Israel and the West Bank: Prepare to freeze

THE Israeli government’s approval this week of 455 new housing units in the West Bank settlements was announced with a wink and a nod, and seems to have elicited winks and nods all round. Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is expected soon to agree, reluctantly and under American pressure, to a temporary freeze on settlement building, and the new homes are widely seen as an act of face-saving political expediency on his part. Full Story »

Posted by Derek Hawkins
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Subjects: World
Topics: Israel, Palestine, Gaza
Editorial Help
Posted by: Posted by Derek Hawkins - Sep 9, 2009 - 11:40 PM PDT
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Derek Hawkins - Sep 9, 2009 - 11:40 PM PDT

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Patricia Blochowiak
3.5
by Patricia Blochowiak - Sep. 11, 2009

Interesting mixture of referenced fact, unsupported statements, and opinion.

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Manfred Ostrowski
3.8
by Manfred Ostrowski - Sep. 11, 2009

Short sketch of the current situation in Israel concerning the question of Israeli West Bank settlements. In the center of interest is Mr Netanyahu and his policy. There are no details about the Palestinian side or the position of moderate Arab states, so the article seems to suggest some free choice for Israel's government, independent from international concerns or pressure.

The government of Israel should acknowledge that Israel as part of the international community and in its own interest has to seek good relations with its Arab neighbours. So Israel should stop building new West Bank settlements.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
Derek Hawkins
4.0
by Derek Hawkins - Sep. 9, 2009
See Full Review » (2 answers)
Patrick McGuire
4.5
by Patrick McGuire - Sep. 11, 2009

Yes! It does complete a good picture in very brief and clear language.

The issue of settlements has been an ongoing issue since 1967 maybe even before. It is a very sore point to the Arab and especially the Palestinians. But every time there is to be some negotiations it is the Israelis who ask or demand the Palestinians to give up something or do something before negotiations can begin. It is time for the US and other nations to withhold aid to Israel until settlements have ceased completely and cease all the rhetoric since Israel is always under some ... More »

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James Canning
3.9
by James Canning - Sep. 11, 2009

There are 500,000 illegal Jewish settlers in the West Bankj. Obama needs to tell Netanyahu Israel must end the occupation of the West Bank. There is soemthing rather pathetic in the inability of the US to act in its own best interests in the Middle East, due to the Israel lobby.

Much of the impetus for the idiotic Iraq War was to "protect" Israel. Israeli militarists are trying to get the US involved in war with Iran, again for false reasons of "protecting" Israel. Israel needs to get out of the West Bank and the Golan Heights, entirely.

See Full Review » (7 answers)

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