Democratically elected government says it will fall

[naomiglover]

Seriously, where else in the world?

Haaretz

Continuing the construction freeze in West Bank settlements after it expires on September 26 would be impossible politically and would bring down the coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Perhaps a collapse of the Israeli government is needed to be able to move forward.

[Shady]

Perhaps a collapse of the Israeli government is needed to be able to move forward.

That and the collapse of Hamas.

[bud]

That and the collapse of Hamas.

who are you trying to kid? hamas has no power in the direction israel is going. hamas has no power in israel's settlement increase in the west bank and east jerusalem.

applying a 50/50 blame in regards to this issue is dishonest.

[naomiglover]

That and the collapse of Hamas.

I would agree that the Palestinians would better without Hamas. However, Israel has full control over whether they want to follow international law or not. The settlements are illegal and Israel is the only one who has power over stopping them. Somehow trying to equate Hamas' responsibility to Israel's responsibility doesn't add up.

[nicky10013]

I would agree that the Palestinians would better without Hamas. However, Israel has full control over whether they want to follow international law or not. The settlements are illegal and Israel is the only one who has power over stopping them. Somehow trying to equate Hamas' responsibility to Israel's responsibility doesn't add up.

It does add up. I don't condone Israel in the least but if the Palestinians want a two state solution, the Palestinian government has to give up terror and recognize Israel's right to exist. They have to own what they want.

[naomiglover]

It does add up. I don't condone Israel in the least but if the Palestinians want a two state solution, the Palestinian government has to give up terror and recognize Israel's right to exist. They have to own what they want.

Before Hamas came into the picture, Fatah/PLO had recognized Israel's right to exist. In fact, Arafat did this officially in 1988. What has come about since then? Hundreds of thousands of illegal settlers + more land grab by Israel.

Hamas' charter says otherwise, but they have stated that they're willing to accept resolution 242. Bibi has said he wants a Palestinian state, but the Likud charter says otherwise.

Edited July 30, 2010 by naomiglover

[Guest American Woman]

That and the collapse of Hamas.

More like a complete collapse of the Palestinian government, which involves a lot more than Hamas.

[dre]

It doesnt matter who the government in palestine is... Israel wont end the occupation. The status quo is Israels best option, because they are able to use the resources in the occupied territories without having to actually having to deal with the people that live there.

The situation there is exactly the situation that Israel wants, and the way they engineered it to be.

[naomiglover]

More like a complete collapse of the Palestinian government, which involves a lot more than Hamas.

How would that stop the illegal settlements from increasing?

[dre]

How would that stop the illegal settlements from increasing?

It wouldnt. Settlements have actually grown the fastest during relative peace.

The settlement building is not connected hostilities between Israel and Palestine. Not even vaguely. The purpose of the settlements is slowly over the time build a claim to permanently keep the usefull parts of the occupied territories... the water resources to be more specific.

Take a look at this map... see all the blue dots in the west bank? Those are Israeli water wells... they need to keep those at all costs because those wells along the mountain aquifier provide almost 1/3 of their drinking and farming water, and the region is getting drier. So they have strategically built settlements around them with the purpose establishing permanent claims.

http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/mideast/info/maps/israel-water-systems-map.html

If you look at the Golan Heights on that same map you can see the importance of it, and why Israel siezed that territory during the war. It provides a buffer between between the Sea of Galiea (aka Lake Tiberius, aka the Kinneret Basin) so that it doesnt have to share that water with Syria. Israel gets another 1/3rd of its drinking and farming water from there.

Thats an excellent map... and it really helps understand why the stalemate has lasted this long, and why it will never end.

[nicky10013]

Before Hamas came into the picture, Fatah/PLO had recognized Israel's right to exist. In fact, Arafat did this officially in 1988. What has come about since then? Hundreds of thousands of illegal settlers + more land grab by Israel.

Hamas' charter says otherwise, but they have stated that they're willing to accept resolution 242. Bibi has said he wants a Palestinian state, but the Likud charter says otherwise.

Lets not forget hundreds if not thousands of missiles into Israel and suicide bombings. This conflict is being provoked from both sides and to forget that is the highest level of irresponsibility.

If they're willing to do that, let them do that. However, I don't see anyone on EITHER side running to the table. Furthermore, from the Palestinian's it also has to go a lot further than just denouncing terror. They have to actually enforce the rule of law. They can't do that and no matter what the argument, no one can blame Israel in the least for that. They also have to free the media and decentralize education. By no means is Palestine an electoral democracy.

[Jack Weber]

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