,try looking at the other side of the coin.Obama has been made out a fool by old Bibi,Israel will be made to pay the piper in the end,The whole world is horrified at Israel's blatent disregard for the rule of law. All occupied lands should be returned,then maybe the muslim world will respect us in the west and stop extremists attacking us for allowing Israel away with murder.
Anyone who knows Gilo and has been to Gilo knows its a neighborhood in Jerusalem and not anything else. These op-eds handing over land to Arabs do not help are chances for peace. Lets be united about a united Jerusalem and the chances for peace will increase dramatically.
Anyone who knows Gilo and has been to Gilo knows its a neighborhood in Jerusalem and not anything else. These op-eds handing over land to Arabs do not help are chances for peace. Lets be united about a united Jerusalem and the chances for peace will increase dramatically.