Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting canceled over settlement spat

[Israel Insider]

Following the declaration by a State Department official that the US demand to stop settlements extends to east Jerusalem, a long-planned meeting of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Barack Obama's Mideast envoy George Mitchell has been canceled. According to diplomatic officials, the Jerusalem Post reported, the meeting was canceled because "both sides needed more time to prepare."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak will go to the US on Monday to meet with Mitchell -- his second visit to the US this month.

The Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting had been expected to deal with the exacerbating dispute between Jerusalem and Washington over communities in Judea and Samaria -- settlements that the Obama Administration appears intent on stopping, including those in parts of Israel's capital.

A formula on the matter that would satisfy both sides seems further away than ever, as the Obama Administration appears intended on creating a blow-up and forcing Netanyahu into a personally and politically untenable corner.

Netanyahu has said that it was unreasonable to expect that Israel would completely freeze all settlement construction and all natural growth inside those communities.

Netanyahu, who began a three day European trip on Tuesday with a meeting in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said in an interview broadcast Tuesday on Italy's RAI television network that the fate of the settlements would be determined in final status negotiations with the Palestinians: "Pending a final peace agreement, the people who are there will be allowed to live a normal life. They have children, they need kindergartens, they need health clinics and so on. This is, I think, an equitable position which reflects our willingness to enter immediately in peace negotiations and get on with peace. I think that the more we spend time arguing about this, the more we waste time instead of moving towards peace."

Netanyahu said that he had accepted the idea that there should be no pre-judgment of the final status agreement, and has said that Israel will not build new settlements or expropriate additional land to expand existing settlements.

[Robert Bernier]

The settlements.
Settlement on the land, “Hityashvut”, has been the backbone of the Zionist endeavor since the first colonies were begun over 120 years ago. In the time of the British, it was especially necessary to create “facts on the ground” in places where the British discouraged settlement, in order to ensure that these locations would remain part of the state of Israel. Today however, the government is us. Settlers who create illegal “facts on the ground” in Judea and Samaria help our own government and our own IDF – us. It is constructive to assist the Israeli government and the IDF with establishing settlements in places that have a large and hostile Arab population. Facts, arguments and reasoning based on moral and historical rights are never obsolete and are still valid today. As to our historical rights : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-rights-of-settlers.html

[Robert Bernier]

"Settlements" as a critical obstacle to peace ?
President Obama considers the 300,000 Jews (17%), who reside among Judea and Samaria's 1.5 million Arabs, an obstacle to peace. Why would he, then, view the 1.4 million Arabs (20%), who reside among pre-1967 Israel's 6 million Jews, as an example of peaceful coexistence?! Obama urges the uprooting of Jewish communities from Judea and Samaria, in order to supposedly advance peace and human rights. Would he, therefore, urge the uprooting of Arab communities from pre-1967 Israel?! Is the USA still our ally ? : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2009/06/time-for-new-ally.html

[diadem4Him]

This article on JPOST tonight:
The British government has refused to heed a petition calling on the UK to impose an arms embargo on Israel and press other countries to stop supplying arms to the Jewish state.
Palestinians take their...

The government responded last week to a petition posted in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead on the official Web site of the Prime Minister's Office. The petition, initiated by a man named Yusuf Ibrahim, was signed by over 38,000 people.

Anyone can post petitions on the Prime Minister's Office site, and the government will respond to those that get more than 500 signatures.

The petitioners asked the prime minister "to do everything in his power to impose an arms embargo on Israel in light of the recent Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip and to apply pressure on countries supplying Israel with arms that breach international agreements with the intention of restoring lasting peace to the region," the petition read.

It claimed Israel was responsible for exacerbating tensions in the region.

"Only a complete arms embargo will send a clear message to Israel that this government will not accept the prolonged armed conflict which is aggravating existing tensions in the region."

The petition also stated that an embargo would show that Britain was committed to establishing peace in the region and "will have a far reaching impact in terms of marginalizing the ideologies of radical extremist groups."


I think maybe Israeli supporters should post a petition as well.
Someone with writing expertise should write it up.
It should include a statement pertaining to the ridiculousness of taking any more of Israel's land,
also several concerning the terrorists that surround them,
the repressions of people in all of the Arab states already,
the fact that crucifixion was legalized in Gaza last December 26,
the technology that comes from Israel,
and the land mass of Arab controlled territories compared to that of Israel.

Any other inclusions as we think of them . . .
500 signatures get the petition addressed by the Prime Minister of Britain.

[clif atkin]

Bibi, don't even let Mitchell in the back door. Most of us in the USA will support you if you diss Mistchell and Obama.

[IamJoseph]

Israel must not harken to clear Genocidal demands initiated by Europe, the Islamists - and now this US Pres. There are wo kinds of manifest destiny - one buit on the genocide of another people - and which is not. It seems with Israel, only genicidal demands are demanded - Israel must say NO NOT EVER.

[Tricia]

Might not be able to expand in two dimensions, but there's always up. Add additional stories to existing buildings for apartments, then offer cash incentives for new residents and babies born into those communities.

I never cared much for country-western music; but there's a useful little line dance move where you kiss your hand, then use that hand to slap your backside while you say, "Kiss this, and I don't mean my ruby red lips!" I think Netanyahu owes Obama that much in return for the shoe sole photo. Might not be good international protocol, but no worries--Obama has already pitched that out the Oval Office window, along with Winnie's bust.

[RonaldH]

'Following the declaration by a State Department official that the US demand to stop settlements extends to east Jerusalem,...' from the above article

I don't know about you, but I'm getting very tired of people writing in to websites asserting that Israel is dictating policy to the US. How absurd! Folks, you can be sure we are living in troubled times when the Jewish state is having the boundaries of her capital dictated to her by foreign governments and no one is outraged or surprised. If anyone in Israel made a similar comment about Washington, D.C., we would hear the screaming about Jewish meddling around the world.

[Jim Talbot]

The US State Department has a history of Anti-Sematism going back to the 19th century. It has only been through the wish of the presidents of the US that has countered the angst. This is not the case with Obama/Clinton.

How ironic they are so "hands-off" with Iran !!

Better for the Israeli government to treat the current US administration as hostile until it is defeated in 2010.