Israel to Build New Settlement in Occupied West Bank

[Joanne98]

JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 — For the first time in 10 years, Israel said Tuesday it will build a new Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, prompting Palestinian anger and American concern.

The announcement, by the defense ministry and settler groups, seems to run counter to the prevailing effort by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has offered a series of gestures to the Palestinians after a meeting with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, several days ago.

The Palestinians want build an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem and consider any Israeli building there an act of thievery. Israel says it accepts the idea of a Palestinian state but that its exact contours have to be negotiated.

Even before the meeting, Mr. Abbas was being criticized by his political rivals in Hamas, which preaches Israel’s destruction, for carrying out what it calls an Israeli and American agenda with little to show for it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/world/middleeast/27mideastcnd.html?hp&ex=1167195600&en=419a0973dbb51977&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Waya]

1. Imagine my total lack of surprise.......

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. As usual

Israel says what "the West" wants to hear, and does exactly as it pleases on the ground.

[acmavm]

3. As usual Israel shows the world what a bunch of land grabbing

thugs they are. They don't have any intention of letting the Palestinians have their own land. Not unless they want to relocate to somewhere around Antarctica.

And until that day the Israelis plan to steal all the land they feel like.

This is why there is no hope for a Middle Eastern settlement.

[Scurrilous]

4. Israel condemned by EU

EU condemns Israeli construction of Maskiot settlement in West Bank, urges ceasefire

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3345408,00.html

<snip>

"The European Union on Wednesday condemned the construction of a new Israeli settlement in the West Bank, saying it was illegal and hampered efforts for a peace solution that would allow the coexistence of an Israeli and Palestinian state.

"The European Union expresses its deep concern at the news that the Israeli government has authorized the construction of the Maskiot settlement in the West Bank,” said a statement issued by Finland, which currently holds the bloc’s presidency.

On Tuesday, the Israeli government said it had approved a new settlement in the West Bank to house former Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, breaking a promise to the US to halt home construction in the Palestinian territories.

Construction in the northern West Bank town of Maskiot began months ago, but the project only received final approval from the Defense Ministry last week, Israeli officials said."

[Tom Joad]

7. The US used to do the same thing. Then increase aid to Israel. Now they just skip the hollow

condemnation that followed every settlement expansion, and get right to the increase of aid to Israel. Can't let Israeli taxpayers build these things, can we??

[breakaleg]

5. Does it occur to Israel that Palestinians may view this as proof that Israel never intends to give

them their own state? There are many here so may disagree with settlement expansion but don't view it as an impediment to the peace process. What's more important is how Palestinians view it. It's quite possible they recognize that the words coming out of Israel mean nothing in the face of these actions. I wonder how large a factor settlement expansion is to the Palestinians with respect to their willingness to compromise in any peace process (assuming there was one).

[Tom Joad]

6. I don't understand the idea of settling people somewhere that will be evacuated.

It would be quite cruel.

[breakaleg]

9. unless of course they never plan to evacuate them again. But then there are many

who would refuse to see what's right in front of them.

[Eugene]

8. State Department challenges Israel on new settlement (AP)

State Department challenges Israel on new settlement
Posted 12/27/2006 2:57 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israel's plan to construct a new settlement on the West
Bank drew rare criticism Wednesday from the Bush administration.

If Israel goes ahead, it would violate Israel's obligations under the roadmap
for peacemaking, a State Department spokesman said.

"The U.S. calls on Israel to meet its roadmap obligations and avoid taking steps
that could be viewed as predetermining the outcome of future negotations," the
spokesman, Gonzalo R. Gallegos, said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-12-27-westbank_x.htm