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Spanish PM calls for Israeli settlement freeze
AFP
Published: 15.10.09, 19:36
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1. Ending building is an end to peace talks
David ,   Boston, USA   (10.15.09)
No peace is possible if you end the building. This is the only way to have peace. There must be Jews living in Judea and Samaria. You cant impose your apartheid ideas against Jews living in Judea and Samaria. its bad enough Jordan Palestine has racist laws preventing Jewish citizenship and land ownership. Make peace WITH Jews living in Judea and Samaria. Its the only way. Anything else is appeasement and apartheid against Jews.
2. "A fundamental issue" is accepting Israel's right to be, to
Eitan ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (10.15.09)
exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people. "Settlements" have not been the cause of the conflict and will not be the way to resolve it. Telling Jews that they can't reside in certain villages, towns and even neighborhoods, only because they are Jewish, is nothing short of racism, anti-Jewish racism. Therefore, instead of focusing on the none issue of "settlements", demand of the Arabs to come to terms with Israel's right to be, based on UN resolutions, as the nation-state of a people, of the Jewish people.
3. Spain should freeze settlements in Madrid!
Mind your own ,   business   (10.15.09)
4. ZippyZero just said5 min. ago that he will be balanced and
El Puerco Marco,Puta ,   MadreImperio Español   (10.15.09)
I knew that he was lying this why my comment was "balanced my conquistadore foot"
5. One of the ironic aspects of settlement
Robert Haymond ,   Ashdod, Israel   (10.15.09)
freeze in Judea and Samaria would be the wholesale loss of jobs and a significant depreciation of the Palestinian economy. This occurred to Arabs once before and that time due to the intifada. The call for a freeze just tells us once again, in this instance from Spain, that they really don't understand what's going on in the region. No simple answers here.
6. Bilbao is neither Spain nor France
Inyaki ,   Bilbao, Basque   (10.15.09)
so why the spaniards are settling here.
7. Settlements in Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the whole of ...
Ron B. ,   Lod   (10.15.09)
Settlements in Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the whole of Jerusalem are legal. The “Mandate for Palestine” granted Jews the IRREVOCABLE right to settle anywhere in Palestine, the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, a right unaltered in international law and valid to this day. Settlements in Judea, Samaria (i.e., the West Bank), Gaza and the whole of Jerusalem are legal. The international community and the arabs should respect the original legitimity as described at : http://xrl.us/bjch4
8. Let palestinians build inside Israel
Adam ,   Canada   (10.15.09)
Fine, if Jews want to cross into the West Bank and build Jewish settlements, then Palestinians should be allowed to cross into Israel and build Palestinian settlements wherever they want. It's only fair.
9. And while we are on the subject -
Marco ,   Spain   (10.15.09)
End spanish occupation of Catalunya and Basque country
10. Mr. Zapatero before you come here
Shmuel ,   Maale Adumim   (10.15.09)
to tell us what to do, go deal with your own problems first. The complete return of all treasures stolen from the Americas is a fundamental issue. The world needs to see that happen despite any difficult conditions this may bring on you. Until that happens you have been a thief, you are a thief and will always be a thief. We here in Israel do not listen to advice or opinions from people like you.
11. settlement freeze?, it is already freezed!
observer   (10.15.09)
12. #9 I agree with you imposter..
Marco ,   Spain   (10.15.09)
With all due respect Mr. Prime Minister, freezing the settlements wont do it. Dismantling each and every settlement is the answer.
13. Spain loves the Palis
Juan ,   Spain   (10.15.09)
... but I am not sure why, they just seem to love the weak underdogs. Zapatero doesn't understand how to fix his own economy, and he now looks like losing his job in the next election in Spain. Maybe he thinks a little international hobnobbing will do him some good. Did he take his mantra instructions from America? Is he trying to repair Spain - America relations after he pulled out all the troops from Iraq? I am sure we would all be happier if he kept his nose out of other people's business, especially as he appears to have no understanding of it.
