U.S. slams Jerusalem housing plan

[ivanm]

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U.S. slams Jerusalem housing plan
Israel OKs 1,600 homes in disputed area as Biden visits
   
Baz Ratner / Associated Press 


updated 10 minutes ago
JERUSALEM - Vice President Joe Biden, during a visit that had been aimed at repairing strained U.S.-Israeli ties and kickstarting Mideast peace talks, on Tuesday sharply denounced Israel's approval of the construction of 1,600 new homes for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem.

The Interior Ministry announced the construction plans just as Biden was wrapping up a series of warm meetings with Israeli leaders.

"I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement ... is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I've had here in Israel," Biden said in a statement issued by his office Tuesday afternoon.

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[lucy]

Who owns the land where they are building?

[ivanm]

It appears that the area Biden was speaking of is in dispute.  Here is some more of the story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35774938/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa
 
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The U.S., like the Palestinians and the rest of the international community, believes that Israeli settlements built on lands claimed by the Palestinians, including east Jerusalem, undermine peace prospects. President Obama has been more outspoken on the issue than his predecessors.

Netanyahu has rebuffed calls from the White House to halt all settlement activity, agreeing only to a limited freeze that does not include east Jerusalem.

Israel captured both areas in the 1967 Mideast war and subsequently annexed east Jerusalem. Israel considers its east Jerusalem neighborhoods to be part of its undivided capital, but the annexation has never been internationally recognized and the neighborhoods are widely seen as settlements.

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Efrat Orbach said the new homes would be built in Ramat Shlomo, an existing neighborhood for ultra-Orthodox Jews. She noted that there is a 60-day appeals period, indicating that the decision could yet be changed.

[IM2]

They do need to stop building settlements outside of the area they were given.

[Hollybaere]

They do need to stop building settlements outside of the area they were given.

It is quite clear from reviewing history, that Israel's intent all along is to keep expanding, while pushing Palestinian's out.

It is high time it is stopped. They need to go back to the original borders, before 1968 and help create a viable Palestinian state, as was intended in the first place. Also, Israel needs to recognize the duly elected Palestinian government, no matter who the Palestinian's vote them to be.

[johnhp]

we have to remember that in 2005, Israel abandoned the program of settlements as a major development in the peace process.  This was a major step forward.  Netanyahu is damned determined to undo peace.  It is heavy handedness like this that is reflected in the Palestinian elections, about which Israel complains and reacts by electing people like Netanyahu.

The more powerful state has the obligation to stop provocation; Israel should not build in these territories.


More importantly, these settlements are considered illegal under every international legal convention.

[Velleity]

we have to remember that in 2005, Israel abandoned the program of settlements as a major development in the peace process.  This was a major step forward.  Netanyahu is damned determined to undo peace.  It is heavy handedness like this that is reflected in the Palestinian elections, about which Israel complains and reacts by electing people like Netanyahu.

The more powerful state has the obligation to stop provocation; Israel should not build in these territories.


More importantly, these settlements are considered illegal under every international legal convention.

Yeah but a great political move by Netanyahu, unfortunately.

Notice the apology to Biden. The Israelis apologized for the "poor timing" but not for actually doing it.

I'm not a BB Netanyahu fan.

[Hollybaere]

Yeah but a great political move by Netanyahu, unfortunately.

Notice the apology to Biden. The Israelis apologized for the "poor timing" but not for actually doing it.

I'm not a BB Netanyahu fan.

How is this a "great political move" by Netanyahu??

[johnhp]

Yeah but a great political move by Netanyahu, unfortunately.

Only if you mean by that a way to piss off Palestinians, promote conflict and, as a result, stay in office.

Notice the apology to Biden. The Israelis apologized for the "poor timing" but not for actually doing it.

I'm not a BB Netanyahu fan.

Yeah, like the admission of most conservative policies, it is never an admission of actual wrong doing, just wrong timing.

[Velleity]

Only if you mean by that a way to piss off Palestinians, promote conflict and, as a result, stay in office.

No, I mean playing to his extremist base.

Yeah, like the admission of most conservative policies, it is never an admission of actual wrong doing, just wrong timing.

Except Netanyahu is a lot smarter than American "conservatives" and Israel's precarious position gives him a more functional reason to be the way he is.

Again, I'm not a BB fan and I don't agree with him generally, but I'll give him his due. I'd give American "conservatives" their due too, if they ever actually earned any such thing.

[ivanm]

Why are you two so afraid of conservatives?  You both seem obsessed with it because most of your posts reek of rank partisanship.

[johnhp]

No, I mean playing to his extremist base.

i think we are saying the same thing.

Except Netanyahu is a lot smarter than American "conservatives" and Israel's precarious position gives him a more functional reason to be the way he is.

i am not sure flouting international law is ever a good idea.

Again, I'm not a BB fan and I don't agree with him generally, but I'll give him his due. I'd give American "conservatives" their due too, if they ever actually earned any such thing.

We have smart conservatives as well.  i just don't have admiration for smart and evil.

[johnhp]

Why are you two so afraid of conservatives?  You both seem obsessed with it because most of your posts reek of rank partisanship.

i am not afraid of conservatives; i think their ideas and policies are disastrous.


i do not mind being a partisan leftist.

[ivanm]

i think we are saying the same thing.




i am not sure flouting international law is ever a good idea.



We have smart conservatives as well.  i just don't have admiration for smart and evil.

Right on John.  Hitler was also a brilliant person in a sick and criminal way. It is not what you know but how you use it.