'The Freeze' is just another scene in Israel's masquerade

nowhere in your lengthy diatribe did I see one instance of arab rejectionism of a jewish state, let alone the arab tendency to use violence and murder to achieve one's goals. In 1947, the arabs could have had half the land. They said no. In 1948, the arabs under the direction of husseini, who as you know was hitler and eichmann's boy, arabs left their homes because they were told they could come back when the jews were in the sea. as for 1967, your understanding is clearly weak. Israel was being invaded from the territories then under control of egypt and jordan...there was NO palestinian land...palestine was the name given to the land by the romans and used to denote the land of the jews. the holocaust was a catalyst to come back to what was always the land of the jews, not the arabs who were squatting on it...do you know that the PLO was founded in 1964? do you know what significance that holds? what were they trying to liberate in 1964? there was no occupation ..

The peace proposals below represent the historic failure of Israeli leaders to choose settlements over peace. How atrocious! Think of all the peoples' lives that could have been spared even with the acceptance of one of these peace proposals. The Scranton Mission on behalf of Nixon (1969); Sadat's land for Peace & mutual recognition (1971); Carter's call for a Geneva Con- ference (1977); Saudi King Fahd's peace offer (1981); The Reagan Plan (1982);The Baker Plan (1988) ; The Baker Plan ('89) The continued Taba Negotiations (2001). The Saudi Peace plan on behalf of the Arab League (2001); The unofficial Geneva Init. (2003) The Oslo Accord (1993) And killing of Rabin (1995); 22 Arab initiative on Behalf of Syria (2201) and the 3 other Syrian Initiatives of (02 -04); the Roadmap '04 by the US & Quartet which Sharon's buddies anesthesized in formaldyhe. Dutch

Hello Jon, I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I welcome your quest- ion as I believe listening and acknowledging one another is a funda- mental step to our human existence and indeed for the good of our re- lations among individuals and groups of people & indeed member states. I see Israel's failure today as the banishing of a group of people it ought to be acknowledging and whose own legitimacy it will be forever linked with. In 1947 the conditions for Israel's coming into being and its very exist- ence as a member state was based on fulfilling two UN Resolutions: 1. ) accept a ful fledge sovereign Palestinian state in accordance with Un Resolution 181 and 2.) allow the return of refugees to return " to their homes" who were displaced in the 1948 conflict in accordance with UN Resolution 194. To date, Israel has neither acknowledged those two conditions nor fulfilled them and instead it leaders have continued to choose the policies of aggression and lawlessness over peace and negotiations and have violated Palestinian borders as they did in 1948 to illegally increase their land size from 55% percent allotted by the UN to 78% percent before the British gave up the mandate in 1948 and invaded the Palestinian territories in 1967 and expanded hundreds of illegal settlements to increase their land holdings at present to well over 80% percent of the Palestinian peoples' homeland. So you see this is the other great crime and Holocaust of the 20th century and Israeli leaders continues to commit the same sins and crimes of the past when they should at least be complying with in- ternational law which requires them to evacuate the territories to the 1967 Green Line and dismantled the settlements. This is what Hamas and the Arab initiative has demanded of them also and it is what the world expects of Israel before its leaders can take a proper seat at the table with the family of nations at the UN and restore their image and Israel's as a just and moral nation. Thanks again , I hope this was helpful to you. Dutch P.S. Please view Salman Abu Sitta award winning eye witness account of the 1967 invasion of the territories and note the editorial below by a very wise Israeli, also check out the B'Tselem Human Rights website. http://palestinevideo.blogspot.com/2006/09/salman-abu-sitta-geography- of.html "If we insist on ruling an entire territory and population (which was never envisioned when we made the dramatic breakthrough to Jewish statehood.) . we shall soon lose our Jewish majority , our democratic principles , our hope of ultimate peace, the prospect of avoiding war, the maintenance of our international friendships, the durability of the Egyptian treaty relationship and any chance of a national consensus at home. The status quo is the least viable and the most catastrophic of all the Israeli options." Abba Eban , NYT, Op-Ed, 1988.

