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shafique · Nov 10, 2010

Again, we find the Israeli press calling a spade, a spade.

The latest announcement of even more construction of homes in occupied Palestinian land whilst the peace process is continuing (which even J-street, the US pro-Israel lobby group, has come out against) is indeed a pointless provocation.

Whilst the pro-Israeli group has to come up with misleading labels of 'Arab lobbies' and try and convince people that historical events happened according to the Israeli script rather than reality, the smokescreens can't hide the actual news coming out of Israel.

Supreme court decisions legitimising religious segregation, over a hundred thousand marching in favour of racial segregation in schools (amongst Jews) and now this pointless provocation of even more houses on land that is not part of Israel:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/op ... n-1.323894

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-d ... d-1.323643

Edit:

Pretty much everyone is condemning the provocation:

President Barack Obama, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon voiced their disapproval of the plans to build more than 1,300 new homes in Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem. A separate plan for 800 new homes in the West Bank settlement of Ariel was also reported.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/no ... s-us-anger

shafique · Nov 10, 2010

The Palestinian reaction to the news that 1000 more homes are to be constructed in interesting:

Palestinians demand immediate statehood to counter Israeli 'unilateralism'

Raising the stakes in the deadlock over stalled peace talks, Saeb Erekat said it was clear from the latest announcement of building plans in East Jerusalem and Ariel that Israel wants settlements, not peace.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-d ... m-1.323796

Seems like a reasonable diplomatic move to me - Israel unilaterally decides to continue construction in occupied land, Palestinians push for immediate declaration of statehood.

As for the statement that Israel want's settlements (or colonies as they are in reality) rather than peace - well, that is hard to argue against - isn't it? (hence the title of this thread and the Haaretz editorial)

Cheers,
Shafique

Flying Dutchman · Nov 10, 2010

Seems that every time the Palestinian negotiators dont like something, they 'threaten' to declare their own state. How many time can you declare your own state, by the way? The PLO did it already once. Nothing tangible came out of it. Declaring their state, would mean dealing with their own refugees, which are locked into camps by the Palestinian leadership. Also, a Palestinian state would be completely dependent on Israel for electricity and water. Then again, I would expect in such a case that many will cry that Israel still has to maintain the Pali state.

shafique · Nov 10, 2010

I find it curious why Israel's supporters fail to address what Israel does and rather like to point the finger at what the occupied people are doing or threaten to do.

In this case, what should the 'correct' reaction to Israel's actions of building 1300 more homes be? Offer more land for them to construct?

As for water - here's a thought. Why not have Israel hand back the illegally annexed Golan heights to Syria (and with it the control of the water there) as well as let the Palestinians have full access to the sections of the Jordan river which do not border Israel. The Palestinians can then develop their own water resources and can import the electricity and water they need from states that are willing to sell them it (this can, of course, include Israel).

Cheers,
Shafique

shafique · Nov 11, 2010

Interesting development - I wonder if they are related. The US is giving $150m aid to the Palestinians and urging other countries to do the same. Every little bit helps, so it is to be welcomed (the direct and indirect aid to Israel dwarfs this figure, but hey - why quibble).

What is also interesting is that Clinton and Obama are not happy with the Israeli construction - but Netanyahu just doesn't care, it seems.

The United States is to transfer an additional $150m in aid to the Palestinian Authority and called on other donor nations to increase aid

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement in a video call with Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad.

Ms Clinton said that despite deadlock, a "positive outcome" was still possible in the Middle East peace talks.

But Israel's plan for more settlement building in the West Bank was counterproductive, she added.

The funding was described as an effort to shore up the Palestinian Authority's budget.

The announcement came after Israel said it planned to build more than 1,300 new homes for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem.

The US has rejected Israeli claims the new homes would not affect the peace process.

Mrs Clinton is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin in New York on Thursday, and is expected to raise the issue of the settlements

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11729423

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Pointless Provocation: Israeli Construction

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