A friend writes: More on that NYT piece about settlements. Here's my favorite part, lede:
"JERUSALEM — Israel would be open to a complete freeze of settlement
building in the West Bank for three to six months …"
3rd graf:
"The freeze would not affect construction that was already under way,
nor include East Jerusalem. But it would mean that during the
specified time no construction of any kind could start even in the
close-in settlement blocks that Israel expects to keep in any future
two-state agreement with the Palestinians."
nor include East Jerusalem. But it would mean that during the
specified time no construction of any kind could start even in the
close-in settlement blocks that Israel expects to keep in any future
two-state agreement with the Palestinians."
So by "complete" they mean, incomplete, I guess? If nothing else, that's just bad editing.
RE: "The freeze would not affect construction that was already under way, nor include East Jerusalem. " *** COMPLETE SETTLEMENT FREEZE NOW *** FROM 'Americans for Peace Now' (APN): Settlement freeze now. "No shticks. No tricks." We need you to send a message of encouragement to Secretary Clinton. Tell her that she and President Obama are right in calling for a settlement freeze and that they shouldn't take 'No' for an answer. Please print a letter and mail it to Secretary Clinton. TO PRINT LETTER - http://capwiz.com/peacenow/issues/alert/?alertid=...
Gee, imagine the evasion by Israel if Obama had said "uproot" instead of "freeze" the settlements. He should have Hillary state: "Keep this up and the appropriate US agency may have to review our foreign aid policy."
Hey how about we just build up our balconies, OK, huh?
Can you say pilpul? Pilpul (quodlibet in Catholic Seminaries) can be an interesting mental exercise, but when it is used to reconcile the irreconcilable in a real world situation or simply to cover up lies, it is as offensive and Maurice Pinay and David Shasha claim in the articles associated with the hyperlink above.
Why should they not pull out of all of the West Bank and start reparations and right of return settlements. The facts are (in my thinking) At very least the same standards of reparations that the jews had after WW2 would be the minimal starting point with the complete withdrawl of the settlements , the wall should be along the 1947 boarder, a military, aiport, port, and control of all access to and from boarders. If not a wall an eight lane divide for traffic that runs to the ocean creating a pier to boarder the two. The fanancial economy could be kick started for the gas under the gaza port area.Jerusalem would be internationally protected (the old city only)with only one person from both sides for daily shedule with the personel probably nato or un
Complete pull out and withdrawl from WBank and a wall relocated along the 47 boarders then reparations and right of return. $$$$$$$$$ they will never let the world forget what has happened,"In the name of God"!