Three items:
1. A statement last night from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, affirming Israeli settlers’ right to take over Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, including the takeover of a house in Hebron (thanks to Lia Tarachansky of Real News Network):
PM Netanyahu’s Remarks on Strengthening Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks this evening (Wednesday), 4.4.12:
“The principle that has guided me is to strengthen Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria [biblical names for West Bank]. Today, I instructed that the status of three communities – Bruchim, Sansana and Rechalim – be provided for. I also asked Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to see to it that the Ulpana hill in Beit El not be evacuated. This is the principle that has guided us. We are strengthening Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and we are strengthening the Jewish community in Hebron, the City of the Patriarchs. But there is one principle that we uphold. We do everything according to the law and we will continue to do so.”
2. Scott Roth tweeted the news today that those Hebron settlers at Beit El was evicted after all, under orders from Defense Minister Ehud Barak:
Again, why the Beinart [boycott the settlements] thesis is wrong. Settlements are directed and administered from *democratic* Israel.
3. At J Street last weekend, many people conceded that Netanyahu will be Prime Minister for a long time. Peter Beinart said:
I don’t believe that Netanyahu is a hopeless case. He can respond to pressure. He hasn’t had the kind of epiphany that Olmert had.
Olmert’s epiphany was that Israel was on a path to self-destruction. Beinart said that Netanyahu would have this epiphany as a result of stronger American pressure.
P.S. In fairness, Beinart is on this too. Here’s a tweet from yesterday, putting the onus for refractory Israeli behavior on Americans:
When will Am Jewish orgs discuss this? [Israeli] Finance Minister: Financial assistance to settlements grew during my term- http://bit.ly/HhTuuJ
Thanks to Paul Mutter.
Benjamin Netanyahu 28 years old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lixYEZ9M_dU&feature=player_embedded
This leopard aint changed his spots in three and a half decades. Why would he now?
No epiphanies for Israel’s leadership – only epic fail as this goes on.
Bibi’s epiphany will be at Masada.
“Beinart said that Netanyahu would have this epiphany as a result of stronger American pressure.”
I don’t think so.
We talked about psychopaths on here before. One hallmark of a psychopath is they are so driven by the need to destroy others that they don’t even consider the potential for their own destruction in the process….they are blind to it, like a person possessed.
Maybe someone should tell Beinart that “Am Jewish orgs” enthusiastically fund settlements, usually with US Charitable status, and so tax free.
“Olmert’s epiphany was that Israel was on a path to self-destruction. Beinart said that Netanyahu would have this epiphany as a result of stronger American pressure.”
Beinart had an epiphany driven by his desire to see Israel survive and thrive. Hope folks stop pretending that he had a real compassionate epiphany because you can listen to him and know that is not the case. But whatever the case epiphany indeed. Been a long time coming. Netanyahu does not sound like he is on that path