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UK, France condemn Israeli decision to appropriate West Bank land
Reuters
Published: 01.09.14, 17:17
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29 Talkbacks for this article
1. Another nail in the coffin
Taxpayer ,   Hod Hasharon   (09.01.14)
Another nail in the coffin of the state of Israel, whoch the right wing wants to sacrifice on the unholy altar of territorial expansion - a bad day for Israel.
2. UK and France?
(09.01.14)
The UK and France are the two colonial occupiers that drew the Middle East map that has led to the widespread massacres we see. More recently, UK and France destroyed Libya in order to arm Jihad, ultimately leading to ISIS and the genocide of Christians and Yazidi. Considering their record of helping Islamists eliminate minorities, I don't think the Jews should take UK and French advice.
3. Israel expects the area to be part of Israel
michael redbounrn ,   Aveiro - Portugal   (09.01.14)
Israel expects the area to be part of Israel under any unlikely future peace agreement. This conflict is not about land. The PA has been offered over 92% of the WB on three separate occasions and the offer was refused. The conflict is about Muslims wanting a Jew free Middle East.
4. Do the math
Salim ,   Canada   (09.01.14)
Washington, DC is 68.3 sq,mi. We're talking about a mere 1.58 sq.mi. of the Land of Israel which should have always been claimed back for the Jews. This amounts to just over 2% of the area of DC. Are the Europeans and Obama out of their minds, or do they just despise Jews????
5. worring about the rest of the world in the Age of ISIS.
think not they have ,   made their beds   (09.01.14)
It's time to do what Israel needs to do for it's self and to hell with the terrorist creators and supporters, They will have their hands full enough than to worry about Israel doing what it should have done long ago. Taking back the land won in a defensiveness war. It is how the world works. You take it it is yours under the law. They don't follow the law but your God does. Re-claim the whole of the Jewish State. The world is getting ready to change big time . Be the light.
6. We are not afraid
Rina   (09.01.14)
of the International arena. The G-d of Israel proclaimed many moons ago that the land belongs to His people Israel, not Islamists! The Nations too voted in favor of the Jewish homeland. Stop the occupation of Arabs/Islamists in Judea and Samaria!!
7. BAD TIMING
zionist foreer   (09.01.14)
This land of course was probably annexed to keep Bennet happy. It would not surprise me if Bennet threatened to pull out the coalition and force an election Bibi doesn't want with his bad approval rating. That said the timing was very bad when we have the whole world watching and angry with Israel so was probably not a smart move at this moment. What we should be doing is taking advantage of the Syrian war and using it to build new communities in the Golan. The only way we can hold of land in peace time when the left conveniently forget the past so they can have treaties is if the demographics are to high to give it away We need to protect it now before the election because if the left win we may loose it because treaties will take priority to security. Obama is also a possible threat because he now needs Assads help to fight ISIS and Assad needs an image boost and getting the Golan is exactly what he needs so we cannot assume Obama won't make us pay the price for his military campaigns.
8. A "must" before dealing with israel
Robert   (09.01.14)
Read the Kol Nudge, the most important prayer (it is repeats three times). It states that ALL pledges, promises, vow etc made during the up coming year are null, void and meaningless.
9. euros complain again
moron galut ,   washington   (09.01.14)
looking for a way to appease jihad. if jews stop settling israel after they have fought a war they are just declaring defeat and inviting arabs to start another war so they can steal more jewish land
10. Israel thumbs Nose
Liz Benard ,   USA   (09.01.14)
Time for worlds leaders to hit back. Israel cannot continue to thumb it's nose T world opinion without consequences.. No more weapons, financial support or privileged trade agreements.. Free Palestine!
11. US+EU suck up to Muslims no matter what Israel does
Sam ,   Canada   (09.01.14)
It doesn't make a difference whether Israel builds or not the US and EU will still suck up to the Muslims. The US and EU also want Israel to release terrorist prisoners,install a freeze and hand over territory all in the hope Muslim terrorists will leave them alone. That's what guides their policy not Israeli security or aspirations.