Levy and his ilk have a hell of a nerve talking about Hatikvah, Bat Yam and Holon - they're the ones who kept the people in those places down for so long! The people who live in those places know who's on their side - and it ain't Levy!

as for your answer, personally, I think it's naive and flat wrong. But hey, that's ok, it's your opinion. I still dont understand why the PLO was established in 1964...3 FULL yrs ahead of any 'occupation'. Can you explain that? You do know PLO stands for palestinian liberation organization, dont you? What were they wanting to liberate in 1964? Do you know about the famous 3 no's at khartoum? What about the UN parition plan of 1947? or how about amin al husseini and where he was during WWII and what he was advising and to whom? Do you know any of this? You may think it's old news, but I assure you, it IS central to today's situation. Oh, one more thing, do you know if the PA or hamas has removed from their charters the aim to destroy all of israel? just curious. by the way, I notice you dont say where you are from?

Janice, thx for answering, it's more than your fellow leftists to whom i addressed my question could muster...in any case,

'What are Fatah and Hamas prepared to do now for peace? Will they freeze their killings and hatred? ' Be careful what you wish for. If Fatah and Hamas freeze their killings like Israel is 'freezing' West Bank construction, it'll be the bloodiest year since 2001. After all, more permits have been approved than ever before. There is no freeze, but only a pantomime show about a 'freeze' that doesn't exist in the first place.

This so-called freeze is indeed a masquerade and most people can see right through it. The real question is will President Obama not only see through it but show the courage to do something about it? Sadly, I believe the answer is No.

I think we should give Mr Netanyahu a chance. The Palestinians demanded the freeze and they got it. What are Fatah and Hamas prepared to do now for peace? Will they freeze their killings and hatred? {Thanks Olivia}

Bibi is doing a fine job in keeping the U.S. happy, at present time any way.

Yours is a typical Jewish response to something they don't want to hear: attack the author but never address the substance. I don't want to answer for Mr. Cummins but he may have a difficult time describing another country's activities that compare with Israels. Can you name another country that has illegally subjected another people to a harsh and humiliating occupation for 42 years? What other country has built on other peoples land in violation of UN resolutions and articles of the 4th Geneva Convention? What other country do you know that is vulnerable to prosecution in the ICC for commission of a war crime? Do you know another country that has placed a population of 1.4 million people under a blockade that deprives them of enough food to meet international standards for basic nutritional needs? That blockade is a human rights violation and a violation of international law. Israel's human rights record compares only to those of Burma and North Korea.

You did not address me but I think what the vast majority of the Palestinians want is for Israel to get out of the lands occupied, illegally by the way, since 1967. That would include dividing Jerusalem. They also would want the right of return but given that will not likely happen they would want to be compensated for the losses they suffered during the Nakba. They do not want to be shoved into South Africa type bantustans with Israel controlling everything except garbage collection. They want to live free of Israeli oppression as is their right. Sadly, I do not believe that even if every Palestinian were to foreswear all violence forever that Israel would agree to this and so the struggle for justice will continue. The ball is in Israel's court but I am afraid they will fumble it.

If the Israeli government hadn't wanted to build settlements in the Occupied Territories there would be no settlements. It is fun to blame the settlers who are not blameless but the real blame lies with a succession of Israeli governments all of which had to know that each and every settlement is built in contravention of international law. Every time a new road is built to a settlement or electricity and water made available to new "outposts" the Israeli government gives its stamp of approval to the settlement project and rejects peace. If anyone trusts any Israeli government to stop the building of settlements and stop the confiscation of Palestinian lands they better think again. This is not going to happen no matter what the Palestinians do. Only the world acting together can stop the madness of the settlements. Gideon, thanks for once again exposing the machinations of the Israeli government.

