Report: U.S. okays Israel construction of 2,500 settlement homes

[TomClash]

Source: Haaretz

Israel had won agreement from the United States for the continued construction of 2,500 housing units in settlements in the West Bank, despite U.S. calls for a freeze, according to the widespread circulation tabloid daily Ma'ariv.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the United States and Israel have been trying to find common ground on the sensitive settlement issue, but he had no comment on the front-page report of a deal.

A U.S. embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv also had no immediate comment.

The report followed a briefing by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his talks in London on Monday with U.S. envoy George Mitchell on ending a rift with Washington over its demand for a settlement freeze.

Western officials said the United States was moving in the direction of making allowances so Israel could finish off at least some existing projects which are close to completion or bound by private contracts that cannot be broken.

"This is a concession to avoid causing undue hardships on individuals" who have signed contracts and have already paid for work that cannot be refunded, one of the officials said, adding that discussions were still under way.

"We're talking about polishing off things that are basically done," the official said.

more

Read more: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1098716.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. "undue hardships on individuals"

That "justification" can be used for every single structure built in the name of settlement. What about the "undue hardships" of Palestinians in squalid refugee camps?

[excess_3]

2. settlements are built on unused land

settlements are (or were) built on unused land that nobody
(or maybe the former Ottoman Sultan) owned.

this matter has no effect on the
refugee camps

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

4. unused or not

it f**king wrong. Maybe the Palestians should start building settlements on unused Israeli land. Oh, wait they can't even build on the own land.

[Grinchie]

6. You mean like an unused Olive Orchard< because the people aren't aloowed to travel to it anymore?

Or the unused farm because the owners are fleeing for their lives?

[excess_3]

9. they got a deed, or not? n/t

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

13. deeds are worth

about as much as all the treaties the U.S. made with Native Americans.

[MUAD_DIB]

18. Did the Israelis have a deed?

[Grinchie]

23. Good point.

In Hawaii, it's called CEDED lands.. Ceded, being another word for "Stolen"

[TomClash]

16. "Land that nobody owned"

:wow:

[Blue_Tires]

19. that sounds a lot like what someone would have said

during the westward expansion and the "displacement" of Native Americans....

I'm shocked, but not surprised...the settlements will keep creeping until there is nothing left to settle

[MUAD_DIB]

17. That's rich. If it is West Bank land then it is Palestinian land.

The Israelis have absolutely no right to it.


What a farce.

[MUAD_DIB]

20. What will be your excuse once the Palestinians have been driven out of the area?

A) God gave it to us?

B) The Palestinians are really just "Aye-rabs?"

C) What Palestinians? I don't see any Palestinians!

D) Why are you an Anti-Semite!!!



I just love the excuse Machine for the Israeli land grabbers.

[eomer]

3. Bullshit.

Why can't one of the governments pony up the money to reimburse those individuals? The amount of money is less than a mere trifle to either the US or Israeli government while the symbolism is huge.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Contracts that can't be broken - you know - like the AIG bonuses n/t

[Grinchie]

7. Contracts Schmontracts, why get bogged down in details?

Remember if Israely doesnt spend the money we give them this year, then their funding will get cut of next year, and they might not be able to buy more bullets from us!

[dipsydoodle]

8. Disgusting

just disgusting.x(

[UndertheOcean]

10. Disgusting

[western mass]

11. You mean Obama's criticism was only pretend? SHOCKED!

Shocked, I say!

[Buenaventura]

12. in exchange, israel okays US seizure of Iraqi oilfields n/t

[Jefferson23]

14. Undue hardship for who? Sad and disapointing to hear this.

[AlbertCat]

15. Why is the US OK-ing anything Israel does?

So....if we didn't give our big ass US OK!....they wouldn't be building the settlements?

[Flaneur]

21. This appears to contradict US policy. I hope it is errant reporting.

The settlements must stop. No more land grabs.

[Vidar]

24. It sure does.

[PurityOfEssence]

22. At least Bush never pretended to be anything else than an asshole

I don't want the rest of the country to feel the disillusionment in this operation that I've felt since before even October of '07.