12. Thi sis the last thing US and EU should worry about in world
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (09.01.14)
13. UK, France condemn Israeli decision
Jon ,   Uk   (09.01.14)
Why UK FRANCE worry what Israel do there are other places in the world they can worry about Israel should do what other countries do ignore
14. history and hypocrisy
Arn ,   Yehud, Israel   (09.01.14)
Had Jordan not sent its armies into Jerusalem from the West Bank in 1967 none of this would have happened. But they did and lost. The EU and the US should first establish whether the West Bank was ever recognized as Jordanian territory. It was territory won by the Jordanian Arab Legions in '48 and which they annexed illegally barring Jews from accessing their holy places. I don't recall this was ever an issue for the EU or the US at the time.,
15. gush Etzion is original Israeli land.
jochair ,   kfar saba Israel   (09.01.14)
Gush Etxion area was purchased from Palestinians long before 1946, The Area was conquered by the Arab Leagueand reconquered by IsraelGush Etzion definitely belongs to Israel. Pals should leve all areas between the Jordan river and Med Sea. The Intewrnational community may help Pals to evacuate.
16. Israel should tell them........
mindRider ,   The Free World   (09.01.14)
....that as they do not keep their violent anti-semitism in check all the heart land of Israel shall be needed eventually to house the Jewish refugees from the future caliphate countries of Al Safrad and Al Brit.
17. Not only UK, US and France against Jewish Land
Moshe   (09.01.14)
Secular Israelis are no better than the anti Semites in the UK, France and US and of course the UN. Secular Israelis believe that only Tel Aviv is Jewish land, every other city should be given to Arabs or anyone else.
18. UK, France condemn Israel
Chaim ,   Petah Tikvah   (09.01.14)
They have a lot of experience condemning Israel. Who cares what they think. Shouldn't they be spending their time working out how to stop ISIS ?
19. it is so simple
wise ,   eu   (09.01.14)
fr and usa need to take atention from them obama till now didt make nothing importnat only , the worst usa president ever so he must take atention of his uselessness france is undergoing conversion to islam .. they are not enymore europian just simple game israle is best atention now because THE JEWS
20. Today's Headline UK: "Special Forces Move Into London
DvorahTheProphetess ,   SC, USA   (09.01.14)
as Government Faces 'Mumbai Style' Terrorist Spectacular." Cameron, keep England out of harm's way, and leave ISRAELI SECURITY to the ISRAELIS.
21. ban kimoon alarmed
jessie   (09.02.14)
ban ki moon is alarmed at israel land annexation. You are alarmed. I say 2 things to you: go fu*k yourself and go to hell along wiht cameron, that louse kerry, holland. Mind your own bloody business.
22. ynetnews, please translate Guy Behor's article, you know
which one..   (09.02.14)
23. Yesterday's news....France & UK by Arabs.
Dina   (09.02.14)
24. It's Israel's land
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (09.02.14)
The illegal Arab squatters must be thrown out. Send them to Gaza, where they can work on their fictional "palestinian" state under their equally fictional "unity government." The "palestinians" could have had a state in 1947. They rejected partition and chose to go to war instead. They lost. Boo hoo hoo; cry me a river. They tried again in 1967, and Israel whupped their asses. Territorial losses are part and parcel of war -- one does not reward the aggressor by gifting them a state. Judea and Samaria are nonsovereign; according to all known precepts of international law, Judea and Samaria are Israel's to settle, retain and even annex. The Arabs that illegally squat in Judea and Samaria are not stateless; they are Jordanian citizens, and Israel would be well within her rights to simply repatriate them all to Jordan. But the tiny king of a made-up kingdom has enough on his plate right now with ISIS and Jordan's serious economic woes. No need to add to them -- besides, the border with Jordan is quiet. Send all the "palestinians" to Gaza. Optimum solution, all around.
25. Liz # 10
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (09.02.14)
Read number 3. Nobody complained when Jordan occupied that land. You liberals only get upset when Israel has land even when it belongs to them. Free us from liberal stupidity!
