Israeli DM Retroactively Legalizes Illegal Settlement Expansion
'Just Approval of the Existing Situation,' Barak Insists
Faced with a petition to the High Court of Justice, the Israeli Defense Ministry has announced that it is retroactively legalizing all the illegal settlement expansion conducted in the Shilo settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Peace Now had complained about considerable illegal construction going on in Shilo, and the state was pressed to respond to the complaint. With the retroactive legalization the legal compliant will vanish.
But not the criticism. The moves will allow partially completed construction on unapproved land to continue and if completed will expand Shilo by 60%. Peace Now responded to the announcement by saying “at least now everyone knows the government’s policy.”
Defense Minister Ehud Barak appeared not to understand the nature of the criticism, saying that the move to retroactively legalize was “just approval of the existing situation.”
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Druthers
November 27th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
"Defense Minister Ehud Barak appeared not to understand the nature of the criticism,"
Now that is the comical statement of the day – but confirms – they are liers and we are fools.
Aiden
November 28th, 2011 at 10:55 am
The fall of this government can only come too soon. If they are foolish to attack Iran, may Irans missles target all of these illegal squatter dwellings. Enough of this garbage…Go back to Europe!!
curmudgeonvt
November 28th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Barak understands all too well. He understands that no one will stand up to the Israeli government, no one will stop the theft of Palestinian land, and no one will remove the Israeli "settlers" from the stolen land. That is what he understands. And he surely doesn't care what anyone else thinks, least of all Peace Now and all those who don't agree with current Israeli government policy.