French FM: Nothing can justify Israeli settlement expansion

What does the launching of artillery rockets against Israeli towns show of the true intentions of Arab Palestinian leadership?

What are your "true intentions" in criticizing "them"? To assist illegal settlement growth?

Why not make a great effort in proving that "true intentions" do not involve land annexations through illegal settlements?

My 'true intentions' are to seek an answer to a particular question. When someone suggests bad behavior by one side demonstrates its 'true intentions', the question naturally arises what bad behavior by the other side demonstrates concerning its 'true intentions', in that person's view.

"Curiousity killed the cat, but laziness left it rotting on the living room floor all week."

but with new housing units being constructed every week, it's nothing but hot air.

To me, the settlement expansion absolutely illustrates gov't of Israel's true intention.

new facts on the ground.

Actions speak way louder than words.

The intention of militant groups in Gaza is clearly to engage Israel in military action.

You may forgive me for suggesting several items to consider in answering.

First, it is a form of military action, namely the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, that all authorities without question recognize as a criminal act under the laws of war. While it is possible to argue over whether an Israeli helicopter firing a guided missile at an automobile containing two armed militants on a busy street in Gaza is or is not criminal, there is no possible argument that aiming an unguided rocket more or less at the center of Siderot and letting fly is not criminal.

Second, it is a military action that is utterly futile in any military sense. It cannot achieve any material effect sufficient to hamper any Israeli military operation; it cannot achieve any moral effect on the Israeli populace sufficient to persuade it to force its government to switch from employing military force for its protection to seeking terms for cessation of the attacks as the best means for its protection.

Third, it is an action that many point to as proof that the worst motives towards Israel must be attributed to the leadership of Arab Palestine, and by extension the people of Arab Palestine who support that leadership. It certainly seems to many to serve as a prop for hard-line Israeli politcians, and convince many Israelis there is no sense in any course that involves negotiation and compromise. There is no question it provokes actions by the Israeli government that work to the great daily detriment of the people of Arab Palestine.

Palestine.

I favor nonviolent resistance as the most effective means of resistance.

I fear, however, that militants interpreted Israel's "defeat" in Lebanon as proof that small-scale skirmish is effective.

I have not studied rules of war. I only know that the world also needs "rules for ending violent military occupation."

The excrement has impacted the rotary aerial circulation device on the campaign trail....

I will try and get back to this this evening.

Happy hunting!

the more right wing the Israelis become.

Even very moderate or leftist Israelis have become so sick and tired of constant terrorism that they are moving more and more to the right.

They saw that Gaza was a disaster, as the Bibis/supporters said it would be.

Constant rockets and threats of bombings are intolerable.

The violent "struggle" is actually making the Israelis less willing to negotiate away the settlements etc., which they were more than willing to do a decade ago.

Again, the militancy is just making the Palestinians' lives more miserable.

It really is time for a new strategy.

if expansion shows the true intention of the govt of israel.... would you have any problem if i draw the same conclusion from the rockets from gaza?

the rockets from gaza show the true intentions of the elected govt of the Palestinians?

The continued settlement expansion is totally wrong and counterproductive.

this????

an "obstacle obstructing the development of the Palestinian economy"

Seems to me that it is exactly the opposite, the settlements provide jobs and a tax base for the future state of Palestine.

I do think that the settlements are "sending the wrong message" to the Palestinians and don't help with the peace process.