It is a reality that within israel twenty percent of arabs live and the galilee is fifty percent arab . The negev also has many arabs and bedoin with large families due to lower infant mortality much from the medical knowledge revelations granted by Hashem from 1870 with a significant jewish contribution and the return to immersion into the waters of cleanliness and safe food . Did not the HASHEM command parapets for houses to protect the workers .

If they're not an obstacle to peace and not important, why do you knock them down all the time?

peace partners get what is theirs which is nothing that is Israel

This is sheer nonsense - this guff about Palestinians building houses on whatever land they get. Is there any land left for them build on after our mass theft of their lands. Barak speaks for a party that isn't a party; for a government that does not govern;he speaks as a Defence Minister who has lost his veto over settlements - as if he ever needed one; he speaks for a government that is not the slightest bit interested in negotiations. This government is interested only in providing the perception that its members are busy - but don't ask them at what. He is lying when he says that only Russia will stand out in the quartet supporting a UN recognition of a Palestinian declaration of independence. Both the UK and France have told Bar Kochba Netanyahu that unless he resumes talks before September they will support that declaration. And there is no guarantee that the US will use its veto in the Security Council. It has voted against us before and on settlements. And of the future? What of a clearly defined long term strategy? Where's the vision that will take us onwards? Of our future, and that of our children and grandchildren and their children? Nothing. Nothing but fear and paranoia and an ultimate isolation and war and bloodshed, which will make a modern Metzada, Massada, out of our Eretz Nehederet, our beautiful country.

On the one hand, Barak says building in the settlements will continue due to "natural population growth". However, if by some foolish and illogical agreement the "palestinians" acquire the lands that these houses are built on, "they will get the building, hence the issue if of no significance," No significance?? This man is insane, where are his priorities? Instead of fighting to hang to every centimeter of Israel, he's building houses for Jewish families in order to give them away later. These houses should be FLATTENED before any "palestinian" moves in. And Ehud Barak should have his position in the Knesset revoked and be put in an asylum.

if it is not significant why go ahead and build? It has been a stumbling block to any talks since day one- this does not make sense- it means the minister is talking out of both sides of his mouth.

They mean the leader of a make-believe party with no public support, a sham to keep this idiot in political life, more like life-support for a terminally-ill career. How can anyone justify Ehud Barak in such an important post as DM when he represents no elected party? Serial-bungler Barak should be removed from office along with that other relic, Shimon Peres, long-time weasel & political failure.

And a 100% chance of failure. When the Palestinians bring their bid for UN recognition of a Palestinian state, the Oslo Accords will be abrogated & let them suffer the consequences. The Unity Gov't. with Hamas makes Fatah as much a terrorist organization as Hamas. Goodby the fiction that Fatah was somehow ''moderate'' .......

The issue is NOT settlements. It's the RIGHT OF RETURN and its urgent implementation. That is, the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their homes in the Galilee, coastal areas of Palestine, and Jerusalem area. Thanks Barak for pointing the obvious.

Stupid goes right to the bone. Cannot anyone suggest, recommend, infer, imply overtly tell this stupid little man, that the military bravery of thirty years past is NOT license to ramble sub-moronically about things of political importance, today? Defence Minister, huh? I guess the answer to my question is "no".

Dear Nour, stop believing that this "right" of return will ever happen. It is a Palestinian wet dream, and an Israeli red line. You will never be able to cross that line, not via the left or the right of the Israeli political spectrum. Israelis will not give up on their right to a Jewish state.

tell your so called "people" to release Shalit. Your home is Jordan. Go there now.

THank you

If it is impractical to end natural growth in the settlements why should there not be increased construction in east Jerusalem where school space for Arab children is sorely lacking. Or don't Arabs deserve schools and decent housing. Like our ancestor Joseph we are too glib and smart by half.

the hole on the face of arab-lover barak. Doesn't he know by now that he is loathed and unwanted except by the arabs. He's constantly pissing himself with fear. Poor devil, too. I always feel sorry for the likes of him.

believe that the Jews are stealing their (arabs) land. What is wrong with the arab head besides it being THICK? One sensible answer would be most appreciated. But now I understand why that thing that sits on their shoulders is empty.

The Three Little Jews Big Bad Barak: "Little Jews Little Jews let me in." Three Little Jews: "Not by the hair on our chinny chin chins." Big Bad Barak: "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in." Sound familiar? Actions speak louder than words. If you claim houses and buildings don't matter then stop destroying them.

