09-01-2014, 11:09 AM
(09-01-2014, 08:36 AM)Duchess Wrote: Israel is bullying Palestine again. With these actions I find it hard to believe they have any interest in peace. They seized just about a thousand acres of land on the West Bank for Israeli settlers. They just took it, no matter that it is claimed by the Palestinians as their land. Fuckers.
To make another land grab igniting tensions with the Palestinians in the West Bank right after finally reaching a truce with the Palestinians in Gaza speaks volumes, to me. It again calls into question Netanyahu's previous statements about working towards a two state solution and desiring peace in the region.
But, he'd clearly backpedaled outta that in July when he reverted to his claim that the Palestinians can never be sovereign because that would be a threat to Israeli security.
He also claims that since the land grabs he's making are viewed by him as an expansion of existing Israeli settlements/neighborhoods in the West Bank that he's not violating international law -- a view that does not appear to be shared by any leadership outside of Israel at present (not that I know of, at least). The area now being marked for Israeli expansion is reportedly located several miles from the nearest existing Israeli neighborhood.
Anyway, the latest land grab is the biggest since 1980. The move by Netanyahu is being condemned by the UN, the UK, the US, the Israeli Peace Now Movement, etc... Personally, I don't think Netanyahu cares.
Palestinian President Abbas in the West Bank recognizes Israel. Netanyahu is pissed that Abbas recognized the Gaza-elected Hamas leadership this year, though Abbas' Fatah organization and the Hamas organization are not long-time friends. They have a long history of conflict and civil war behind them.
A few related stories:
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/20...cates.html
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.613424
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/31...45498.html