Despite Israeli officials presumably wanting to put a “pro-peace” face on their incoming government with President Obama’s planned visit next month, they have announced another new settlement expansion inside Beit El, in the occupied West Bank.
The settlement, in the central West Bank near Ramallah, houses over 5,000 residents, and the new approval is for another 90 apartments in the area, with some to be given to settlers ousted from a different neighborhood after their homes were found to have been built on privately-owned Palestinian land.
Though smaller than several other announced expansions in the past couple of months, the fact that they continue to announce expansions at all this close to the Obama visit is sure to create controversy, and will make President Obama’s intention to avoid the Palestinian issue all the more conspicuous, and difficult to maintain.
It will also add controversy to the efforts to create a coalition government in Israel, with Yesh Atid and the Tzipi Livni Party both pushing for a peace settlement while the far-right continues to push against it, arguing in favor of unrestrained expansions into the West Bank.
Here we go again, distruct public with N.Korea nuclear test, while biggest and most arrogant THEFT OF LAND in our time goes on….with support of Partner in this crime – US!!!! peter czech
Not to worry! Israel has chosen a downward path (Think of the alternatives: an Israel–a Palestine: trade partners, work forces, exports of fruit and vegetables to Europe and the Middle East, tourism, acceptance by the nations of the world…). Now what will happen? Israel shrinks and disappears, but luckily leaves behind houses and infrastructure for the Palestinians.
What a shame. israel could have been a great part of a working Middle East, accepted if not loved, but a working unit. It would also have saved the US a lot of money paying for their arms.
I expect the Israelis will do to Obama what they did to Biden — announce more just as he lands. They did it to make a point, and they still want to make the same point.
Israel does'nt want "peace", only more "pieces" of Palestine.
Israel does'nt want "peace", only more "pieces" of Palestine.
Where is the FIRST BLACK AMERICAN? Every day bark at LEGAL nuclear program of Iran, but keep quite about Israel's crimes and violation of International law. No wonder he goes through treatment for constipation!