With Secretary of State John Kerry meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, tensions with Israel are set to soar again on reports in the Israeli press that the US will demand a “partial settlement freeze” in the occupied West Bank.
The settlement expansions have gone well beyond what anyone expected during the peace talks, and every time the talks seem to make even a sliver of progress the Netanyahu government announces a massive expansion to placate members of his government opposed to peace.
The US demands are said to seek a halt in construction in isolated settlements around the West Bank, while allowing Israel to continue expansion in the major blocs it expects to keep in a deal.
While both Israel and the PA agree that some “land swaps” will be necessary and Israel will doubtless keep some settlement blocs, the Netanyahu government’s expansions across several other areas have led many in the PA to fear they are negotiating on an ever dwindling portion of the West Bank, and the longer it takes the more Israel will have grabbed.
This peace talks has become a game where everyone is in a state of euphoria.
How about forcing UN security council resolutions, NOW THAT would be news worthy!
Eventually demographics will prevail not America or the Zionist."It was never your lands so how can you keep it when it belongs to someone else"
By force, of course…and the threat of annihilation, which the Israelis are very experienced at doing.
'Partial' freeze, is that like 'semi-boneless' ham?
or almost pregnant…or "moderate terrorist"
Expect any "partial freeze" to be ignored, just like numerous UN resolutions, but US aid will still be dutifully handed over.
Better be careful of what you "demand"from the Zionist and aipac mr Prez they will not think twice of crapping all over you and the American people who you represent.
Dangle the prospect of freezing or completely halting foreign aid to Israel- and make it clear you are completely prepared to sign off on that plan- and Tel Aviv will be singing a different tune. If you just mouth the words wanting them to stop, you know good and well they're not going to even bat an eye. Make credible moves on their cash cow, though, and they'll pay attention.
That leaves Israel stuck- if they knuckle under and do as we want them to they show they're not the tough guys they project themselves to be, and if they thumb their nose at us and drive on they demonstrate to the US public they don't need our support anyway. Either way, they lose. Of course, it's far more complicated than that, but that's what I see it boiling down to.