26. Predictable responses
Bertram ,   London, UK   (09.02.14)
It's the cry of the child attempting to deflect criticism of its own actions: you're always picking on me when others are behaving (or have behaved) just as bad! Imperialist nations - past and present - such as Britain, France, Germany, Russia, etc. have colonised, occupied, suppressed and murdered vast populations. No argument. Does this therefore exempt Israel from accusations of behaving badly? To do so would, ironically, be a reflection of a kind of antisemitism: they are Jews, they must be excused, poor things, let them have what they want, the others can go and play elsewhere.
27. here's Netanyahu... right back to his swarmy tricks
Rafi ,   US   (09.02.14)
the people who will pay the most for this cheap stunt are the IDF and Israeli civilians due to the inevitable & predictable rise in terror and Pales anger. But that's OK "cause Bibi will have pleased his constituent base....
28. Re: 24
Bertram ,   London, UK   (09.02.14)
This is not addressed to Sarah B but refers to what she said. She appears to make it clear that regarding Judea and Samaria Israel's 'right' to settle, annex, etc. is a spoil of war. At other times she invokes a primordial argument i.e. the land is eternally 'Eretz Yisrael'. These are separate arguments and therefore separate sets of consequences flow from each. A spoil of war can theoretically be reversed at some future point and the other side could then invoke its right to the land. But if the land is eternally 'ours' we will always have the 'right' to it even if we never (or even intend to) live there (Hashana Haba b'Yerushalayim). On the matter of Jordanian citizenship this was revoked in 1988 when Jordan severed all connections with the West Bank. If anything, in anticipation of a Palestinian state, Jordan has proceeded to revoke citizenship for some 'West Bankers' living on the east bank (i.e. in present-day Jordan). Under international law it is illegal to expel stateless people unless another country is prepared to take them.
29. To: No. 28
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (09.02.14)
First of all, you are incorrect. You're looking at the wrong side of the river. What Jordan does within Jordan is not subject to international perusal -- Jordan is a sovereign state and can revoke citizenship of anyone it wants. But the West Bank is a completely different story. Jordan has TRIED to revoke the citizenship of West Bank Arabs. The ICJ has consistently ruled that an irrevocable grant of citizenship made to one and one's progeny is precisely that -- IRREVOCABLE. Besides, when West Bank Arabs travel, they do so on Jordanian passports. How many countries issue passports to noncitizens, Bertram? But by far and away the strongest argument supporting annexation of Judea and Samaria and expulsion of the Arabs is simply this: the Arab states had a moral obligation to take the ersatz "palestinians" in a long time ago. Israel is under no obligation to gift the losers of six wars of aggression anything, simply because the Arab nations have not stepped up to do the right thing. The ersatz "palestinians" will have to make do with a demilitarized Gaza. But if their intent is peaceful coexistence, being demilitarized should not pose a problem, isn't that right? I think Israel has absolutely every right to assert its sovereignty over Judea and Samaria -- there has to be some pain involved for the ersatz "palestinians" -- seven decades of unremitting terror have been more than enough -- and there is a general consensus that following wars of aggression, some measure of punishment should be exacted upon aggressors. Israel has been more patient than most. Through six wars, two intifadas and nonstop missile barrages directed at Israeli civilians. As to the suggestion that Israel's interests will be damaged in the international arena -- I don't think so. I think that the international community has moved on to real issues -- such as the threat posed by ISIS -- and with the exception of some lip service, largely to appease violent Arab and Moslem minorities, the international community appears to have reached a broad consensus that the ersatz "palestinians" have blown every opportunity that has ever been presented, and it's time for the international community to wash their hands of terrorists, generally. Finally, petroleum is no longer as important as it once was. Natural gas is the wave of the future, and Israel just happens to own and control two of the largest natural gas fields ever discovered. If the European Union wishes to cut off its nose to spite its face, and either buy extremely expensive natural gas from Russia -- oh wait; they can't -- the Ukraine, remember? or incur a logistic and very expensive nightmare in importing natural gas from elsewhere, doesn't make a bit of difference to the State of Israel. No shortage of customers for Israel's natural gas; no shortage of customers for Israel's Iron Dome -- the European Union will collapse in bankruptcy long before Israel's economy will incur any damage. You have committed the cardinal sin in assessing international affairs: you have forgotten that nations do not have friends; nations have interests. Simply put, the ersatz "palestinians" waited too long. The diplomatic tide has turned against them.
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