It is quite remarkable how many commentators make reference to what is going on in Israel as Theater or performance art, but that clearly is what it is and I am amazed (well maybe not) that the Netanyahu government (the mulish Netanyahu government) doesn't see how silly it looks on the international stage playing such a childish game. You don't have to dress up in silly clothes, Bibi; we can see very clearly who you are. Pardon us for laughing, but you are funny!

A Viable contiguous Independent State in the WB /GAZA with East Jerusalem as it,s capital and a fair resolution to the refugee problem. Lands swaps can be agreed to facilitate the retention of illegl settlements by Israel. A recognition by Israel of it,s part in creating the Palestinian crisis . This has been known for years--it is Israel that profits from it,s refusal to make peace, not the Palestinians who are too weak to set terms. Now a question for you---are you ready for a just peace????.

we all keep going round in circles, so let's cut to the chase; in your esteemed opinions, what do you think the palestinians in WB and Gaza want in order for there to be real peace, real calm, no more violence? what? please be specific and as honest as you can. I really want to know what you guys think israel needs to do in order for all of you to really be ok with israel as a state...what will make you respect and treat israel as equals? I'm curious to see what you really think the arabs want and what they can in the end live with. so go for it, share with us your plan for peace. Thanks guys, (and girl) ..much appreciated, can't wait to read your answers..and do make sure to reply to it lest I think you're dogding the question and the ESSENCE of all of these conversations.

"It`s even worse! It is self-righteously and viciously contemptuous of all morality, international laws, human rights, Arabs, allies and anyone else who objects to its behaving as thugs, racists and irrepressible land thieves." What a self-indulgent crock of crap. Cummings, do you criticize anyone else as harshly as you criticize Israel? If not, there's good cause for Israel to treat a contemptuous clown with contempt, and you are a dime a dozen.

teh vote of every Jew on the planet does not count. Israel is the occupying power and does not get to vote on the matter. The settlements are illegal and are ouside the borders of Israel so are only under Military rule. It is not part of so called Democratic Israel so cut the BS. Never dreamed such a nightmarish scenario--did you Gil and you aint seen nuttin yet. Still suffering shock huh Gil. Wait until the IDF goes in there and the settlers start attacking folks in Haifa Or aternativly they win and the Palestinians ask for equality and the vote---what you gonna do then Gil---keep posting garbage.

Dear Gideon, You should come here to the UK if you want examples of leftist hypocracy....Tel Aviv is fine and lovely.But like it or not Jerusalem is what israel in its essance is about...and that's from me - an asthetasit!!!! Oh and just a little history lesson - they said they didn't even need an israel...that Berlin WAS the new Jerusalem. That was in 1922..and we all know what happened next. But i guess you will never change your views.Bravo for the 50% + of Israel for NOT agreeing with you...That figure will increase as the consequences of PA expansionism is felt.

Israel, above all, is about vicariously participating in an act that one would be ashamed to be caught committing oneself -- but that one really admires. It is so for Israel in general for her overseas supporters, and it is so for the majority of Jews within Israel with respect to the settlers. Their acts are the essence of what Israel is about, and if you reject their acts, you reject the entire basis for the state. Conversely, if you support Israel at all, deep down inside, you like what the settlers are doing. You just prefer not to admit it.

It is far to simple to call it a dictate of just 300,000 settlers. The fact is that a large part of the seven million are supporting them. You will have to face that there is no Tel Aviv with a voice of reason anymore. Also Netanyahu might not have liked the Gaza withdrawel but he is following Sharons footsteps. The Netanyahu plan for the Westbank is almost identical to Sharon's plan. A series of water deprived Palestinian enclaves surrounded by Israeli settlements and Israeli controlled borders. Gideon you can huff and puff from your liberal enclave but I fear there is no hope from within. You need the US to turn Israel and the middle east to a peaceful paradise for everyone again.

