In a move Israeli officials say was timed to come in between Secretary of State John Kerry’s visits to the nation, the Housing Ministry has announced another 1,400 settlement units to be constructed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The construction includes some 600 units in East Jerusalem, and 801 others in settlement blocs in the West Bank. These are in addition to the 272 units announced earlier this week.
It was suggested that the announcement was meant to placate growing anger at the peace process among far-right members of the Israeli coalition, but it is also putting the talks at serious risk.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the move, saying it proved the government wasn’t serious about the peace process, and urging the international community not to recognize the illegal settlements as part of Israel.
I've lost count of the number of new settlement units announced since the latest round of peace talks began, but I think the total now stands at well over 12,000. Netanyahu claims this is necessary to appease a hard line opposed to peace talks so the talks can continue…to go nowhere. Doesn't Netanyahu's "opposition" seem rather convenient to Netanyahu's goal of creating a Greater Israel?
You can not unscramble this omelet. Over I.5 million Arabs in Israel, about 4 million Arabs in the occupied territories. Millions more living as refugees in adjoining countries. On top of that there are over 500,000 Jews and growing in the occupied Palestinian territories. The leaders of the PLO are pushing for a separate state in order to have many opportunities for graft and corruption. There is no way to set up a viable economic state in a bunch of Bantustans,
The Palestinians should start demanding inclusion into Israel with equal political rights. They need to use non violent methods as was used in India by Gandhi. Worldopinion will turn in their favor. Once that happens the racist Jewish state will collapse.
Of course the Zionist realize this and will use various means including assassinations to prevent this from occurring.