according to your brilliant logic unused hills in israel can be SALVAGED by egypt or syria or anyone else who is powerful enough! and as a law lecturer you are supposed to be teaching obeying laws!

America can't tell us what to do. But it doesn't have to support us--veto UN resolutions, give us 2 billion dollars in military aid, etc--either. If America was trying to get us to do somtehing that was damaging to our national interest, that would be one thing. But does anyone here seriously believe that building a few apartment buildings in East Jerusalem is vital to our national interest? Is it worth pissing off the most pro-Israeli administration we have ever had? Plus guys, this is election time in the US. Why do you want Israel to appear anti-peace and provocative to the American public? Har Homa isn't worth losing American support.

The article is excellent but there is one flaw. It should be published in the USA and UK where it is most needed.. Super piece desperately needed for average American whose lack of knowledge hurts their judgement.

"Nobody can tell us Jews where to live"? "If we have no right to build homes in Beit-El or in Shilo or in Hebron, we certainly have no right to build in northern Tel Aviv or in Herzliya. "? What is this rubbish? The law tells us where we can or can't build, and international law and the United Nations have been abundantly clear: construction in the occupied territories is illegal. This has no connection with Northern Tel-Aviv of Herzliya. This author has complete disregard for the rule of law, and more importantly, for his own country which he would undermine for the sake of his fanatical dream to expand illegal settlements.

Don't forget this knife can cut two ways. The US already pulled the rug out of the bomb iran camp; the commander visiting Israel claimed a "difference among friends". Don't be surprised to see the $30B aid package reversed.

The point is that we gain nothing to build at this time other than saying "we rule here". It is time to treat each other with a little more respect- that applies to both sides. If they are going to be so offended by building and we gain little from this, why do it? there are more important things to focus on.

about Syrian government taking land bought by the Rotschilds in the 19th century in Syria or the Jews who were expelled from East Jerusalem and the West bank during and prior to the 1948 war. Anytime now.... come on you howlers.... waiting....

Jews can live everywhere, including Jordan (Jewish name as far as I know). Of course, Mecca belongs to Arabs and they should live there. No aid to Israe will be ever cut because Israel is the ONLY friend of US in that area. We need Saudis for only one reason - oil. Nothing more, nothing less. Oil and only oil. We currently get 12% of our oil from Middle East, including Saudi king, anf the live of that king depends on us 100%. Without us this king is nobody.

You are missing the point... ALL of the land of Israel belongs to the Jews. Including the areas currently settled by the hostile arabs. The sooner those trespasses leave - the better it will be for both people..

Mr Misgav; we are talking about the possibilities for peace in the region, not about legal legerdemain or deluded fantasies of 'greater Israel. you demean the very hope of the future of Israel by your refusal to accept the facts on the ground. wake up

What is wrong with you people. Israeli tanks and bulldozers have moved more than 2km into the Gaza Strip and at least four members of Islamic Jihad were killed on Tuesday, you are building apartments in East Jerusalem while your Prime Minister is negotiating the so called peace. It does not get more obvious than this that Israels only intention is to kick all the Pals out of their land. No wonder they are commited to destroying your Zionist state and they don't get fooled by your peace talks anymore.

And this is the truth that the Jews have believed since 4000 years ago

Americans are receiving a lot in return of their investments in Israel. As a matter of fact, their investments in Israel are the most profitable they have ever made abroad. But they must not direspect Israel and stop regarding Israel as their colony.

that the territory were "occupied", in the wake of Balfour, all territory west of Jordan should be Jewish. Please revisit your history ! When Alsace-Lorraine (where I come from) was conquered by Germany, it became German, when conquered by French it was French again (With the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, the territory was reverted to France. The area was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1940, but reverted to French control in 1945 at the end of World War II and has remained a part of France since). For historical reasons, specific legal dispositions (In Moselle we call them "German laws") are still applied in the territory. But Alsace-Lorraine is totally French, not an ex-"occupied" territory. Have you seen that Germany claimed the territory is being "occupied" by France ? Dr. Haim Misgav reminds us that Israel has a legitimate right, based on international law and historical treaties, to the whole territory illegally occupied by the "Palestinians", whatever Bush administration on the matter.

It's not $30 billion for crying out loud, it's $3 billion. Just about the same amount we give to Egypt, but I suspect you didn't get your knickers in a twist over that "silly aid" even though Egypt's state-controlled media is thoroughly hostile to the U.S. and some of the 9/11 hijackers were Egyptians.

but I say tough luck the americans would never accept other countries saying they cant build someplace in their own country condi and the rest can shove it ** ***** *** The real truth is that the islamofacists dont want any jews in the middle east. They dont want them to build anything anywhere simply put gaza jordan syria saudi oman yemen egypt tunisia algeria libya morrocco uae kuwait iraq all can accept their pali arabic brothers....they choose not to ..... they could live in a related country and speak the same language and cook the same foods they could even move to sudan and help their "brothers" in their war against the "slaves" whose lands they steal, women they rape, and people they commit genocide on daily the jews on the other hand have nowhere else that they can go to and speak hebrew my only question to condi and all the jew haters is ---- what country can the jews call "theirs"? it only took about 500 years for the arabic race to spread from arabia throughout the area from persia all the way to spain and even today through their "peaceful" immigration they are spreading throughout europe how much longer will it be before their own version of the end times final jihad (final solution) with the mahdi actually comes to pass?

give up terrorism, give up fighting one another and try and get the support of moderate jews who like them want to live in peace, and get the oil rich arab countries to put pressure on america to be fair and indepedent when it comes to solving the palestinian/isreali situation.Palestinians need to unite as a people and fight for their right to live in an independent palestinian state. extreme Zionists/right wing jews and fundamentalist muslims/terrorists are part of the problem so nothing will ever change until the more moderate jews and muslims take a stand and start to compromise. The reality is saudia arabia, kuwait and other countries could put pressure on america but they haven't because they couldn't careless about them and it has been shown the way they treat palestinian refugees.Palestinian refugees should return to west bank and the jews to isreal all of west bank belongs to palestine.

