Touring the sights of planned settlement expansions in the West Bank, Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai insisted that the US could not do anything to stop the new construction, and insisted that “there is no escape from our crucial security need to continue with this construction.”
Minister Yishai’s comments were seconded by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, who was also on the tour. Rivlin insisted that “if we don’t build here, the Palestinians will.” The construction in the long-sought E1 settlement is part of the “natural growth” promised by the Israeli government.
The settlement would connect Maale Adumim to Jerusalem, and would virtually cut the West Bank in half, making the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state as sought by the Obama Administration virtually impossible. The Bush Administration criticized the E1 plan as “unhelpful,” however Yishai insists they privately gave their approval and wants the Obama Administration to do the same.
The consequences of the expansion to the peace deal may be moot at any rate, as several high profile Israeli officials have ruled out any further talks in recent days, following a Fatah conference which blamed Israel for the death of former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
True, we can't stop them from building more settlements. But we CAN stop sending them ten billion dollars every year. Especially in light of the current economic crash where there is no cash for such things, and especially for such as giving great gobs of free money to one of the richest countries in the world!!!
Yeah,The US Taxpayer is bankrolling Jim Crow West bank Occupation.
According to the Christian Science Monitor,the cost of Israel to the American TAXpayer has been over $1.6 TRILLION since 1973.http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1209/p16s01-wmgn.ht…
It is time for President Obama to put his words into deeds and cut off all aid to the criminal, thug nation of Israel: financial, military and political. Otherwise, Israel will continue to steal more Palestinian land and water while maintaining their starvation blockade on the Gaza Strip.Our alliance with Israel is the most dangerous and expensive alliance in our nation's history. Israel is the most dishonest, greediest and most warmongering nation on earth.
RayGordon I agree with you 100% ISRAEL has violated UN resolutions, spied on the U.S., controled our media for to long. Every American should be made aware of the 06/08/1967 ISRAELI ATTACK on the USS LIBERTY that KILLED 34 and wounded 171 U.S. Navy Sailors.