Lieberman scorns "obsessing" with settlements

[Israel Insider]

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman mocked the world's obession with Jewish settlements at a conference of Druse supporters of his party in the city of Shfaram in northern Israel.

Lieberman scorned a statement made earlier in the day by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who called on Israel to halt settlement construction completely, "otherwise we will not come to the two-state solution that is urgently needed."

He asked whether "on the background of what happened today in North Korea, which fired three missiles, after all the warnings and sanctions by the international community, it is appropriate to continue obsessing with the same house in Yitzhar, Tekoa or Bet El."

"Is this not out of proportion?" he asked rhetorically? " Should this be the top of the international community's agenda after the recent events in Teheran? We need to explain to our true friends, the US and Germany too, that we cannot suffocate people, and life, in the territories."

Lieberman said the new government in Israel was elected so that it could negotiate a "give and take" peace deal with the Arabs, and not a "give and give some more" deal.

The foreign minister told his Druse constituents that the government was committed to the diplomatic process and "not afraid to take responsibility, but responsibility does not mean conceding time after time."

He reminded his audience that "it is no coincidence that since Oslo in 1993 we have failed to resolve the conflict, even after we transferred territories over to the Palestinian Authority and after the disengagement from the Gaza Strip."

[RonaldH]

clif, Tricia, Thanks for the kind words.

[clif atkin]

I vote for Ronald as Lieberman's speech writer. Great job Ronald. We all respect your opinions. Thank you.

[Robert Bernier]

The crucial threat to peace.
Obama's pressure to freeze Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria diverts attention and resources from the crucial threat to peace: Arab rejection of the existence – and not just the size – of a Jewish State in the supposedly abode-of-Islam. Inadvertently, Obama is adding fuel, and not water, to the fire of Middle East turbulence and violence. But, Obama regards "settlements" as a critical obstacle to peace…. More at :
http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-strive-for-two-states-when-there.html

[Robert Bernier]

The Two States solution has reduced the prospects for peace
The Two States solution is based on a series of erroneous assumptions, ignoring documented precedents, and therefore constituting an erroneous policy. "Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace," while the PLO and Hamas have been engaged in a horrific civil war, while there has not been inter-Arab peace during the last 1,400 years, while there has not been inter-Arab compliance with most inter-Arab agreements during the last 1,400 years, while there has not been a single Arab democracy during the last 1,400 years??? The Two States solution has exacerbated regional turbulence, has fueled terrorism, has promoted war and has reduced the prospects for peace, thus undermining the national security of both the US and Israel. As to the legitimacy : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2009/04/essential-history_01.html

[Tricia]

Right, Ronald! And who the blazes is this German Chancellor Angela Merkel to state, "otherwise we will not come to the two-state solution that is urgently needed"? Who is a German to dare say "we" after the atrocities they committed less than a lifetime ago? They should still be on "time out", and not daring to offer an opinion.

[RonaldH]

The world has got to be kidding. Their shame will be remembered forever. 7 billion people in the world, inhabiting millions of square miles and the world community can not find an issue more important than 50 new homes being built by Jews in Judea and Samaria. Shame on the world. And if you are thinking I have little respect for those who nip at the ankles of the Jewish settlers, you are d*mn right.

[RonaldH]

It may offend some people's sensitivities, but Lieberman is right. It is preposterous to try and assign blame for the Arabs' war on Israel to a few Jews who are building houses in their legal and historic homeland. All the propaganda in the world won't change the fact that Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria are far more virtuous and legally justified than all of their critics ever can hope to be.