Just days after approving another 800 house settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today told his cabinet that the expansions will continue “without limits.”
“We are not imposing any restrictions on construction in Jerusalem,” Netanyahu added, “it is our capital.” In public speeches Netanyahu rarely acknowledges the difference between Israeli Jerusalem and East Jerusalem, the portion of the city that lies in the occupied West Bank and which is the planned capital for an independent Palestine. Netanyahu and other officials regularly refer to Jerusalem as the “eternal, undivided capital” to reflect their opposition to this.
The comments were slammed by Palestinian officials, who said it was part of a deliberate effort to sabotage the peace process, which has been stalled for over a year over the continued expansion of settlements.
The more likely explanation is a political one, however, as Netanyahu has called for early elections and is courting the votes of Israel’s far-right, which is outspokenly in favor of expanding the settlements and by and large opposed to the peace process on general principle. The annexation of East Jerusalem, though not recognized by the rest of the world, is also a key issue for the Israeli right, and Netanyahu reportedly plans to construct a military academy in the area.
Crazy-as-a-loon Benny is in his element. He has all the power and he just loves trampling all over the Palestinians.
Why don't they fight back? Because Abbas is selling them out. At least Arafat had some balls!
David, which world do you live in? If they fight back the whole world would say "we are all Israeli now" and the cries of terrorism will not die down for months. Interviews with brave IDF soldiers and relatives will fill the airwaves and the world will know again how terrible those Palestinians are and how peaceful those Israelis are. Meanwhile, the land "transfer" will continue unabated.
Funny, didn't George Bush say they hate us for our freedom?
Maybe Bibi will use some of the money that his friends made on the oil futures market when they had advanced notice to buy before Bibi was to make another threat to attack Iran.
Isreali firsties will get America to attack Iran, Israel will use it German made and paid for subs to launch missiles just to be able to join the two countries closer with out risk of Isaeli blood. Israeli planes will be used to bomb southern Lebanon with bunker buster bombs before invasion, ocupation and settlement. Israel has for years now been mapping the tunnel locations by hundreds of over flights over Lebanon, some lasting hours.