U.S. May Cut UN Support Of Israel Over Settlements

[Purveyor]

Source: Haaretz

The Obama administration is considering a series of symbolic measures to force Israel to halt all construction in West Bank settlements, the New York Times has reported.

Administration officials said that measures under discussion include dropping the U.S.' near uniform support of Israel in the United Nations, according to the New York Times.

"There are things that could get the attention of the Israeli public," The Times quoted a senior administration official as saying. Nevertheless, the official also said, "Israel is a critical United States ally, and no one in this administration expects that not to continue."

Israeli officials said Monday that the U.S. has made no mention of any such plans. The Obama administration has insisted on a total settlement freeze, but Jerusalem has balked at this demand claiming that existing communities in the West Bank deserve continued government attention.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday declared that Israel would not put life in West Bank settlements on hold, despite the United States demand that Israel completely halt construction in existing settlements.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1089531.html

[defendandprotect]

1. Cheers ... we're giving Israel $30 billion a year for defense---!!! Buys a lot of warmongering-!

For those who don't know it -- Israeli and US weapons manufacturing is so closely

intertwined that you can't tell the difference between the two!!!

[azurnoir]

4. we do not give Israel $30 billion a year

Bush promised Israel $30 billion over a ten year period, This year the amount Israel is to receive is $2.77 billion but you are right in that most of that is slated to come back in the form of weapons purchases from US manufacturers

[defendandprotect]

7. We give them more . . . $15 million a day?

Let's both check the figures on that --

[azurnoir]

9. U.S. and Israel Sign Record $30 Billion Military Aid Deal

JERUSALEM — The United States offered Israel on Thursday an unprecedented $30-billion military aid package, bolstering its closest Mideast ally.

The aid deal signed in a ceremony in Jerusalem represents a 25 percent rise in U.S. military aid to Israel, from a current $2.4 billion each year to $3 billion a year over 10 years.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293423,00.html

We do give Israel more than that amount the rest is in the form of economic aid and housing aid immigration aid and other needs so it is also possible that we are indirectly funding the settlements, however there are some Pro Israel charities that do directly fund settlements

[defendandprotect]

18. $15 million a day would be $45 BILLION/300 days or $54 BILLION/360 days . . .

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=US+gives+Israel+%2415+...

The $15 million each day is constantly repeated here -- and a figure I regularly

see -- but I don't have time to get into each website right now.

ADDITIONALLY .... we pay for their defense weapons -- whether that is calculated

in any of these totals or not, I can't say right now.

At any rate, i.e., we are responsible for Gaza -- for the mayhem of war that the

Israelis have brought to Palestinians.

I think it's the first website there shows a lot of photos of the damage that that

we have done throughout the world -- along with the Israelis.

It's horrendous!! And should be stopped immediately!!!

How could any president get thru the day knowing stuff like this and not stopping it?

[kenfrequed]

19. Yup

And this is the real problem as much as anything else. It creates sort of an connection between the military industrial subset and the hardline of Israel.

This dooms Israel to constantly treating with its neighbors as enemies and ensures that our politicians vote for candidates that General Dynamics approves of.

[jpak]

2. The Rapture Ready Crowd will hate this

or not...

[azurnoir]

3. About time

over the years the US has repeatedly used its veto power to shield Israel from any meaningful UN action other than declarations.

[NoodleyAppendage]

5. O.K. This makes up for some of the stuff I've been pissed at Obama for doing lately.

Fuck Netanyahu...friggin' blood thirsty neo-con.

J

[ohio2007]

6. Well, this thursday he is expected to 'suggest' the Arab world recognize Israel as a state

Where will they bury the hatchet?

[azurnoir]

8. The Arabs have already suggested this

Israel rejected it out of hand

Arab Peace Initiative

The Council also calls on Israel to assert the following:

Complete withdrawal from the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including full withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and the remaining occupied parts of south Lebanon to the June 4, 1967 lines.
*
To accept to find an agreed, just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees in conformity with Resolution 194.
*
To accept an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian lands occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and with Jerusalem (al-Quds al-Sharif) as its capital in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1397.

In return, the Arab states assert the following:

To consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over and to enter into a peace treaty with Israel to consolidate this.
*
To achieve comprehensive peace for all the states of the region.
*
To establish normal relations within the context of comprehensive peace with Israel.

http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm

this is the basis for Obamas peace plan and unless Israel does something about the settlements and make some positive moves towards a two state solution other than suggesting the two states already exist and that they are Israel and Jordan then yes the Arabs most likely will reject it, as well IMO they should

[ohio2007]

11. They will be asked again. And Hamas will most likely quote their charter

and refuse to recognize Israel AND
The Arab Peace Initiative, 2002
as usual also.

Hamas only believes in one state and can't sit down to talk to a non state.


So, nothing will "change" after this week

[azurnoir]

14. Israel has already refused to do its part

To accept an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian lands occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and with Jerusalem (al-Quds al-Sharif) as its capital in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1397.

so apparently holding on to its West Bank settlements is far more important than either recognition or peace to Israel
I guess incorporating 300,000 more people into Israel proper would be "uncomfortable" for most Israelis

[The Stranger]

20. That excuse doesn't look like it is going to fly with Obama.

Citing Hamas (which is barricaded in Gaza, not the West Bank) isn't going to justify continuing to take the Palestinians' land.

[No Elephants]

21. What does? Nothing has happened.

[Wizard777]

10. Let them do it their way on their dime.

Maybe they should take the funds they cut from Israel and give them Abbas in the West Bank to help his expansion into Gaza?

[dbonds]

12. Wow, that would be a good move.

[and-justice-for-all]

13. GOOD!! nt

[MasonJar]

15. Sounds like a fair idea. It is rtidiculous for us to systematically back

Israel in the UN no matter how egregious the country's actions. Israel needs to get rid of Bibi.

[Turborama]

16. Could someone please explain to me why "Israel is a critical United States ally"? n/t

[donheld]

17. It's about time

[No Elephants]

22. This is an anonymous story about Obama's allegedly thinking about something. I'll withhold

comment until something actually happens.