US harshly rebukes Israel on settlement plans

[Peacetrain]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090904/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_israel
US harshly rebukes Israel on settlement plans
AP


By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer – 44 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Alarmed by Israeli plans to build new housing units in settlements and dimming prospects for American peace efforts, the Obama administration on Friday put out a rare and harsh public rebuke of its main Mideast ally.

The White House said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's settlement plans were "inconsistent" with commitments the Jewish state has made previously and harmful to U.S. attempts to lay the groundwork for a resumption in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

"United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement. "We are working to create a climate in which negotiations can take place, and such actions make it harder to create such a climate."

[ShortnFiery]

1. Israel could care less what anybody else thinks. They are The true DECIDERS.

:crazy:

[Cirque du So-What]

2. As if 'rebukes' will change anything

Uncle Sam wags a chastening finger at its pit bull on a very long chain, saying, 'bad Israel, bad, bad Israel!'

When the cameras look away, Uncle Sam pulls a beefy treat out of his pocket, tosses it, and watches it disappear in a flurry of gnashing teeth.

[damntexdem]

3. And we'll probably also slap them on the wrist with the billions of dollars we send them.

"Here, I hope you know that we don't approve of what you're doing with all this money we give you."

[ej510]

4. The only way to send a message is to cut the funding.

[invictus]

6. +1

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. It is pointless for Israelis to start building settlements at this stage

if there is going to be compromise then both sides have to give away something.