The West Bank Wall, or “barrier of separation” by some official Israeli accounts, has been a hugely controversial construction, winding through Palestinian territory, cutting farmers off from the bulk of their fields and leaving some Palestinian villages walled in on multiple sides.
It’s also the de facto border for the new Palestinian state, according to reports on the ongoing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as Israeli negotiators say there will be no debate and that’s going to be the border.
As the source of virtually every major protest in the occupied West Bank, using the wall as the border seems deliberately provocative and about the most controversial choice theoretically possible.
Both sides are extremely pessimistic about the talks going forward, though the US is hoping to “rescue” it with a new push. With the Palestinians seeking a peace deal set around the 1967 borders with some limited land swaps and Israel looking to simply dictate terms, there’s a big gap and little reason to think it will narrow any time soon.
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One day, pieces of this wall will be in museums, just like the Berlin Wall.
The humanoid kerry is probably delghted at the generosity of his allies.
The Israelis do not intend to negotiate and never did. Their arrogance of building a wall and then declaring that the wall will be the border, without input and agreement with the PA dooms any possibility of peace talks. And when the PA says that they can't agree on a starting point the Israelis will shrug and say, "see? they don't want to negotiate with us…"
I'd say the US needs to slap the Israeli government soundly and tell them to stop or the USG will cease anymore handouts, just as they did with Egypt…but we all know that'll never happen because the American Knesset – Congress – would go ballistic.
The Israelis do not intend to negotiate and never did. Their arrogance of building a wall and then declaring that the wall will be the border, without input and agreement with the PA dooms any possibility of peace talks. And when the PA says that they can't agree on a starting point the Israelis will shrug and say, "see? they don't want to negotiate with us…"
I'd say the US needs to slap the Israeli government soundly and tell them to stop or the USG will cease anymore handouts, just as they did with Egypt…but we all know that'll never happen because the American Knesset – Congress – would go ballistic.
"or the USG will cease anymore handouts, just as they did with Egypt"
Sarcasm?
I'm so full of it, my cup runneth over.
What's mine is mine…what's yours is mine…..and if you disagree you are an antisemite!
As this wall went up, the Israelis repeatedly, constantly assured the US and everyone else that is was NOT a border, and would not be claimed as a border.
Many of us at the time thought they were lying. Now they prove it.
Netanyahu has little remaining leverage on Obama and after the new Pope refused to grant him an audience, the last time he turned up cap in hand at the 'Vatican, Bibi must think his last best hope lies with Putin. Wonder what bag of tricks he'll be taking to seduce Putin with?
Can't be $$$ since Putin is now as rich has Croesus, it can't be blackmail or wire taps or more US tech. secrets since Putin will have a few of his own now he has given refuge to Snowden.
Putin has more than a few scores to settle with Bibi so hope he uses the opportunity and take to the kneeling Bibi with a bit of 2×4 and knock some sense into him..
"The West Bank Wall… has been a hugely controversial construction"
False.
There is total world consensus that the border should be the june 1967 borders. This has been expressed every year since the occupation in UN resolutions, and every year the vote is the same: the whole world on one side, and the US and Israel on the other. Every human rights organization reaches the same conclusion. And in 2004, all fifteen judges of the International Court of Justice agreed.
This is not "controversy". This is total international agreement, and the US, alone, blocking international law from being enforced.
The author here twice calls the border issue "controversial", when there is no controversy. There is total international consensus.
Here are sources and more depth: http://empireslayer.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-solu…
"….World consensus that the border should be the June 1967 borders" ONLY if and until Israel complies with ALL the conditions attached to UN242 can the 1967 borders be legitimately recognized OR the stakeholders are left with the original resolution that recognizes Israel legitimate borders ONLY within those borders enshrined in UN 181.
Netanyahu knows full well that nothing outside Israel's unilateral declared border belongs to Israel and some 250UN res. against the illegal occupation is circumvented ONLY by US veto power.
It's now public knowledge that there is Oil in Palestine so the stakes are higher. After 65Y and numerous failed peace talks I guess the Palestinians are not in a most compromising mood which leaves Bibi dashing around like a headless chuck trying to provoke another war.