Israel's prime minister has effectively frozen new Jewish construction in east Jerusalem, municipal officials said Monday, reflecting the need to mend a serious rift with the U.S. and get Mideast peace talks back on track.
The move comes despite Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated assertion he would never halt construction in east Jerusalem and risks angering hard-liners in his government. One lawmaker from Netanyahu's Likud Party warned the governing coalition could collapse over the issue.
Still, the de facto freeze appeared to offer the promise of reviving peace efforts derailed after Israel announced plans for a major Jewish housing development during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden last month.
Second, Israel eases travel restrictions in the WB to the undying gratitude of the OQR.
The Office of the Quartet Representative welcomes Israel’s decision to implement a package of measures to ease movement and access restrictions in the West Bank. The OQR has encouraged the Israeli authorities to facilitate these changes.
OQR Head of Mission Dr Robert Danin welcomed the development, saying: "some of these steps are significant and should improve the economic and living conditions of the West Bank Palestinian population."
So, in light of all the ripping Israel comes in for on this board, I hereby dedicate this thread to praise of these unilateral Israeli peacemaking gestures.
Apparently to some on this site Arab suicide bombing/ denial of the Hollocaust is always justified. Regardless of what Israel does in the name of peace will never be recognized. The open hatred of Israel and Jews is simply shocking to me and should be shocking to everyone. I would have thought that post 9/11 even the most vehement Arab appologists would see that they were supporting hateful violent bigots, but apparently hatred runs too deep. I doubt hatred will never end, but perhaps some felt the same way about race relations in the US and if the we could elect an African American president maybe they'd argue that anything is poosible.
Originally posted by quackquack Apparently to some on this site Arab suicide bombing/ denial of the Hollocaust is always justified. Regardless of what Israel does in the name of peace will never be recognized. The open hatred of Israel and Jews is simply shocking to me and should be shocking to everyone. I would have thought that post 9/11 even the most vehement Arab appologists woul ...[text shortened]... the we could elect an African American president maybe they'd argue that anything is poosible.
If Israel withdraws from the Arab lands they have been illegally occupying for more than 40 years, I'll give them a kudo. Refraining for a short period from doing acts that are blatant violations of international law to prevent the feckless US government from mildly criticizing them is hardly doing anything "in the name of peace".
Originally posted by no1marauder If Israel withdraws from the Arab lands they have been illegally occupying for more than 40 years, I'll give them a kudo.
Originally posted by sh76 Isn't that exactly what the Gaza withdrawal was?
Fat lot of good that withdrawal did them...
Israel's "withdrawal" from Gaza was a sham. In fact, Israel maintained full control over Gaza's borders and sea and air space and has blockaded them for about 3 years in violation of IL and Israel's own agreements because the Palestinian people had the temerity to elect people the Israelis didn't like.
Originally posted by no1marauder Israel's "withdrawal" from Gaza was a sham. In fact, Israel maintained full control over Gaza's borders and sea and air space and has blockaded them for about 3 years in violation of IL and Israel's own agreements because the Palestinian people had the temerity to elect people the Israelis didn't like.
...and the temerity to launch thousands of rockets at civilian towns.
Originally posted by sh76 ...and the temerity to launch thousands of rockets at civilian towns.
Ironic that Israel has justified their mass sneak attack on every Arab country they could reach in 1967 based on the "blockade" of the Straits of Tiran but the Israeli strangling blockade of Gaza isn't considered an "act of war" by apologists like yourself.
Originally posted by no1marauder Ironic that Israel has justified their mass sneak attack on every Arab country they could reach in 1967 based on the "blockade" of the Straits of Tiran but the Israeli strangling blockade of Gaza isn't considered an "act of war" by apologists like yourself.
Strawman.
When did I ever say that blockading Gaza is not an act of war?
Of course it's an act of war. War is justified when the other guy shoots first.
Edit: The blockade of Tiran was (along with other hostile acts) a justification for the attack on Egypt; not any other country.
Originally posted by sh76 ...and the temerity to launch thousands of rockets at civilian towns.
that age old conundrum...which came first, the rockets or the violations.......
.it has an interesting parallel.........the right to exist vs the legitimacy of claiming someone else's land to enjoy that right.
Apparently Israel's biggest sin was that they took their land only 52 years ago. They need to wait at least another (2010-1620) yrs before they can gain the moral high-ground and pontificate to others about the way things should be....
Shhhh... don't tell anyone...
27 May '10 15:292 edits
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