Are not "a stumbling block" to peace. They are yet another excuse for abbas to not come to the negotiation table. Fact is, as Bibi said, peace is not about land, it is not about right of return, it is about elimination of Israel, Judaism and Zionism from the planet. The arab world will never be happy until those goals just stated are achieved. Am I alone in recognizing that even if, by some miracle, abbas were to recognize Israel as a Jewish country, and give up his pursuit of right of return and division of Jerusalem, and peace were declared... there are all other muslim countries sworn to our destruction? Will not Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran etc... all want a slice of Israel? In these times of arab unrest, I pray that Israel refrains from making any exchanges of land for peace with any of her neighbors. As is evidenced by egypt's emerging leadership, treaties with these people are only as good as the paper they are written on. Promises made to Israel, America, or any other of the world's "infidels" are made by the muslims to be broken. Wake up people, when they decide to attack, again, they will come after all of us, even those "liberal" Jews who advocate for the poor innocent palestinians and Israeli arabs who have more freedoms in Israel than in any arab lands.

To add to my previous post... I am in favor of peace with Israel's neighbors. If they were sincere in their pursuit of peace, they would recognize that all they need do is: 1) Declare peace 2) lay down their arms 3) educate their people that Israel is country of laws, morals, and people of many faiths and backgrounds, not the dogs and monkeys they have taught their children for generations now. The facts are clear, Israel is not interested in occupying other countries. If they were, they would have annexed all of Judea and Samaria long ago instead of subscribing to, and participating in decades of "peace process" with "peace partners" who have proven themselves to be disingenuous at best.

As we can see here from some of the talkbacks, building isn't the issue. Te dreamers who have been raised with lies their entire loves, actually believe there is a right of return, there is not! Nowhere is written into International Law, and even Resolution's from the UN do not offer it as an absolute right, but only a consideration among others i.e. compensation etc., so the idea is ludicrous. But also we have the issue of Israel staying in complete control of the Jordan river, a natural military defensive boundary. So it's not just about building houses, is it? Then of course comes the obvious, Hamas, and their refusal to recognize Israel, negotiate with Israel, renounce violence and terrorism against Israel. Now that's the true obstacle to peace, isn't it? Israel really doesn't have any true partner to deal with, only people who dream of destroying Israel, the only difference, is one of tactics. After all we forget both Hamas and the PLO charters still call for the destruction of Israel, don't they?

If the building in the settlement area didn't mean anything then WHY has this little dim whit of a DM held up building permts in Judea/Samaria!? Was it because he knows that any buildings that the Jews put up will be handed over to the PA when there is another forced eviction in the Judea/Samaria region!!!??? He's telling everyone right out that THIS is what is going to happen so you people in Judea/Samaria better make plans to go it alone if you have to. Since there is a TWO STATE solution on the table, how bout one of those states being ISRAEL and the OTHER State being the Kingdom of Judah!!!??? Has a nice ring to it, don't you think!!!??? It's either THIS or be forced to be evicted so that your enemies will get YOUR house and YOUR business just as they did in Gaza!!! And the Lukid poses as a government for Jews!!! You sure can't tell that by their actions lately!!!

Just look at how the "landgrab" in Gaza stole ALL the land there. This is such patently stupid claim it is amazing people seriously make it

as long as Abbas/Hamas not recognize Israel there cannot be honest peace talks. Shalom from Holland

It won't matter that I'm eating your pizza's delicious cheese-filled crust! you'll still have most of your slice. Please excuse me because its only natural that I'm hungry and I want to eat it away while I negotiate your right to your only remaining slice!!!! Such a moron, such hypocrisy ! vote YES for Palestinian recognition, vote for our just cause and long due self determination.

There's a fallacy in your logic. Your metaphor is flawed. Pizza cannot be returned once eaten. Unless you want to accept excrement or vomit. Land can be returned in the same or even better condition than when it was taken. However, Jewish lives cannot be returned once killed. The thing WE value (lives) cannot be returned once taken. Land (which Palestinians value more than life) can be returned.

What are we building housing for illegal arab settlers? Nothing for them. They are trespassers on our land. If bibi had a gram of sense in his head, he would fire burak immediately. And plac him under house arrest, held incommunicato for the rest of his life. This jr. peres is a real danger to our survival. Finally to count on eurabians to be fair. The eurabians are only using the arabs as proxies to kill Jews!

of The Green Line? I don't think so as you seem to have bought Arab and western leftwing propaganda. That's not an idle question as many Israelis are actually frightened of travelling east toward the "territories". At any rate, in Gush Etzion, you would see large stretches of land on hilltops on which Arabs can still build. Their homes, incidentally, are built on very large pieces of land which stretch across the hilltops with much space between houses whereas Jewish homes are built with comparitively little space. On the other hand, from Ramallah to Jerusalem, there is a huge number of Arab homes without any comparitive space between but, unlike our cities, few actual housing (apartment) complexes. You can view this yourself if you go to the hill in Jerusalem where the Jordanian king has his land and (still unfinished) palace. These are the facts from the ground, Pinhas, not some piece of false propaganda which you seem to strew our way. Did you think you'd get away with it in an Israeli newspaper other than Haaretz?

barak is an after though,t but still his voice is heard.his words are not absurd ; they are grossly idiotic and absurd.