Related: The USraeli Position on Palestine
U.S. reminds me of small child throwing temper tantrum -- which would accurately describe the USreali relationship on this issue.
"Israeli housing plan for Jerusalem enclave draws US criticism; White House ‘dismayed’ at project’s approval" by Howard Schneider, Washington Post | November 18, 2009
JERUSALEM - City officials moved forward yesterday with plans to build 900 homes in a disputed neighborhood of Jerusalem, prompting sharp criticism from the White House, the Palestinians, and others who feel it will further undermine the chance of renewing peace talks.
The new units will expand the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo, one of several built on land taken by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed to the city in a step not recognized by the international community.
But SOMEHOW they end up stealing more and more land and NO ONE does a thing about it!
The Obama administration has asked Israel to halt building in those parts of town, which the Palestinians feel should form the capital of their future state. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration was “dismayed’’ at the Jerusalem Planning Committee’s approval of the Gilo project.
Really tells you all you need to know about the "special relationship."
He's still signing the aid checks to those monsters, right?
“At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed,’’ Gibbs said. The status of Jerusalem, he said, is a matter that should be negotiated between the two sides, and “neither party should engage in efforts or take actions that could unilaterally preempt or appear to preempt negotiations.’’
See: Israel Intends to Keep All Settlements
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And then Israel has the chutzpah to say no preconditions!
The Palestinians have said they will not reopen talks with Israel until it stops all Jewish construction in the occupied West Bank and the disputed neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Continued Israeli building, they say, will make it more difficult to negotiate acceptable borders between Israel and a future Palestine.
Israel has refused to do so, particularly in the case of Jerusalem, which it regards as no longer a matter of dispute but as a part of sovereign Israeli territory.
Yeah, TO HELL with what the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY!!!
Aren't ARAB and MUSLIM NATIONS INVADED by NOW for DEFYING the U.N.??
The administration has vacillated recently in its stance on Israeli construction in areas claimed by the Palestinians, at first demanding a total freeze, then praising Israeli offers that fell well short of that. Yesterday’s language seemed to mark a return to the tougher line, at least where Jerusalem is concerned. The administration criticized not just the Gilo project, but also “other Israeli practices in Jerusalem related to housing, including the continued pattern of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes.’’
I guess the administration REALLY WAS ANGRY!
Wow, compare that to the accompanying article right next door in my printed BG:
Israel Punishes Soldiers For Housing Demolition Protest
You need The Gilo issue was also raised in a meeting Monday in London between US special envoy George Mitchell and Yitzhak Molcho, a representative of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinians have grown increasingly frustrated at the pace of talks with Israel and are considering a move to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state.
Related: Mitchell Massages Israel
Yeah, you can see why Palestinians are frustrated.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the city’s decision “shows that it is meaningless to resume negotiations when this goes on.’’
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I feel the same way about reading the newspaper and politics: meaningless
The same way Israel feels toward, well, anyone or anything else.
JERUSALEM - Israel broke ground on a new housing complex for Jews in east Jerusalem yesterday, brushing off President Obama....
Again, the money is still flowing, right?
The groundbreaking occurred a day after Israel defied American, European, and Palestinian demands to stop settlement activity by announcing it will press forward with construction of 900 apartments in another Jewish area in east Jerusalem. Speaking to Fox News in Beijing yesterday, Obama said the construction embitters Palestinians in a way that could be dangerous....
Excuse me, but WHAT does THAT CRYPTIC STATEMENT mean?
Some sort of "terror event" on the way?
The Israeli government declined to respond to Obama’s comments. But earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel had no intention of stopping the Gilo construction. He called the neighborhood “an integral part of Israel, an integral part of Jerusalem.’’
The future of east Jerusalem is the most intractable issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The area includes Jerusalem’s walled Old City, home to sensitive Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy sites. Israel annexed east Jerusalem immediately after the 1967 war and claims all of the city as its eternal capital. The annexation was never recognized by other countries.
Of course, the U.N. puts up with this for over 40 years; they would rather harangue Iran for doing nothing illegal while ignoring Israel's illegal weapons program at Dimona.
Speaking in parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not address the tensions with the United States and ignored an Arab lawmaker who asked why he was allowing the new construction in Gilo.
Instead, Netanyahu reiterated his call for an immediate resumption of peace talks and criticized the Palestinians for refusing to return to the table. “I hope the Palestinians answer our calls for negotiations,’’ he said. “The Palestinians have groomed themselves with unrealistic expectations.’’
I don't think so; I don't think the Palestinians EXPECT ANYTHING out of Israel, and that would be TOTALLY REALISTIC because that is what you get: NOTHING!
And when you EXPECT NOTHING from a *** you are being TOTALLY REALISTIC!!!!
As he spoke, however, Israel faced a torrent of international criticism.
SO WHAT? That is ALL IT EVER IS!!!
Hot fart mist and NOTHING DONE to STOP IT!
NO SANCTIONS, NO CUT OFF of AID, NOTHING!
The European Union said that settlement activity, demolition of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, and evictions of Palestinian families from contested properties undermine negotiations and “threaten the viability of a two-state solution.’’
In the West Bank, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Gilo project “provides 900 more reasons why hopes for salvaging the two-state solution and restarting genuine negotiations are rapidly fading, and why Israel is not a partner for peace.’’
Yeah, they are about the FARTHEST THING FROM IT!
Anyone trying to gin up MORE WARS with MORE LIES is NEVER a "partner for peace."
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Also see: Palestinians Challenge Global Government
Yeah, WTF, U.N.? You DO NOT NEED USRAEL!
Strip the U.S. from the Security Council and MOVE AHEAD!
