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Erekat: Gilo construction shows why Israel not partner for peace
Ali Waked
Published: 19.11.09, 00:01
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1. Humbug! Kassams and Fatah-Hamas split killed peace process
JPS ,   Efrat   (11.19.09)
Who is Erekat trying to kid? There have been dozens of kassams fired at Israel (including today), and not a peep from the world despite each kassam being a war crime (as determined by Goldstone, not by me). Then, of course, there's the fact that Israel can sign a peace treaty with Fatah in the west bank, but Hamas in Gaza says no way - they'll "never" sign a peace treaty with Israel. So who is Erekat trying to kid? We Israelis certainly don't buy it. The Palestinians couldn't sign a peace treaty today if they wanted to. They are a two-headed monster: the Fatah head saying yes to peace and yes to armed attacks, and the Hamas head saying no to peace and yes to armed attacks. Erekat should stop whining and go help clean up the Fatah corruption.
2. oh boo hoo hoo
Ran   (11.19.09)
the piece process is finished, but dangermen Peres and Barak are still at large, just waiting to lose the next war...
3. JPS
Noor ,   Palestine   (11.19.09)
"There have been dozens of kassams fired at Israel (including today), and not a peep from the world despite each kassam being a war crime (as determined by Goldstone, not by me). " We can talk about whether the rocket attacks are considered to be a war crime, but that's not the underlying issue at hand. The continued rocket firing is the result of Israel refusing to disengage from Gaza, a territory identified as OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY by the World Court in July of 2004. Israel did not disengage from Gaza. In fact, it may have withdrawn its troops and the settlements but what many people fail to understand is that Israel continued to occupy Gaza in the following ways: 1) continued control over gaza airspace via IAF 2) Continued control over Gaza waterways via Israeli Navy 3) continued control over the energy and water usage within the coastal sliver 4) continued control over the border Therefore, Israel never disengaged. Hey, JPS...Dont believe in land for peace? The peace that was brokered between Israel and Egypt resulted in peace. Why? Because when Israel said it was going to give back the Sinai, it actually did, and it ceased control over ALL of it. And the Egyptian army was no joke at that time. In fact, it was the strongest Arab army. Therfore, the silly and debunked Israeli excuse that land for peace is some kind of utopian concept is thrown out in a jiffy. "Then, of course, there's the fact that Israel can sign a peace treaty with Fatah in the west bank, " Well, why has Israel continued to stall? First, ZERO rockets have been fired from the West Bank. Second, ZERO suicide attacks have ceased for almost two years now, which is respectable given the frequency of suicide attacks in previous years. Third, the fact that Abbas is identified as a moderate by both Israel and the US also adds to the fact that there is no excuse for Israel's continued stalling. "but Hamas in Gaza says no way - they'll "never" sign a peace treaty with Israel." Speaking is one thing; engaging in actions which help foster the peace process is another. Ever heard of the slogan, "actions speak louder than words?" Since 2002, Hamas has been committed to the two state solution. In fact, when Saudi Arabia initiated the Arab Peace Plan of 2002, calling for normalization fo ties with Israel and acceptance of the two state solution, Hamas sent a delegation of its own to the League where it signed the document, ultimately authorizing its support for the two state solution. The Arab states in attendance voted in favor of the resolution as well. Recall that this is the year 2002, 4 years before Hamas even felt the desire to get involved in politics. But, theres more. Hamas, an organization notorious for sending out suicide bombers into israel CEASED all suicide operations as of August 2004. It has been over 5 years since a hamas suicide operation. There were still suicide attacks after 2004, but none came from Hamas. "Erekat should stop whining and go help clean up the Fatah corruption. " Maybe you should stop whining and wake up to the facts. Might I remind you that the man you are denouncing is the same man that your country is aiding and that is transforming the PNA into a corurpt govt.
