Ha'aretz Editorial: Israel's Future as a Jewish, Democratic and Safe Country Requires an Immediate Halt to Construction and Demolitions in East Jerusalem
peace.seeker.27
Heavy-handed in the capital
By Haaretz Editorial
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129739.html
The peace process, intended to advance Israel's main strategic
interest by achieving a two-state solution, is in deep crisis. Efforts
by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell to renew negotiations on a final-
status agreement have reached an impasse. Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas has announced his intention to retire from political
life; over the weekend he called for "resistance" along the lines of
the protests at the West Bank towns of Bil'in and Na'alin. The dispute
focuses on the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the
Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. The international community,
led by the United States, supports the Palestinian demand that Israel
stop creating facts on the ground in the territories during the
negotiations.
The approval of the plan to build 900 housing units in Gilo over the
Green Line does not conform to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
call to renew talks. The demolition of Palestinian houses in the
village of Isawiyah in East Jerusalem does not improve the murky
atmosphere characterizing Abbas and Netanyahu's relationship. Israel's
unilateral steps in Jerusalem corroborate Hamas' claim that the Oslo
process was a mistake and strengthens Hamas' call for violent
opposition to the occupation.
The Israeli claim that there is no difference between Gilo and the
central Jerusalem neighborhood of Rehavia only throws sand in our
eyes. Although the Knesset has extended Israeli law to annexed areas
east of the Green Line and has defined them as part of Jerusalem,
Israeli governments have committed themselves to negotiate the issue
of sovereignty in these neighborhoods. Two prime ministers, Ehud Barak
and Ehud Olmert, even discussed the issue with the Palestinians.
In his first term as prime minister, Netanyahu acceded to Bill
Clinton's tough demand to use his authority to evacuate Jewish
settlers from the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in East
Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he had agreed to do so out of a desire to
push the peace process ahead and maintain calm in the capital. These
explanations are still valid, even more so. If Netanyahu is dedicated
to a solution that will ensure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic
and safe country, as he says he is, he must immediately order a halt
to construction and demolitions in East Jerusalem. His claims that he
did not know and cannot intervene are not persuasive, and they are
being interpreted as a lack of leadership.
P. Schmeckelstein
"peace.seeker.27" <vesuvian.d...@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:5bac8442-8d09-4758...@l35g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
This will incite the murderous Zionist swine that inhabit this NG. Before
long, you will be ridiculed and marked by them and their evil methods.
You're asking for their unending and blind wrath.