Israel: U.S. demand for settlement freeze 'not fair'

:popcorn:

Last update - 04:43 31/05/2009

Israel: U.S. demand for settlement freeze 'not fair'

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

The Israeli delegation consisted of National Security Adviser Uzi Arad, Netanyahu diplomatic envoy Yitzhak Molcho, Defense Ministry chief of staff Mike Herzog and deputy prime minister Dan Meridor.

Herzog spoke to (US Ambassador George) Mitchell and his staff about understandings reached by former prime ministers Ehud Olmert and Ariel Sharon with the Bush administration on allowing continued building in the large West Bank settlement blocs. He asked that a similar agreement be reached with the Obama government.

Meridor spoke of the complexities characterizing the coalition headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and said Washington's demands of a complete construction freeze would lead to the dissolution of the Netanyahu government.

The Israeli delegates were stunned by the uncompromising U.S. stance, and by statements from Mitchell and his staff that agreements reached with the Bush administration were unacceptable. An Israeli official privy to the talks said that "the Americans took something that had been agreed on for many years and just stopped everything."

"What about the Tenet Report, which demanded that the Palestinians dismantle the terror infrastructure?" said the official, referring to former CIA director George Tenet. "It's unfair, and there is no reciprocity shown toward the Palestinians."

The Israeli envoys said the demand for a total settlement freeze was not only unworkable, but would not receive High Court sanction. Tensions reportedly reached a peak when, speaking of the Gaza disengagement, the Israelis told their interlocutors, "We evacuated 8,000 settlers on our own initiative," to which Mitchell responded simply, "We've noted that here."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1089087.html

Ok. This is a bad thing how?

It sounds like a good reason to continue to make the demands.

The fact that settlers were evacuated from Gaza does not mean the process stops there. There is and can be no such thing as a legal Israeli settlement on occupied territory. Just keep removing them. It certainly makes no sense to put more of them in there.

We should hope that Natanyahu falls from power as soon as possible and that Israelis voter have the good sense to never allow Likud to govern again. We should also hope that the Palestinian people place power in the hands of some one competent who isn't from the terrorist Hamas or the crooked Fatah. Granted, if Fatah were in power it might make things easier; they could simply be bought off as easily as Sunni miltias in Iraq and maybe easier, but I don't know if that would do the Palestinian people any good.

who would take his place, and could that person be worse?

You never know. An even father right wing "crazie" could try to get elected.

The sooner Bibi and his gang are gone, the better. But if that happens and Israel's new govt continues with past govts practises of expanding settlements, I hope the Obama administration is every bit as steadfast in its opposition as it is now...

btw, nice to see you again Jack :)