4. Poor timing
Zak ,   Milwaukee, USA   (11.19.09)
From a public relations point of view, the timing of the announcement to build 900 apartments in Gilo was terrible. It constitutes a propaganda victory to the P.A., and another unnecessary loss for Israel in the battle for hearts and minds. Indeed, the modern Arab-Israeli conflict is a war for hearts and minds—at least in the countries that matter—just as much as it’s a military conflict. Israel dominates the battlefield, but not the war for public perception; and that boggles the mind because there’s no reason this should be the case. Yes, I know that 900 apartments in a Jerusalem neighborhood that will never be relinquished is, in the grand scheme of things, a non-issue that won’t really change a possible division of Jerusalem in the event of a final status agreement. But that’s not how outsiders who don’t understand the demographics and neighborhoods of Jerusalem will see it. The same goes for the large settlement blocs that everybody knows will be ceded to Israel in exchange for a parallel amount of territory to a future Palestinian entity. That said, it’s also clear that the Palestinians are looking for excuses to dodge negotiations (for a host of reasons which I will not get into here). Why give them more ammunition? Have we forgotten the propaganda windfall the P.A. ‘enjoyed’ by blaming the “al-Aksa Intifada” on Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount? We all know the visit was a pretext for the violence, but to this day millions of people around the world believe the Palestinian narrative. Now Israel is simply playing into the next Palestinian narrative that will justify their next explosion of violence. Maybe they’ll even call it the “Gilo Intifada?” The addition of 900 new apartments in Gilo is a case of failing to see the big picture, of failing to see the forest from the trees. It won’t change the final outcome in the battle for Jerusalem, but it will give the Palestinians another propaganda victory, which Israel cannot afford.
5. EREKAT
Benjamin   (11.19.09)
TELL ME THAT -"KIDNAPPING GILAT SHALIT was for PEACE ? " YOU HAVE NO PEACE IN YOUR RELIGION ! YOU HAVE NO PEACE IN YOUR HAMAS CHARTER ! YOU ARE TWISTING AN TURNING THE WESTERN CRITISM- WHICH WERE SUBJECTBTO THE MANY ATROCITIES THAT YOUR PALS ARE WAR CRIME CRIMINLAS - YOU HAVE NO MORAL STANDING NOR THE REPUTATION AS TO TALK ABOUT PEACE ! LOOKING AT YOUR FACE< WE CAN SEE YOU HAVE NO PEACE INSIDE YOU COS YOU WORSHIP TERRORISM AS YOU GOD. YOU HAVE CREATED MANY GODS AS CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR ! HOPE FOR A STATE OF ISRAEL ? WELL WE JEWS HAVE ENTRENCHERD HOPE BUT YOU PALS ARE REFUGEES LOOKING FOR HOPE. THE DIFFRENCE BWETWEEN YOU AND WE JEWS. WE JEWS WORK HARD_ YOU PALS HOPE FOR EVERYTING TO COME ROLLING TO YOUR FEET> WE CHANGED DESERTS INTO GREENS< YOU PALS BEEN TRUNING PIPES INTO MISSALS> YOU PALS BEEN TURING YOUR CHILDREN INTO SHEILDREN- HUMAN SHEILD ! YOU PLAS BEEN NAILING PEACE AN BURRIED IT WITH ARAFAT IN HIS COFFIN. IT IS YOU PALESTINIAN WHO ARE NOT PERTNET FOR PEACE. WE ARE MERELY BUILDING HOUSES FOR OUR JEWSIH NATION. THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO PROVIDE JEWS WITH DECENT HOMES. THAT I SPART OF THE DUTY OF A DECENT RULING PARTY OF ISRAEL. THE AMERICANS MAY START SHUT THEIR MOUTH ! BUILDING HOUSES FRO OUR PEOPLE IS OUR BUSINESS- JEWSIH HOME AFFAIRS NOT FOR YOU ALIENS TO DICTATE TO US. IT IS PRESIDENTS OBAMA TALK WITH FOX IS INSENSITIVE AND A PUBLICITY STANT. OBAMA IS NO LONGER POPULAR AMONG THE AMERICAN OR THE WORLS COMMUNITY. HE WANT TO