14. Eitan, you've got it wrong, habibi.
Noor ,   Palestine   (10.15.09)
"exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people. " Where under international law does it demand of nations to recognize others before they can become an independent state of their own? Did India have to recognize the existence of the british in order to have their own independent state? Or myanmar? or trinidad? or MANY OTHERS? "Settlements" have not been the cause of the conflict and will not be the way to resolve it." No, Eitan, they are the problem. Wanna know why? Because is is an illegal enterprise which is illegally exprporiating land that is to be part of a Palestinian state in the future. But, nevermind that, you are missing the point. No one said that jews werent allowed to live in the west bank. However, they must do so legally, as in every independent nation-state. According to international law, settlements are illegal because they are on occupied palestinian territory as ruled by the World Court in 2004 and UN resolution 242, calling for Israel's withdrawal. "is nothing short of racism, anti-Jewish racism. " You should be the last to speak of racism. In the country you reside in, there are roads designated for Jews only and roads designated for non-jews. You cant possibly get more racist than that. "Therefore, instead of focusing on the none issue of "settlements", demand of the Arabs to come to terms with Israel's right to be, based on UN resolutions, as the nation-state of a people, of the Jewish people. " What a silly person you are. Settlements are a legal international issue, you moron. The UN has addressed it, and so has the ICJ. The whole world is calling for the end of this illegal enterprise. Even your closest allies! The only terms the Palestinians are demanded to come to are those of legal international terms, not those established by you and your fanatical fasicst leaders. international law does not call for recognizing israel as a jewish state, and it never will.
15. I too agree with you imposter #12..
Marco ,   Spain   (10.15.09)
Definitely dismantling all Spanish settlements in Catalunyia, Basque Country, Melilla, Ceuta and other Spanish colonies on the N. African Coast is progress toward peace in the region and returning all these Spanish colonies to their rightful native owners will establish world peace
16. Come back to talk peace after Palestinian elections
Eric ,   Tel Aviv   (10.15.09)
Until the Palestinians can speak with a unified voice and have someone mandated to speak for them stop giving Israel a hard time. There is nothing to be gained by a settlement freeze now as Abbas can not hold peace negotiations - he is not speaking for his people and Hamas has said that nothing will stop them from violence. Hamas has killed the Palestinian reconciliation and will negate anything that Abbas signs or agrees to. Why should Israel stop when there will be no effort to pretend at reciprocity from the Palestinians?
17. Spanish King Ferdinand and Spanish Queen Isabela call for
Tourquemada ,   Barcelona   (10.15.09)
The expulsion of all Jews and the SPANISH INQUISITION Ever wonder why Spain is now a 5th rate banana republic?
18. #9 Marco
jay3 ,   Israel   (10.15.09)
Does that include all the illegal Arab settlements and houses as well?
19. ZIPPO BOY
DAVID ,   JUDEA   (10.15.09)
A very funny little man this zippo he comes here telling us what to do while his own country is in economic shambles with over 20% unemployment. Well we are used to a bunch of zero's coming and going here and then dissapearing again into the shadows of history, we will not even remember their names 4 years from now.
20. Spanish Racists ! End Apartheid against the Basques ! !
Yisrael ,   Jerusalem   (10.15.09)
21. Spanish Bastards
cas reader   (10.15.09)
Spain, the most anti-Semitic country in Europe, is in no position to advise, recommend or demand anything.
22. Here are some simple points, Noor,
Robert Haymond ,   Ashdod, Israel   (10.15.09)
which you failed to explicate and, as a result, oversimplified your response: Jews are not only the targets of Arabs from within Israel proper, they are also targets of Arabs in Samaria and Judea. As a consequence, Israel has built a complex road system to safeguard the lives of its civilians. You're a smart man, Noor, so why didn't you invite discussion and critique by stating what is obvious to anyone familiar with the region? And because you didn't, and because you never do in your multiple commentaries, I have come to expect the propaganda efforts which are always sustained in your commentaries. And that;s too bad because it's obvious you could, theoretically, contribute to an educational discussion. And incidentally, when we completely removed ourselves from Gaza, the Arab leadership increased missile attacks on southern Israel manyfold --that's on the civilian population, not the military. So why would we remove ourselves from Judea and Samaria, where we believe we belong by historical and legal rights, so as to incur considerable danger once more from your Hamas sympathizers? And by the way, you don't speak of the dissension amongst the Arab leadership in Samaria and Judea. I suspect that given a free hand, without Israeli influence, Hamas would take over. Now Noor, do you really think the ordinary Arab Palestinian wants that? I don't think so. You sign yourself "Noor Palestine" but I'll bet you reside at a safe distance from Hamas and the troubles, probably in Israel or Great Britain, or perhaps in Canada or the USA. At any rate, you offer us your angry reproaches but I think you are well out of the line of fire. Noor, how about engaging in a real discussion and offering information we don't know about so well such as the ambivalent attitude Arab Palestinians hold for Israeli Jews. Ranting as you often do just decreases the power of your message.
