Opinion  Nahum Barnea
Israel occupied by the settlement lobby
Nahum Barnea
Published: 29.04.14, 13:27
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1. Other than radical activists world not busy with settlements
Sam ,   Canada   (04.29.14)
The world is not so busy with Israel as some Israelis might like to think. Other than some activists trying to get Israel boycotted few people pay attention to settlements. The US and EU issue their standard denouncements to suck up to the Arabs but not much else happens. The West Bank is as much part of biblical Israel as is Israel proper and only a Jewish ignoramus would call Jews living there an occupation.
2. typical garbage thinking where do you find such simple minds
ralph   (04.29.14)
3. Settlers - Too broad a term
SK ,   Tel Aviv   (04.29.14)
Your definition of settlers is too broad and judgmental. There is clearly a difference between A) people living in major settlement blocs who for demographic reasons (leaving the family nest, having children) seek new housing, and B) hooligans that decide that any random hilltop they stick a shovel on belongs to them. The vast majority are not committing price tag attacks against Arabs and should not be demonized.
4. 100% obvious to all but the Israeli far-right...
TaylorT ,   Earth   (04.29.14)
...and a handful of far-right Christian fundies who support you because their "end times" scenario involves your conversion to Christianity. But will Israelis wake up in time to save their nation? Probably not. A combination of ignorance and arrogance will most likely doom them. Just like old times...
5. barnea is disconnected from reality
geroge   (04.29.14)
west bank is disputed at worst, and at best is israeli more so than anyone else. Barnea is a gutless coward like his buddy olmert who is headed to jail. The settlers are israeli patriots and the so called occupation is by arabs on israeli land re san remo and 67 defensive war. and israel will annex area C when bennett or shamir take the reins. with regard to abbas,he like hamas wants the jews destroyed, a condition that barnea prefers, begging and wimpering to the US.
6. Far from The One State
Zechariah   (04.29.14)
How much of the West Bank has been settled beyond the Armistance Lines?How much of the West Bank is Basically Military .Military Defense in Case of an Apocolypse which won't happen from Trade Boycotts.Because as the Israeli economy suffers Left and Central Parties will grow and slow Settlement .The Main Concern is Security .This is why a Palestininian State of seven and a Half Million on the West Bank and control by Arabs of the Jordan Valley is impossible .There is Ideology and Faith but its Pragmatic Security Capacity that's Paramount .
7. The author is an unfortunate memeber of radical occupation.
Miron ,   USA   (04.29.14)
if only we could ship them back where their mouth paid from...
8. Other than radical activists world not busy with settlements
Sam ,   Canada   (04.29.14)
The world is not so busy with Israel as some Israelis might like to think. Other than some activists trying to get Israel boycotted few people pay attention to settlements. The US and EU issue their standard denouncements to suck up to the Arabs but not much else happens. The West Bank is as much part of biblical Israel as is Israel proper and only a Jewish ignoramus would call Jews living there an occupation.
9. Just read Caroline Glick today's comment. Barnea: yikes!
tom ,   tel aviv   (04.29.14)
10. It's been Apartheid!!!
Proud Post Zionist ,   Israel   (04.29.14)
Who do you think are you trying to fool about WB?, I'm so proud of liberating myself from the cult called: Zionism. Judaism is a religion, not nationalism, for the sake of us and future generations to come, Zionism ought to be at souvenirs market. I'm for 2 states solution, but Israel should be turned into civil Democracy not Oxymoronic "Democracy" ("Jewish & Democratic").
11. vote
(04.29.14)
The Zionists claim that the extreme Left are a tiny minority. The extreme Left claim that the Zionists are a minority. Let's resolve it democratically with a referendum on one of two views. The Leftist view: Israel is ruled by a tiny minority of evil "settlers" who occupy Arab Land and prevent peace. Israel will lay down her arms and let PLO determine her borders. Any Jew PLO wants to expel is expelled. Peace is achieved. The Zionist view. Israel is ruled by a fanatic foreign-funded minority of corrupt Leftists who accept the false narrative that Israel is Arab land. The Leftists permanently emigrate to the West, and leave the Zionists alone to build in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Golan.
12. blurry the facts are history
Avram Goldsmith ,   toronto,canada   (04.29.14)
Your comments are similar to mixing the soup in the same bowl, just pure screw up ideology. Where your pride to defend the values ofJewish heritage, absolute BS politics and mislead calculation
13. Great article!
Mark ,   Cleveland USA   (04.29.14)
It seems as though this generation, never having experienced a major war is rushing, head first, towards a new catastrophe. Ideology is wonderful until you have to bury your dead because of an unnecessary conflict. Perhaps disaster is the only teacher that some people are willing to learn from.
14. May all settlements grow and prosper
GS ,   Germany   (04.29.14)
I do hope Israel starts building as never before in Har Choma, Gilo & Ariel ... . - Obviously Ynet has financial problems and needs to please the entire world with "brilliant" opinions like this one. - The next settler I see I'll support with some money.
15. #9 ...and read 'The Israeli Solution' by C. Glick.
