Plans to expand a West Bank settlement by up to 2,500 homes drew Palestinian condemnation Monday and presented an early test for President Obama, whose Middle East envoy is well known for opposing such construction. Full Story »
Posted by Kaizar Campwala
OK for an update, not much more. Treats the settlement like a foregone conclusion, with almost no talk of how it would affect Palestinians.
Speaking to U.S. Jewish leaders Monday, the two contenders for leading the new Israeli government expressed their differences over the Palestinian issue. More »
The story is important and reported factually. Israel is proclaiming an in-your-face further taking of West Bank land and expansion of appropriation of Palestinian lands in stark violation of the Oslo accords. The link to the "The Iron Wall" video provides the history that is being continued in the current move reported here.
Solid and straightforward report on Israeli's departing Olmert government's move to confiscate more Palestinian land for illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territory of the West Bank . Laub points out the negative impact of this new illegal land grab, certain to escalate hostilities and complicate the mission of Obama's Mideast envoy, George J. Mitchell. Olmert's ill-advised confiscation will increase friction, compounding the difficulties of reaching a sustainable peace, and complicating the transition--let alone the tone--of the incoming government's attitudes toward peace and an independent Palestinian state.
Given the escalating conflict within Israeli public opinion and the clash between "moderate" and more radical factions struggling for control of the new Israeli government, it is hard to imagine that Olmert did not intend to make matters far worse in his final days in power. President Obama must make it clear that this reckless step will have profound consequences for U.S. support of the Israeli government's actions.
I recently saw "The Iron Wall," which provides a rich informative picture of the scope of the settlements and their isolation of Palestinians. These is not just a case of a few innocent hippies putting up a kibbutz and dancing around an olive tree.
A brief but well stated article on the never ending family feud in Israel. The writer attempts to present a case for Pres. Obama to perhaps try his hand with the newly elected Conservative Party and Mr. Abbas in divining a peacefull resolution on the West Bank's latest situation. It makes no mention of Hilary Clinton's possible role which would it seems be inevitable due to her experience and current job.
Israel and Palestine will no doubt duke out yet again another hassle, people will die, buildings will be bombed, apologies and accusations will fly. Obama should skip this round of cyclical dysfunctionality and focus on the rapid deterioration in Pakistan and the Afghan border.
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