Israeli colonization schemes, called "settlements," continue to hum away in the occupied territories. These include expansion of Har Homa, the hilltop suburban landgrab outside Bethlehem, where a forest used to be: in Palestinian geography, Abu Ghneim. Israel considers this part of East Jerusalem. That’s nuts. Here is B’tselem’s map of the separation fence showing that Har Homa is south of Jerusalem, near Rachel’s Tomb, which is of course cordoned by high concrete walls.
This is an American issue. There will be no Palestinian moderation, and no peace in the Middle East, till these insults are sanctioned by us. Nothing will change until the U.S. government does more than lip service in opposition. Nothing will change till Democratic politicians turn their backs on the religious left and condemn the colonies. Nothing will change till the media make these crimes an issue as they made Saddam’s crimes an issue. Nothing will change till the self-styled "secular" American Jewish community separates itself from the macho religio-militarist nutbags on whom they have projected their Warsaw-ghetto injuries.