ATTRACT ATTENTION AND STAY REELEVANT BUT NOT MUCH OF A SUCCESS ! HE MADE ASTOP AT CHINA , HE MADE A INSENSITIVE REMARK. THE eu < russia< and the un HAS ALSO BENE CRITISING THE PLAS ! THE DECESION TO BUILD GILO IS NOT POLITICAL BUT A NATION BUILDING PLAN OF ISRAELI- APPROVED BY CONSENSUS OF THE HEARTS AND MIND OF THE jEWSIH NATION FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE WHO DONT TRUST THE PALS ANYMORE ! WE DONT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE PALS- WE JEWS WASTED OUT TIME, MONEY, EFFORDS AND PERCIOUS LIFES OF OUR PEOPEL. YOU PLAS HAND ARE TAINED BY OUR JEWISH BLOOD ! EU, RUSSIA, BRITAIN AN DTEH UN HAS NO BUSINESS IN THIS GILO ! TELL AHMED QUREIA- HE IS A TERRORIST WHO SPONSORED TERRORIST ATTACTS OF ISRAELI PUBLIC AND PUBLIC PLACES! PELACE IS MERELY A SLOGAN IN THE MOUTH OF THE PALS BUT NEVER WAS IT EVER COMING FORM THE HEART AND SOULS. THE PALS NEVER HAD SOULD OF HUMANITY BUT ONLY SOUS OF TERRORIST GENERATI=NG EVIL FORCES FROM THE EXTREMIST ISLAMIC IDEOLOGIES! AS SUCH EREKAT HAS NO MORAL TO TALK ABOUT PEACE OR TWO STATE SOLUTION - THER E IS NO SOLUTION- i AM SORRY, I JUST WANT TO SAY MY PIECE- WITHOUT APOLOGIES ! i WAS ONCE ABUSED AND OPPRESSED BY ISLAMIC BIAS IN MALAYSIA- i UNDERSTAND THIS THING IN ISARELI- PLAS CONFLICTS CLEARLY ! BEN SINGAPORE
6. TELL THE AMERICANS/ OBAMAS THEY HAVE OFFENDED US !
BENJAMIN ,   SINGAPORE   (11.19.09)
WE JEWS CANT WAIT FOR PEACE FROM THE PLAS WASTING OUR TIME- AND NOT BUILDING OUT NATION- AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE WESTERN CRITISM TO DISTARCT OR SLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE JEWSIH NATION AND OUR BELOVED CHILDREN ! WE HAVE OUR CHILDERN RETURNING HOME, W EGOT TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR THEM TOO ! MAY BE OBAMA SHOULD OCNSIDER GIVENING THE JES IN THE USA FAIR TREATMENT. WE ARE ALSO LISTENING TO THE COMPLAINTS OF OUR CHILDREN OF YISRAEL FORM THE USA, EU, BRITAIN....
7. OK, so move to an arab country and live in peace.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (11.19.09)
By the way, Israel is NOT an arab country, it IS the Jewish state.
8. Israel- get an american direct representation government!!!
Jae ,   Lynn US   (11.19.09)
until then you will be guided by the powerful minority left who bring mistake after mistake.
9. Eternal conflict?
(11.19.09)
I don't think so. Our patience is wearing very thin. You are risking expulsion of the arab population from Judea and Samaria with talk like that.
10. Swallow the bitter pills ye imposter of philistines
Mikha ,   Kenya   (11.19.09)
Israel does us proud by being the rock that demolishes the arab and muslim shameless expansionist conquest.Since known history before muhamad and islam the Israelis were in canaan hence the arabs have no credible politico-religious argument on the land of Israel.May be they should try calling themselves canaanites and claim the land cause the arabs in Israel are chasing a lost cause.The canaanites migrated after loosing survival battles,the philistines vanished,the arabs should melt away from Jerusalem and land of Israel.When the lion is resting dont wake it!
11. Palestinians only want.....
Dan ,   Titusville, FL   (11.19.09)
.... but they will not do anything in return. Like a spoiled child they stomp their feet and hold their breath crying trying to get their way but are completely unwilling to give up anything or do anything. Like a spoiled child they deserve a good spanking. "Spare the rod... spoil the Muslim". Words come out of Erikat's mouth but no one is around to hear them as they are meaningless.
