Israeli PM gets home support in dispute with US

[laststeamtrain]

Source: AP

Israeli PM gets home support in dispute with US

By JOSEF FEDERMAN (AP) – 10 hours ago

JERUSALEM — Top Israeli officials on Thursday rallied behind embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his dispute with the U.S., deepening the rift between the two allies over Israeli construction in east Jerusalem.

Before Netanyahu returned Thursday afternoon from an unsuccessful visit to the United States, a string of Cabinet ministers declared that Israel would keep on building Jewish homes in east Jerusalem and accused Washington of unfairly putting pressure on the Israeli government.

<snip>

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and immediately annexed the area — a move that has never been recognized internationally. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of a state that includes the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Over the years, Israel has built a ring of Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem to cement its control over the area. About 180,000 Israelis live in these neighborhoods, which the international community view as illegal settlements.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioi_0jtO9RjMwPNRoXNCndRPRq3gD9ELQLK80

[DavidDvorkin]

1. "Top Israeili officials"

But how about ordinary Israeli voters?

[ShockediSay]

2. So why isn't US giving our President support against Israel?

Could it be the Israeli lobby?

[Jefferson23]

3. Congressional Statements and Letters Reaffirming the U.S.-Israel Relationship

http://www.aipac.org/AIPAC_events/MOC_Statements_on_Defusing_Tension.pdf

On edit to add: A large percent of Americans support Obama's efforts on this subject.