Gideon Levy what a petty loser, Why don`t you tell your audience about the poll made by Dr. Mina Zemach, You shout like a little spoilt child, when you know that those same people you speak of in Rishon Letzion, Holon, Ashdod and Bat Yam, and Tel Aviv and across Israel (yes also us the uncountable ones) have said No to the settlement freeze! So Gideon it is Not a group of 300,000 who dictate to a country of 7 Million, but more then half of the Israeli public, whom dictate to a country of 7 Million. Democracy have you ever herd of it Gideon, apparently you are a minority in your views! So, as you said, A group of 1 person [you Gideon] 2 if you count Esther here, cannot forever dictate to a country of seven million, Your Words Not Mine!

Gideon Levy what a petty loser, Why don`t you tell your audience about the poll made by Dr. Mina Zemach, You shout like a little spoilt child, when you know that those same people you speak of in Rishon Letzion, Holon, Ashdod and Bat Yam, and Tel Aviv and across Israel (yes also us the uncountable ones) have said No to the settlement freeze! So Gideon it is Not a group of 300,000 who dictate to a country of 7 Million, but more then half of the Israeli public, whom dictate to a country of 7 Million. Democracy have you ever herd of it Gideon, apparently you are a minority in your views! So, as you said, A group of 1 person [you Gideon] 2 if you count Esther here, cannot forever dictate to a country of seven million, Your Words Not Mine!

How can anyone accept Israel is having a freeze when Barak, the Defense Minister signed off on 28 new settlements last week and Israeli officials have demonstrated a shocking abuse of power ex- pelling Palestinians from their homes in East. Jerusalem over resid- ency requirements and handing their property over fanatical Jewish settlers who claim God willed it to them. This doesn't even take into account their ongoing destruction of other Palestinian homes and farm land and scared olive grooves , plus their enormous violations of their civil and political rights. If I were a physician, I would diagnose this disorder as a Schizophrenic Disorder with out of control behavior & Grandiose ideations of Grander. None of their claims of course have an ounce of credibility or based on reality. Dutch

How can anyone accept Israel is having a freeze when Barak, the Defense Minister signed off on 28 new settlements last week and Israeli officials have demonstrated a shocking abuse of power ex- pelling Palestinians from their homes in East. Jerusalem over resid- ency requirements and handing their property over fanatical Jewish settlers who claim God willed it to them. This doesn't even take into account their ongoing destruction of other Palestinian homes and farm land and scared olive grooves , plus their enormous violations of their civil and political rights. If I were a physician, I would diagnose this disorder as a Schizophrenic Disorder with out of control behavior & Grandiose ideations of Grander. None of their claims of course have an ounce of credibility or based on reality. Dutch

Bibi's charade along with the response of the settlers is just another day in the life of phony Israel.

Hey, I live in the heart of Eretz Yisrael, Mr. Levy. This freeze is real. People are being stopped from buidling. On land they bought. With their own money. With full buidling permits. Is that what you want, Mr.Levy? Stopping Jews from building in the heart of Eretz Yisrael? Yes, I believe it *is* what you want.

Bibi is still Bibi. We have all come to know him over the years. We don't expect sincerity and good faith from such a person except when he is expounding anti-peace and anti-Arab ideology. The funny part is that, as Bibi tries to satisfy Obama, he is broadly winking at his right wing Israeli audience, telling them that it's all a sham. This audience is so stupid and used to having their way, that they fight Bibi at each step anyway. This is not a scripted government vs settler struggle. Bibi must have counted on his supporters being stupid, but they may surpass his wildest expectations and actually make him uncomfortable before it is all over.

Well Mr Lazar?

To # 4 Ez, I am in total agreemet with Mr. Levy's analysis. It's boring and repeated stupid act pre-programmed jointly by the Natanyaho and the settlers to please Obama and continue receiving(robbing)the US Taxpayers dollars and to show the world how impossible to evacuate the settlements as part of final peace agreement with the Palestinians. However, You stated that it was not a joke but a serious matter about people who "suffered and endured pains...etc...etc" can you ask yourself who inflicted that pain?...Definetly, not the Palestinians, but your friends the Europeans (Germans...Spanish...French..etc).If they want to take their revenege to what they have suffered . then take it on the Europeans who made them suffer, not stealing the Palestinian lands and occupying its people.

