President Trump’s Israel plan was loudly rejected by the Palestinians, but it’s the Israeli side that’s really proving a challenge, as the US struggles to slow them down, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries to score political gains with a quick annexation.
US Ambassador David Friedman is warning Israel against any “unilateral” action, and warns any annexation must be consistent with a joint US-Israeli committee’s finding on the map.
Ironically, Friedman was the first to endorse an Israeli plan of annexation, and explicitly told them there was no need to wait to annex parts of the West Bank consistent with US plan language. Now, clearly, US officials are rethinking that.
An annexation would fuel a backlash against Israel, and the US. US officials are hoping to buy a bit of time, with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner suggesting that finalizing the map could take a “couple of months.” That would get past the latest Israeli election.
Already a large political matter within Israel, settler leaders are pushing Netanyahu to “put the US in its place” and carry out the annexations as quickly as possible.
Anyone wanna bet the Israelis win this one? US politicians don’t have the courage to confront Israel’s friends here.
US politicians ARE Israel’s friends here.
The United States is the crooked cop who warns the thieves, “look, can’t you guys wait for ten minutes AFTER I make my beat, before you start grabbing everything in sight!”
Great analogy. I would add that the “crooked cop” has been grabbing a lot for himself in the way of Middle East oil for many decades as well. Just ask anyone in Iraq and Syria.
Nothing to see here, move along.
De facto illegal annexation by Israel on the West Bank, a.k.a. settlements, has been going on for decades without any response other than a few powerless resolutions of the UN and “don’t do that Beethoven’s” from our governments.
Correction: once OPEC threw a stink bomb at our gas stations but it changed nothing.
“…with one prominent West Bank mayor calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ignore the warnings from Washington and put the Trump administration “in its place”.
Wow, it’s almost like they’re giving us billions a year. And don’t they know not to piss off the Don with any talk like that? Not to worry though, this isn’t the Taliban and the Don doesn’t want to be cut off from Shelden’s money.
Good to see at least a little pushback instead of the pandering to the USA which seems to be the usual reaction to all its illegal acts. Check in telesur to see how GOP Rubio is delighting in causing and tweeting about blackouts in Venezuela, and chaos continues in Iraq as the USA refuses to leave.
One thing about Iraq, however ,, The Iraqis are capable of expelling all US troops from their territory – especially, with Iran behind them. The US has NO right staying there, even after the Iraqi Parliament – and now the new Prime Minister – having backed up the Parliament’s demand for US and UK troops to leave.
One terrorist nation is upset at the other terrorist (and genocidal) nation. How humorous…except for those who will be the victims as always.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/278e0d36082f54940e6b991b84e0b3ce14871d73a03aa85ab8e37c94d96f2134.jpg
Israel will switch to another State Sponsor (Russia/China) if we don’t keep following their orders, like a fish on a hook.
Not a chance. Russia and China have no use.
If I was Nathan Yahoo, I would do a live broadcasting of the annexation as a testament to the power of might.
Like Trump would actually do something against Israel’s wishes… Quoting Percy yet again, “That ain’t gonna happen.”