12. The nail in the coffin EVERY TIME has ALWAYS been the re=
rusal of Israels ,   right to exist.!!!!   (11.19.09)
13. Photo is NOT of Erekat
Profco ,   Miami, FL   (11.19.09)
I have met Saeb Erekat in person and the man in the photo is not him. His skin tone is lighter, and the hair on the top of his bald pate is short but somewhat dark and not nearly as thick as the white hair on top of the head of the gentleman in the photo. The ears and the shape of the jaw are different. AFP screwed up and no one inyour newsroom even noticed.
14. of course terrorism is ok
arthur ,   jersey city NJ USA   (11.19.09)
plo/fatah/pa terrorism, threats incitement are productive towards peace.
15. The peace crap of Islamist-Jihadists
Brod ,   USA   (11.19.09)
They can spew about 'peace' to fool the world. But they don't know peace. Their 'peace' is the usurpation of the Land of Israel from the Jews. The fact is, as Islamist-Jihadist scholar Omar Abdel Rahman rightly points out, "There is no surah called 'peace.' Jihad and killing are the head of Islam. If you take them out, you cut off the head of Islam." (p.24, "Islam and Terrorism" [2002] by Mark A. Gabriel, PhD)
16. Mr. Erekat
eli ,   jerusalem   (11.19.09)
please tell me, are we allowed to build in Tel Aviv? Please give us the permission!!! Thanks in advance. Eli
17. "Settlements" vs. Peace
Eitan ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (11.19.09)
The "settlements" issue is, of course, only an attempt to divert attention from the core issue of the Arab Israeli conflict. The essence of the conflict is the total, consistent and persistent refusal of the Arabs, Palestinian and otherwise, to accept Israel's legitimacy and right to be, to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people. None of the other issues are at the core, either, e.g. "borders and territory", "natural resources", "refugees" or even "Jerusalem". These issues were not there in 1947 when the UN voted to establish a "Jewish state" and an "Arab state" in the Land, Nevertheless, the Arabs rejected this UN resolution, 181, and instead initiated the 1947-1949 war whose goal was the annihilation of the tiny Jewish state just proclaimed. These issues were not there between the years 1948 and 1967 during which time the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip were Jew-free, "cleansed" of all their Jewish residents by their Arab rulers. Yet, despite this reality the Arabs didn't even try to set up their independent state there, in the very same territory that they demand now. But of course, the Arabs did initiate the June 1967 Six-Day War against Israel hoping to accomplish what they couldn't accomplish in 1947-49: The total elimination of the UN member state of Israel and with it all elements of Jewish civilization of which Israel is its cradle. To begin to overcome the core of the conflict the Arab leadership, Palestinian and otherwise, should state clearly, in Arabic, their acceptance of Israel's RIGHT to be, to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people. This would be based on the League of Nations decisions, 1922, and the United Nations resolution, 1947, as well as the universally accepted right of all peoples to national self-determination and independence, including the Jewish people. The Arab leadership would then need to back up its newly found conviction with a few simple deeds, actions that would demonstrate its change of heart. This will bring with it a sea-change of attitude among Jews, within and without Israel, whose nation-state Israel is, ready to take additional risks to the ones already taken. The goal: the reaching of an accommodation of peaceful coexistence between Arab and Jew, between Israel and its Arab neighbours, something Jews have been very eager to achieve since at least the late 19th century, upon the commencing of the activity of the none-violent (not pacifist) national liberation movement of the Jewish people, Zionism. Will the Arabs do so, or will they rather attempt to divert attention from the core issue – at times with "settlements", at times with their terrorism - of the conflict, hoping to bide time and achieve their real goal at some point in the future…??
18. Just another excuse . . . on both sides.
vered ,   israel   (11.19.09)
19. Somebody Answer....
Roland Seener ,   London England   (11.19.09)
Israel is a secular a "Secular State " There are no "Restrictive Zones"...Ghettos,Bantustans...All Citizens are equal in the Eyes of the Law.Moslems Christians Jews, Druse...Live in our Land .Will they be able to do so in a Palestinian State,should a similar building site be handed back in a final settlement,or will it have to be burnt down by Arab louts so nobody of these "Etjnic Communities "get any benefit from an Israeli Attempt to Up-Rich the lives of all that are under its control at the moment ?The Arab Demand stinks of a Racist Attitude"to separate Jew from Arab,and keep the pot boiling
20. Blame it on the Bossa Nova
good idea   (11.19.09)
you bunch of loose screws. Ooh , then, maybe blame it on that new branch of Gap in our capital city lol. Then, ooh, on the newly improved, Time Tunnel lol. You lot bore us to tears with your primitive nonsense, that gets more hilarious and ludicrous every day.