If you want to talk about the dry facts, how about the fact that Har Homa literally overlooks Bethlehem (a city of 40,000 Palestinians) and also divides it from Sur Baher? So yes, Har Homa didnt displace any Palestinians, but everyday, 40,000 Palestinians who live in Bethlehem, plus thousands of others who live in the area look up and see a Jewish Settlement built slap bang in the middle of Palestinian land. Its a bit like someone building a pig farm next to one of the tombs of the patriachs and asking why are you getting so offended? The pig farm is not actually on the tomb. And whats the difference between land captured in 1948 just north of Tel Aviv and Har Homa captured in 1967? How about 19 years of complex history? how about its status in the eyes of the international community? (Israel was legally established by the UN - occupied territories were requested to be handed back in 242)

Mr. Cohen how ironic that you display the name of one of the original Jewish tribes. With Cohens like you, who needs Husseins? Comparing Jewish settlement with a "pig farm?" Imagery loaded with egregious defamatory content. That's pride in your heritage, sir! 19 years of "complex history" "status in the eyes of the 'international community'" separates the legitimacy of Herzlya from Har Homa? What about 3000 years of complex history that precedes those 19? UN resolution 242?? Just another in a series of dozens of worthless resolutions by an anti-Semitic gaggle of tinpot nations engaging in their favorite bloodsport: the destruction of the Jewish nation. What garbage from a self-loathing cretin named Cohen! Saddam is smiling from the Inferno!

I do not believe you are a real Cohen. Are you an anti semetic Cohen?

So you compare a Jewish neighborhood with a pig farm? How thoughtful of you. What about the Jews of Har Homa who wake every morning and have to look down on Bethlehem, a city with thousands of years of Jewish history, and have to think about it being occupied by 40,000 Arabs who want to see the Jews all driven "into the sea"? If the Jews are so detestible why do the Palestinians not move to Jordan? It is, after all, a country with a Palestinian majority. Israel managed to absorb hundreds of thousands of jewish refugees who fled for their from Muslims countries after 1948 and 67, so those Arab countries can suppot their Palestinian brothers.

Number 22 Yes, how right you are. Im a real 100% certified Cohen and i believe that we should treat Palestinians with a bit of respect and compassion, and act according to basic Jewish values. Yes, how right you are, im a self hating self loathing Jew. Number 23 Sorry to dissapoint you, i am a real Cohen, but you are a 100% right when you call me anti semitic. Well done, col hakavod.... i can see where you are coming from, "lets act in ways that might bring about peace, lets allow the Palestinians to have a little land of what we call eretz yisrael" yes, I can see how right you are, a self hating anti semite ive become. At least I know now, at least I can see the light, at least Im going to change my views, at least you wont have to be ashamed when you find out that Im a real Cohen. At least Saddam won't be smiling from the inferno. We might not ever have peace, but at least we will always have terrorist attacks.

you may want to look up the word in the dictionary. How does Har Homa "separate" Bethlehem from Sur Baher? Because they can't drive in a straight line? There are plenty of Palestinian towns "looking" Israeli towns - or at least there were until a wall was built - Are you suggesting that the mere presence of Jews is equivalent to building pig farms next to holy sites. We could of course just turn their holy sites into latrines like they did with ours. Also the UN did not "sanction" Israel "creation". They passed a non-binding GA resolution which the arabs immediately proceeded to not be bound by and Israel was "created" by fighting a war in which 3% of the population were casualties - around same level of losses as Germany had on the Eastern front in WW2. Finally you may want to read 242 again. [The] territories are to be handed back in return to their previous owners [Syria, Jordan, Egypt but never the Palestinians] for full normalisation with Israel, which is not and as of today is not on the table. So who is in violation of 242?

that a race of people who have suffered so much to later become so indifferent to the suffering of others. Prejudice, racism, and hate have embroiled so much into you that you don’t even see it. I am out there trying to justify to the Muslims about our support of the Jewish people but when I see what you all are about I can not blame the Pals anymore. Have you not learned anything from the past? Do you believe that God will not approve of Pals living amongst you and will become furious when he sees Pals running around his chosen people? Cohan and moderate Jews like him are the only reason that I would not give up on Jews and will continue to defend your rights in that land but if you continue with this type of behavior then I am afraid things will get even worst in time and it may come to a tragic end for all of us.

Dear Robert, politics aside, since when were the Cohanim a tribe. Do you have a fake copy of the Bible or never bothered to read it? Happy Hanukka The Macabi tribe

The Bush administration pushed by an anti Israel, and possibly anti semetic State department, is trying to sooth the Arab world for oil. Israel is the pawn. In the end the U.S. government, regardless of DEM or GOP, will let Israel swing when the chips are down.