Israel defies international calls for freeze on West Bank settlement expansion

[ProgressiveMuslim]

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Saturday, April 19, 2008



Marius Shattner

Agence France Presse


OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel on Friday invited bids to further develop two settlements in the Occupied West Bank, despite international calls to freeze such activity seen as a major obstacle to Middle East peace efforts. The Housing Ministry invited bidding for the construction of 100 housing units in the El Kana and Ariel settlements, both in the northern Occupied West Bank.

The move drew immediate criticism from Palestinian officials and Israeli anti-settlement activists, who say expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territory undermines already arduous peace talks.

The internationally drafted 2003 "road map" that forms the basis of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks requires Israel to freeze settlement construction.

The United States and Europe have pressed Israel to halt settlement activity, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on March 26 that construction would continue at settlements in the Occupied West Bank.

The Israeli government stressed that while it was building new homes, it was not creating new settlements.

"This construction of 50 in Ariel and 50 in El Kana are in the framework of the policy of the government, because it will be construction inside the built-up area of existing settlement blocks," said Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev.

"This is consistent with what we said: one, no new settlements; two, no expropriation of land; three, no policy to outwardly expand existing settlement," he told AFP.

But top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat expressed anger over the announcement.

"We firmly condemn the continuation of settlements. Such a decision sabotages the peace process and the negotiations" between Israel and Palestinians, he told AFP.

much more...
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=91199

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Just another day, week, month, year, decade under Israeli occupation...nt

[Snarkoleptic]

2. Keep stealing land...that will surely bring about peace in the region.

[Vegasaurus]

3. Keep shooting rockets, blowing up border crossings, and their own aid trucks

and that will surely bring peace to the region.

[Crunchy Frog]

4. One state solution.

It's the only way to accomodate all of these people living in the same area. This is clearly what Israel wants, as it's plainly making a two state solution impossible.

[Vegasaurus]

5. World War will ensue first

If that is what you advocate, keep pushing for a one state solution.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. Trying to sweeten the pot are you?

This means Armageddon and the Rapture. A chance to get rid of the fundy nuts. Sounds good to me.

[LeftishBrit]

7. A means of getting rid of everyone else too, unfortunately.

[azurnoir]

8. So you are seriously saying

that Israel will touch off world destruction, rather then accept a one state solution? I would love to hear Israeli opinion on that one, if true we have just established who the most dangerous nation not only in the ME but the entire world is.

That is if one believes this.

[LeftishBrit]

9. It wouldn't be just Israel...

there would be a major bloodbath between the Jews and Arabs, and possibly between different Arab factions; and other states would likely get involved.

It might or might not lead to world war.

And any state is dangerous, when faced with true destruction (which would be the case here).

[azurnoir]

11. The scenario you describe could happen

but Jews and Arabs, do you mean Jews outside of Israel would band together against Arabs? I do not think that would happen, but if you read my whole comment the last line was a "nice" way of saying I thought the whole ww3 thing because of a one state solution was BS

[LeftishBrit]

12. Nope. What I meant was that if Jews and Arabs were forced to share 'one state', a bloodbath would

occur.

I suspect other Arab states would get involved; but, since there are no Jewish-majority states other than Israel, I don't think that Jews outside Israel would get seriously involved in the military sense. America might, however, especially if it felt that its interests were threatened, or that terrorist groups were taking advantage of the chaos.

Even short of world war, it wouldn't be a good scenario.

[azurnoir]

13. Thanks

Still even if it was "only" in Israel this is one time I would hope your wrong about the bloodbath.

[LeftishBrit]

10. This needs to stop.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

14. Well, the peace process failed, the Israeli left has failed.

They refuse international mediation from peacemakers like Jimmy Carter.

Seriously, what is left?

Boycotts, sanctions and divestment!!!