You hit the nail on the head when you state that Israel a country of 7 million is being held hostage by 300,000 settlers (many of whom are not Israeli but have dual nationality). I fear that the vast majority of Israelis regard the settlers as right wing nutjobs and as a result try to avoid the issue at all costs, because how do you reason with a nutjob? Unfortunatly this collective placing of heads in the sand hoping that this particular problem will simply go away will result in the destruction of Israel, as her natural allies turn their backs. The reality is in many countries on Planet Earth, voicing support for Israel is becoming a vote loser rather than a vote winner. Principly because of the occupation. Israelis must begin to realise this and take the action that is required, or they will lose more in the longer term.

For the Saudis where infidels are not even allowed into Mecca? For the occupiers of Kurdistan? For Switzerland? For the apartheid in the Arab countries & Iran & Malaysia? Everything you hypocrits claim about Israel is there and then some. Not to mention what Hamas teach their children in their OFFICIAL state controlled media. Does that sound to you like Hamas the Palestinian government,is preparing their people for any peaceful coexistence no matter what the borders are,with any Israel.? Why the selective blindness in an issue you claim to be following? There would have been peace 60 years ago if the Arabs wanted it. There would have been no settlements if the Arabs wanted peace. Rattling off your ideological mantra and ignoring the context does not change any of that.

I wouldn't say Israel is increasingly out of touch with international standards of human rights, self-righteously oblivious to the contempt of the rest of the world. It's even worse! It is self-righteously and viciously contemptuous of all morality, international laws, human rights, Arabs, allies and anyone else who objects to its behaving as thugs, racists and irrepressible land thieves. All in the best traditions of wild right-wing nationalist movements, who believe their theocracy, race and appetite are more important than any other consideration and entitle them to behave in any way they so choose, however abhorrent. The wake-up call when it comes is going to be a bit of a shock.

Spielberg would have made this play a blockbuster hit! As the current show displayed by both the Israeli gov and Settlers is dire and very amateurish, executed by bad actors. And as Gideon Levy says, not very convincing. I guess that is why there is no enthusiasm about this play here in Europe. Don't think it will be a box office hit in the US either.

Wasn't Tel Aviv a settlement once? And Holon? And Rishon LeZion? Has anyone had any indication that the Arabs have come to accept those settlements? Before we discuss dismantling any Jewish settlement, anywhere in the Jew's own country, we need some proof that the Arabs are willing to let us live there, anywhere, in peace. So far, we have not had such proof, not now, not since the first "settlements" in the 1880's.

What he means is basically the "center", western-like, moderate, non-fanatic people. You know, the ones who'd prefer not to live in constant war even at the "cost" of sharing Jerusalem.

...where the Leftists are in force and there is no danger of freezing its development ? Bravo Gideon, a real son of Tel Aviv.

Gideon Levy not only is happy Jews can't live and grow where they want, he manages to take the Arab side as to which is Israel's capital as well.

What Gideon exposes well and what the pro-settler talkbackers who claim it's not a play, but a reality, show is that people are out of touch. If you don't know what reality is actually like, then when you watch a TV show or a movie, you think it represents the factual situation. There hasn't been "violence" against settlers - only one arrest in massive roadblocks. Meanwhile, the Palestinians are having their homes and cars randomly burned in retaliation for being Arab. Whatever confrontation the settlers put up will be met with kid gloves violence compared to what Palestinians get from the army. Israel shot an American in the head last year in a protest of land illegally taken according to most - THAT is serious. Settlers' reality is that they get granted allowance to build balcons and promises to expand in 10 months. They play the shill bidder before the international auction of peace. Stop calling this thing a "freeze" too! That is out of touch

This is typical, as long as the day-by-day routine isn't affected, very few will do anything. On the other side, the far-right and other local extremists are fully active, and making waves. The sad truth: Until something happens that alters the statu quo and we start to feel threatened, the settlers and their friends won't find real opposition. Good article, spot on.

