Israel to Expand Settlements

Israel to Expand Settlements

english.aljazeera.net

The Israeli government has announced the construction of about 900 new homes in East Jerusalem amid international criticism against its policy on settlement expansion.

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, on Sunday praised the plan to build new homes.

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Maps and stats on Israeli settlements

How is the US supposed to successfully negotiate peace between the two when their ally continues to provoke the enemy?

Mr. Abbas protested Israel's decision to build new homes in disputed east Jerusalem. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also criticized the plan as a violation of international law.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the Bush administration does not believe Israel should build any more settlements. She said the moves exacerbate tension in peace talks with Palestinians.

Apparently you have to keep busy if you want to keep your land...

"Keeping the land planted would protect it from confiscation by the Israelis. That's why I have to stay here. Land titles mean nothing to them. You have to keep the land green to prove you're here."

As the senior negotiator said: "Israel should choose between settlements expansion and peace."






english.aljazeera.net
(visit the link for the full news article)

Might be of additional interest...

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Friday criticized ongoing Israeli settlement construction, and added that Israel can do more to lift restrictions on Palestinian movement.

source

Of course there are two sides to every issue...

Regev said that was what Israel was trying to do. "That's our challenge: To take down roadblocks, to try to create greater movement and access for Palestinians while maintaining security," he said.

Personally I sympathize with both perspectives on this sensitive issue, but what puzzled me was this:

Kouchner said in a radio interview Monday that France had been in touch with Hamas over several months, but the contacts did not amount to relations or negotiations. He did not detail the substance of those contacts with Hamas, which rejects Israel's existence.

Israel, the United States and the international community have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization, and Washington delivered a swift rebuke after Kouchner's revelation, with the State Department saying the contacts were not wise or appropriate.

Why would the US be against its ally opening a dialouge with Hamas? Ok so efforts failed, but that doesn't mean it's right to discourage negotiations!

reply to post by Scramjet76


Because it's a common tact some politicians have - "we don't negotiate with terrorists". Margaret Thatcher was a massive believer in that, and thanks to her stubbornness, the peace deals that were instrumental in making Northern Ireland a peaceful place had to be conducted in secret, behind her back. Tony Blair didn't adopt it as his personal belief, and would hold conversations with anyone he felt could help the situation, in Northern Ireland and elsewhere around the world.

France doesn't mind talking with Hamas, because they know diplomacy is the only way forward. The US still has that lesson to learn, it seems.

reply to post by dave420


I find it hard to believe we can negotiate with people who believe:

"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad. All initiatives, proposals and international conferences are a waste of time and vain endeavours ." The message in Article 28 illustrates vividly the genocidal terror aim of the jihadist bombings: "Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Muslim people: 'May the cowards never sleep'!"

Article 13 Hamas Charter

Still, time will march on and perhaps with the elimination of more key figures within these groups, new ground can be gained in regards to communication. IMO, it's never good to completely cover your ears.