GS ,   Germany   (04.29.14)
16. #13 - Unfortunately the next war will be vastly different
spyguy ,   seattle usa   (04.29.14)
There will be a lot more Israeli deaths and there is a very high probability that Israel will lose. The reality is warfare has changed a lot in the last 35 years and the Arabs are now militarily equal to Israel and the Palestinians have no hope of a future, so they don't care how quickly they die as long as a lot of Israelis join them. All the Israeli that think they can simply impose the solution they want by brutal force are going to discover just how wrong they are in a very painful way. May "god" have mercy on your souls.
17. The Right Wing Will Cause Israel Considerable Grief
World Citizen ,   the world   (04.29.14)
They are the most obstinate, stiff-necked people on the planet. I suspect that Israel will have to be laid low for there to be any change in your country. It won't be fair to the decent and enlightened segment of your society but like the Bible says. The rain falls on the just and the unjust or something like that.
18. Mr. Barnea
Israeli 2   (04.29.14)
of course settlers are occupiers. They occupy the land that is theirs to possess. So what else is new? You mean that settlers occupy land that belong to a different nation. This is where you err. The entire Greater Israel belongs to Israel alone. Those so called Pals of yours are occupying our land and the sooner they leave the better for us all.
19. Settlers radical minority = TERRORIST and the only to blame
iosy ,   jerusalem israel   (04.29.14)
is THE STATE OF ISRAEL for letting them to live there and to me as a jew they are terrorists I have to risk my life every day protecting them till I turn against them ..... they get free things from the state because of the govt end.
20. #4, "Just like old times", we're still here
Jake   (04.29.14)
While those like you who predicted our demise are the stuff of history books and archeological relics.
21. T.T. #4
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (04.29.14)
Christians support Israel because the Jews are God's chosen people and it's the right thing to do. End times scenarios or conversions have nothing to do with it. If the combination of ignorance and arrogance dooms a person then you are in big trouble.
22. Nahum Barnea
Mordechai ,   Beit Shemesh   (04.29.14)
he is 100% right. the settlers are the scourge of Israel, they are determined to destroy the country. the biggest mistake was to give the Housing Ministry to the extremist Ariel. All he does is pour money into the WB and the Haridim! for those who don't know the Haridim get brand new apartments for almost nothing whilst all other Israelis have to pay through the nose, and they don't pay anona! the parasites!
23. agree with the opening 7 points. way to sidestep...
yoni the Jew ,   Jewish homeland   (04.29.14)
I totally agree with the first 7 points of this article and I think the author knows well how sidestep the main issue. Jordan is Palestine and the hashemite kingdom are the occupiers
24. "Israel occupied by the Settler Lobby"
Zev ,   Israel   (04.29.14)
Sounds too much like those who claim that the world is controlled by the Jewish Lobby.
25. Barnea wants to move to L.A.
Michael Pielet ,   Israel   (04.29.14)
Barnea, the anti-zionist. Barnea is the worst kind of settler, he lives in the settlement of Tel Aviv on occupied arab land. Barnea is a fervent supporter of apartheid. The future of the Jewish state depends upon the giborai israel living in Judea and Samarai. G-d bless each and every one of them Barnea go join your friends in L.A.
26. That Eureka moment
Sarah B ,   Tel Aviv/London   (04.29.14)
when a paper publishes an article agreeing with what I have been saying for years. The vast majority of Israelis who live in Israeli proper are being held hostage by a small minority of fanatics not dissimilar to Islamic fundamentalists, with influence in the government far outweighing their actual numbers. One day the majority will rise up, until then Israelis must undertake damage limitation in the international arena quoting the numbers and the inequities of the Israeli political system which allows the nutters to rule the roost regardless of the fact the majority of Israelis are in favour of a two state solution to settle the Palestinian/Israeli conflict once and for all
27. Judea and Samaria ARE Israel. Give up "occupation" lies.
Chaim ,   Israel   (04.29.14)
Tel Aviv has belonged to Jews for little more than a century. Judea and Samaria has belonged to Jews for 4,000 years. Judea and Samaria ARE Israel. It is also obvious to anyone capable of reading a map that Judea and Samaria make Israel viable. Barnea's "occuption" lies are believed by fewer Israelis each year. Every sane person knows the remarkably unsuccessful BDS Movement has nothing to do with Judea and Samaria. It is motivated purely by hatred of Jews and Israel. Give it up Barnea. Leftist "occupation" lies have zero credibility.
28. Barnea should be writing for Al Jazeera
Sidney ,   USA   (04.29.14)
29. A shout-out!
manicdrummer ,   Haifa, Israel   (04.29.14)
To all my old antagonists from Madison, Wisconsin who are participating in this BDS movement: Welcome to Israel! I hope you'll enjoy our accommodations at Israel's jails after you make complete pigs of yourselves.
30. Yes!
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (04.29.14)
The settlers do have an inordinate influence on the government. There is no doubt that the vast majority of us would prefer peace to the settlements, yet that is not happening. Remember this at the next elections!
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