Former U.S. envoy to Israel: Washington will regret its settlement freeze bribe

[Violet_Crumble]

Former U.S. envoy to Israel: Washington will regret its settlement freeze bribe

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer criticized Saturday a recent U.S. offer to provide Israel with a package of incentives in exchange for an additional 90-day freeze on West Bank settlement construction.

In an article published in the Washington Post, Kurtzer called the proposed deal a reward for Israel's bad behavior and said it was "a very bad idea."

"Washington will almost certainly come to regret bribing Israel, Israel may regret receiving such a bribe even more," Kurtzer wrote.

The proposed U.S. incentives package offered to Israel includes a U.S. undertaking not to request a further extension of the freeze following its expiration, and to veto any attempt by the Palestinians to win recognition by the United Nations of their state unilaterally.

The Obama administration would also ask Congress to approve the sale of 20 F-35 warplanes to Israel and, should there be a peace deal with the Palestinians, guarantee its wider security needs. These would supplement the 20 F-35 warplanes Israel already plans to buy using money from annual grants it receives from Washington.

"Previously, U.S. opposition to settlements resulted in penalties, not rewards, for continued construction. Washington deducted from its loan guarantees to Israel an amount equivalent, dollar for dollar, to the money that Israel spent in the occupied territories," said Kurtzer.

Kurtzer added that if the deal went through, it would create a dangerous precedent in U.S. foreign relations.

"It is not clear that Washington has thought through the implications. Will the United States similarly reward Palestinians for stopping their own bad behavior?"

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/former-u-s-envoy-to-israel-washington-will-regret-its-settlement-freeze-bribe-1.325746

[soryang]

1. This is a handout to the defense contractor

Israel just provided the opportunity.

[seafan]

2. Juan Cole weighed in on this as well.

Former U.S. envoy to Israel: Washington will regret its settlement freeze bribe, November 20, 2010


Juan Cole





It all just makes one wonder.

[oberliner]

3. Makes one wonder about what?

What do you mean by that?

[Violet_Crumble]

6. Thanks for posting that. Cole's mentioned something I find hypocritical about US pollies...

'Just as Saddam Hussein of Iraq thumbed his nose at UNSC resolutions, which the Neocons said made it legitimate to wage war on Iraq, so the Israeli government has completely ignored the Security Council on Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories. Yet Israeli leaders have acted with impunity and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen is not treated as a pariah for waging propaganda war against the UNSC resolutions and trying to get the US Congress to break the law, as well.'

[arcticken]

4. Bribe or threat?

"Do as we say or we'll stab you in the back at the UN security council."

[Violet_Crumble]

5. It's a bribe and a reward for bad behaviour...

"Play nice and stop settlement construction for a mere 90 days and after that we'll NEVER EVER ask you to stop building on territory that doesn't belong to you and we'll slap down any country at the UN that has the nerve to demand that you be held to the same standards as other countries are."

[arcticken]

7. SAME STANDARDS??????????????

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Violet_Crumble]

8. That's right. The same standards as everyone else...

Israel is not held to the same standards as other countries as the US fends off most criticism of Israel. See what Juan Cole said:

'Just as Saddam Hussein of Iraq thumbed his nose at UNSC resolutions, which the Neocons said made it legitimate to wage war on Iraq, so the Israeli government has completely ignored the Security Council on Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories. Yet Israeli leaders have acted with impunity and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen is not treated as a pariah for waging propaganda war against the UNSC resolutions and trying to get the US Congress to break the law, as well.'

http://www.juancole.com/2010/11/ros-lehtinen-channels-israeli-right-on-usurpation-of-jerusalem-displacement-of-palestinians.html

[arcticken]

10. Until the UN calls for no more houses for

Violet Crumbles and Washingtonians on indigenous land this is BS.

[Violet_Crumble]

11. The UN isn't calling for no more houses in Tel Aviv or even West Jerusalem...

See, that's because they're part of Israel, unlike East Jerusalem or the West Bank, which are occupied territory. Are you trying to say that my little neck of the woods isn't actually part of Australia and I'm an illegal settler just like those West Bank settlers are? If you are, I want to hear more about this as it's something that's total news to me! ;)

[shaayecanaan]

9. Well, it wouldnt be the first time

that an ultranationalist complained of being stabbed in the back.