23. He should be dealing with own business.
N. A. ,   Madrid   (10.16.09)
Spain is in a mess because of this guy, and now he is desperately trying to be someone in the international scene. A person not to be trusted.
24. Zapathetic, a tus zapatos. (Zapa... mind your business)
Spain.   (10.16.09)
We are fed up of him trying to be in international scenes, when he is completely useless. He is a shame on us. Don't believe a single word out of his mouth.
25. #20 Not apartheid at all.
Fran ,   Spain   (10.16.09)
In there apartheid against telavivians or people from Haifa? Nonsense. It's the same here. Our problems are different, and more serious. And the biggest is ZapaZero and his administration. Shalom.
26. Robert, I cant help but take your comments as condescending.
Noor ,   Palestine   (10.16.09)
"Jews are not only the targets of Arabs from within Israel proper, they are also targets of Arabs in Samaria and Judea. As a consequence, Israel has built a complex road system to safeguard the lives of its civilians. " Well, dont be surprised mate. These aparatheid roads are built on stolen Palestinian territory, territory identified as "illegally occupied Palestinian territory" by the highest international legal court of modern world politics, the ICJ. The settlers are characters of the illegal settlement enterprise, which, whether you like it or not, must be obliterated, in accordance with international law in general and various World Court decisions and Un resolutions in particular. "so why didn't you invite discussion and critique by stating what is obvious to anyone familiar with the region?" What matters is international law, and nothing else. "when we completely removed ourselves from Gaza, the Arab leadership increased missile attacks on southern Israel manyfold --that's on the civilian population, not the military" I really dont know whether to laugh or cry at such a response. You and your comment cant be possibly firther from the truth. Israel never left Gaza in 2006. It may have withdrawn its troops and the settlements, but it was still controlling its waterways, airspace, the border, and the energy and water usage within the coastal sliver. There is no debate. By the way, if you care so much about the people of sderot, ashdod, askelon, etc, i suggest you petition your govt to provide hamas with more sophisticated military weaponry, so that next time, hamas will be able to hit your army personnell. Hamas' acts still dont compare to your horrifying ones in gaza just this year. Bombing schools, mosques, UN buildings housing dozens of refugees, and ambulances, WITH NO PROOF that militants were in or around the area. Please, dont talk. Your schools may be partly destroyed, but ours are completeyl obliterated. Stop embarassing yourself. " Hamas would take over" Your assumptions take you nowhere, my friend. After Hamas was democratically elected in 2006, no one, including the Israelis, gave it a chance to breathe. To assume that Hamas is some kind authoritarian power is simply silly.
27. Zapatonto
Marco ,   Spain   (10.16.09)
Catalunya and Euskadi will be independent countries before Hamastan.
28. The occupation of Catalunya and the Basque country must stop
Juanjo   (10.16.09)
It's time for Spain to stop the occupation, and end the torture of cows in the "bullfights".
29. David #!
Truthseeker ,   USA   (10.16.09)
I have no problem with Jews living anywhere in the West Bank as long as where they live is not barred to Palestinians living in the same neighborhood. By the same token, Palestinians should have the right to live wherever they want in any part of Israel in whatever neighborhood they choose. If that does not happen there is no way to have peace when the occupier continues grabbing the land and the resources and slowly squeezing those they occupy into less and less space. David, be honest. The peace that Israel wants is spelled "PIECE." (more and more pieces of Palestinian lands)
30. Zapatero
Hal ,   USA   (10.16.09)
Zapatero, get back to your shoe store pendejo and deal with your own problems. No offense to Spanierds but your history leaves you in no position to criticize Israel and meddle in a conflict that you have shown not knowledge of or any understanding about. Spanish Inquisition was 1st holocaust then plundering the Americas and cultural genicide was 2nd holocaust. General Franco was a collaberator with Adolf Hitler. Shall I go on? Israel has many problems and has had a tough 60 years dealing with them , Help if you will but don't stick your political nose in where it is not wanted. If you care about Palestinians, Help them build a civil society and not a mafia for their fake leaders. Noor are you listening?
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