Absolutly right Gideon! Masquerade and wasting time!

you celebrate your leftist ideology but the left has lost the intellectual battle,your socialist dogma has been dispatched to the winds. in israel the leftist parties have lost.even labour is now fighting among themselves.

so gideon since you treat all the settlers as one and abuse them as one and tell us you are the better man i can only say to you: let your readers judge if you are indeed the better man.let them judge if you are indeed right in telling us that those who man the officer corp of the idf deserve your vindictiveness.

into this charade.what is the point of telling us it is a charade?we know it.israel is counting the days until the next american election. may israel see better times.

and what if it is. gideon forgets his bible.by ruses shall you make war,

The accrued benefits of the Gush Katif melodrama are not lost on the settlers. They fought then in grand opera style with mothers clutching babies in the front line, weeping soldiers evacuating weeping settlers, denouement: greenhouse shards, caravans on a windswept Ashkelon beach and a Hamas election victory. We told you so, they say, and point to Netanyahu, who is now doing a Sharon by UNILATERALLY effecting a 10-month moratorium on construction. And what do you know? They're right! It is the concept of UNILATERALISM that has already failed once and that is being used again. The script isn't even original. Unilateralism is a recipe for failure. Sharon knew it (if Olmert didn't know it and thought by calling it convergence he'd change its inherent fault, he learned it to his cost) and Netanyahu knows it. Abbas and Netanyahu will have to agree a strategy on clearing the space for a Palestinian state. And it would be best if Abbas and Haniyeh had a talk first.

... what are we lefties wringing our hands about...?!

According to the Arabs, Tel Aviv is also a settlement.

You can be counted on to reflexively take the Palestinians position on any issue, be it prisoner releases, peace negotiations, whatever. It makes me wonder why you are an Israeli. Perhaps you would be much more content and comfortable with yourself morally if you were a Palestinian.

It's hard to believe that Gideon is still looking to Settlement-free future, despite the rightward lurch of the Israeli electorate. Israel is increasingly out of touch with international standards of human rights, self-righteously oblivious to the contempt of the rest of the world.

Indeed the Settlers have shown that they did not understand that they were only required to pretend opposition to Netanyahu's disingenuous gesture. Instead they have responded with total outrage. Savage, mindless and void. Thus Netanyahu has gotten what he deserved. He has fed the beast, welcomed it's support and the first time in a decade that he has asked the cooperation of his monster it has turned upon him as it did before. Those who create monsters have no complaint when the monster turns upon them.

...any journeyman director here in Hollywood could spice things up to a fare-thee-well by the simple expedient of exponentially cranking up the physical violence. (You know, along the lines of that recent movie "War of the Worlds," say.") But it is not a "show," and in real life--if violence is upped--not all the players are gonna go home after the curtain comes down...which is hopefully on everyone's mind.

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Obviously, Mr. Levy's saturation of the pavlovian conditioning by the media world, capitalism, ad-campaigns and the 'sell, sell, sell' mentality has gotten the best of him and exposed his absurd opinion concerning this issue: "Like every production, be it a flop or a hit, the future of this show will also be decided by the audience. In the meantime, as the first act shifts into high gear, the viewers are yawning." Levy's COMFORT ZONE of boxing, shrink-wrapping and slapping a nice flourescent price sticker on the box of his opinion doesn't diminish the importance of the issue; it just goes to show the reader how absurd journalists can get. Let's see mr. Levy do that for what happened in Germany, throughout Europe and Russia??? Bring it on: lets see if you can turn THAT into a media metaphor. Mr Levy: this is not a joke, nor is it a 'production'...it represent the heart and sole of a suffering, persecuted people who have endured centuries of pain. Please don't attempt to devaluate!

The Kabuki theatre is better in Japan.

Now I suppose you will be a self hating Jew and I will be an anti semite, incidently I am an anti semite for taking what the IDF with a pinch of salt.

Mr. Levy has done a wonderful job. Thank you Sir. If Israel's staunchest supporters are honest, even they will give a thumbs up for this review.