21. Oh please. If america hadn't mentioned Gilo, the PA
(11.19.09)
would never have talked about it either. They take every opportunity to say "see this? this is what prevents peace" over and over, trying to steer away from their own responsibility.
22. WHAT HAS ABBAS DONE AND WHATS BIBI DONE FOR THE PEACE PROCES
ZIONIST FOREVER   (11.19.09)
Abbas is refusing to even sit and talk with Bibi unless there is a full end to settlement construction. Bibi already agreed to freeze settlements in Judea & Samaria but Jerusalem is his red line. This new building in Gilo doesn't even involve taking more land beyond its existing limits. Its building up not out. Abbas is saying he is determined to declare statehood unilaterally despite international objections including from his new American friends. Abbas has said Fatah may consider returning to armed resistance ( terror ) The man who has been making all the gestures here is Bibi who is being made to look like the bad guy in all of this whilst Abbas has sat back and refused to talk just sulk. Also Gilo has never been an issue before not under Clinton or Bush and it was certainly expanding when Clinton was in charge. Its Obamas appeasment policy to blame.
23. “Palestinian” interest in the Temple Mount starts in 1967.
Ron B. ,   Lod   (11.19.09)
Jerusalem simply never held any sanctity for the muslims themselves, but only for the Jews in their domain. It can be seen that significant Islamic interest in the Temple Mount does not precede the Six-Day War. The 13th century Arab biographer Yakut noted: «Mecca is holy to muslims; Jerusalem is holy to the Jews». PLO leader Yassir Arafat and the Arabs claimed the Holy Jewish Temple Mount and Jerusalem based upon one extraordinarily huge lie told over and over again. The truth is simple Jerusalem is Jewish and should never be devided again as described at : http://xrl.us/bjheo
24. #1 Wrong, Israeli bulldozers and cranes demolishe peace
Nour ,   Palestine   (11.19.09)
A few aerosol rockets you say? try 20 years of relentless colonization, home demolitions, evictions, and collective punishment. Ask the world who they believe. And btw, I'm one of those people who will actually thank and embrace you one day for being so foolish as to destroy the prospects for 2-states. You've only bolstered the Palestine Solution.
25. Gilo is beautiful, I want to live there one day...
Nour ,   Palestine   (11.19.09)
Anyone can refer me to a website with more information for prospective buyers?
26. Jerusalem
Naor ,   USA   (11.19.09)
Would people stop referring to this city as East and West Jerusalem? Jerusalem stopped being divided in 1967 and it shall remain undivided. The whole city of Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the State of Israel. Jerusalem and the Golan are Israeli, the rest is only negotiable.
27. Rubbish!
James ,   LA, USA   (11.19.09)
How the Palestinians have hopped on the settlements issue to blame (as always) Israeli actions. Never mind that all they need to do, is to say one simple thing. 'we accept Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state not lets sit down and negotiate what safe and secure borders means for both of us. Aah... but they can't do that now can they!
28. EREKAT! YOUR INTIFADAS AND HOMICIDE BOMBERS PROVED
stude ham   (11.19.09)
THAT YOU NEVER WANTED TO HAVE ISRAEL. YOU ARE A WILFUL DECEIVER.
29. to #24 all the residents of those houses were
ghostq   (11.19.09)
were terrorists, they ryed to kill Israel so their house went down stop complaining I don't hear you condem their actions, they did try to kill Israelis,.
30. to #25 you won't be able to aford it
ghostq   (11.19.09)
the Israeli population is growing that's y expention is needed. in cramp place value of apartments always go up and it's belong to Israeli gov, you will have to become Israeli civilian witch wont happend since you want your own state, you can't have it all.
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