US Breaks With Israel- Does "NOT Recognize The Legitimacy of Settlements"

[kpete]

State Dept. 'surprised' by Israeli announcement || U.S. demands Israel explain plans for 20,000 new West Bank homes
State Department expresses 'deep concern' over construction tenders, says Washington does 'not recognize the legitimacy of settlements.'
By Barak Ravid and Chaim Levinson | Nov. 12, 2013 | 9:57 PM


The U.S. State Department said it is "deeply concerned" by Israel's announcement over the tenders issued for the construction of 20,000 new settlement units in the West Bank and that it is demanding explanations from Israel.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Washington was taken by surprise and had no prior knowledge of the plans. "We were surprised by it and we are seeking explanation from the Israeli government. It was not discussed in advance. We don’t recognize the legitimacy of settlements."

National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said: “We are deeply concerned by these latest reports that over 20,000 additional units are in the early planning stages. We are currently seeking further explanation from the Government of Israel. Our position on settlements is quite clear: We have always considered the settlements to be illegitimate."

Meehan added: "We have called on both sides to take steps to create a positive atmosphere for the negotiations. We do not consider settlement planning, even in its early stages, to be a step that creates a positive environment for the negotiations.”

MORE:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.557681

[libdem4life]

1. Thank god we have PBO. GWB would have been asking them to let him drive the bulldozers.

Armegeddon! It's on! Mission Accomplished!

Yes, Party, even if imperfect, matters.

[el_bryanto]

2. How would this disapproval be communicated? With words alone?

Will the Israeli government pay a price for doing this?

The answer is likely to be no, I'm afraid. Still it's nice to see.

Bryant

[Wolf Frankula]

14. We're Going to Send them a White Hot Protest Note

Accompanied by a billion in no strings attached aid.

Wolf

[davidpdx]

20. That is correct and they'll keep doing it

This will just bore more hate between the two groups and lead to more killings.

Israel has pretty much told the Palestinians to go screw themselves.

The result is pretty much a foregone conclusion. Anger is going to build, people will be killed, and then all the borders will be closed again . Repeat, rinse, spit.

Sad...very sad.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. That's a start.

Now back it up with some teeth.

[bowens43]

4. Too little too late....

[Auntie Bush]

5. I guess we all knew Bibi would F**k things up as soon as he was elected.

Since he's such a war monger...I'm surprised it took this long. He and George think alike. Good thing Bibi wasn't in power when "W" was president. I can just imagine the horror!

[Jackpine Radical]

6. There goes the AIPAC money.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. There are idiots over there who grab some dirt and say, "This is mine acording to GOD!"

[DeSwiss]

8. Now wait for the tanturm......

...the holding of breath. And the kicking and screaming. While all the other ''customers'' file by watching this spectacle in Aisle 3 - again - and they'll shake their heads in pity that the US has such a recalcitrant offspring that it'll do almost anything, or say anything to embarrass, humiliate and shock.

- The US just stands there looking helpless, all the while knowing that what this kid really needs is some discipline.......

K&R

[geek tragedy]

9. Scuttling a nuke deal with Iran, trampling on the Palestinians.

Israel's having a good week by their standards.

[DallasNE]

10. Netanyahu's Response To Kerry's Rebuke

Let's see how long Netanyahu wants to play this game. His previous disrespect for President Obama has not gone unnoticed as evidenced by Kerry's sharp remarks the other day. And now Netanyahu responds in this provocative manner. He is obviously counting on Adleson's deep pockets to fund the PR battle in this country. But Adleson may not be so inclined right now given his current problems with the Justice Department and the foreign corruption probe underway. I expect this to be very testy right through the 2014 election. This impasse is nearly 50 years old and one wonders if Israel will ever wake up.

[DallasNE]

18. It Appears I Was Wrong Regarding Netanyahu

Unless this is just something to give Netanyahu deniability it now appears that a far right partner of Netanyahu's coalition was responsible for leaking this plan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/12/us-israel-palestinians-settlements-idUSBRE9AB17O20131112

[dchill]

11. How can such belligerence benefit Israel?

How far will they be allowed to go before they lose "our" backing?

[spanone]

12. k&r...

[1000words]

13. The settlements are a bargaining chip

How convenient.

[red dog 1]

15. K&R...Thanks for posting

Netanyahu is a thug..
He doesn't want peace
.He doesn't want a free Palestinian state, side by side with Israel.
He's proven this by allowing the new settlements in the West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem.

And now he's appointed Avigdor Lieberman as Israel's new Foreign Minister.
Lieberman, a "hard-line nationalist," was just acquitted of corruption charges that have dogged him for more than a decade.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/world/middleeast/acquitted-israeli-politician-returns-to-foreign-ministers-job.html/

[bobclark86]

16. Admittedly, they sound like Hans Blix...

in Team America.

"We will become very angry. And we will write you a letter, telling you how angry we are!"

But I honestly think they're just saying it to be dicks in negotiations. They don't honestly plan to build shit.

"Fine, we WON'T build 20,000 homes on your land. But dammit, we won't give you Jerusalem!"

Ahh, compromise

[Martin Eden]

17. I'll be impressed when not recognizing the legitimacy of settlements..........

............means no longer funding them with our tax dollars.

Until there is a legitimate threat to cut off aid to Israel, they will pay us occasional lip service and keep building settlements.

All the rest is just rhetoric.

[eridani]

19. Here's hoping that the Obama administration can actually impose some behavior changes n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

21. Netanyahu halts plans to build 24,000 more settler homes

Source: Reuters

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered on Tuesday a reassessment of plans to build nearly 24,000 settler homes, saying he feared an international outcry that would divert attention from Israel's lobbying against a nuclear deal with Iran.

The right-wing Israeli leader announced the reversal in the face of stiff U.S. opposition to settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Palestinian anger that threatens three-month-old peace talks brokered by Washington.

Before news of Netanyahu's change of course, President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the Palestinian leadership to hold "an urgent emergency meeting in the coming hours, with all options on the table," the Palestinian Maan news agency reported.

Peace Now, which monitors settlement activity on occupied land Palestinians seek for a state, said the Housing Ministry had issued tenders late last month for drawing up construction plans, but that no building work was imminent.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/12/us-israel-palestinians-settlements-idUSBRE9AB17O20131112


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014646761

[eridani]

22. A good start. Let's hope it holds n/t

[malaise]

23. About fugging time

Rec