FO, what you call “residual territory” is land designated for a Palestinian Arab state. It was never intended to be a part of an independent Jewish state as made clear by the Churchill White Paper. International law is not created by interpretations of individual lawyers or single countries but by the consensus of Nations. The unanimous consensus of other nations and the organizations that they have created to represent them and international law is that the settlements violate the human right provisions of the Geneva Convention and the right to self-determination. Both of these are jus cogens and erga omnes meaning that they admits of no exceptions and are binding upon all nations. To the extent that Israel refuses to abide by these laws it is a rogue nation whose leaders are subject to prosecution by the International Criminal Court where their conviction is a virtual certainty. Why do the US and EU focus so much attention on the illegal settlements? Because they are under attack by Islamist Jihadists who foster public ambivalence and confusion by deliberately concealing their true agenda behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Remove that cloak by settling the conflict and they will be exposed to all for what they really are: Islamic terrorists, pure and simple. The unsettled state of affairs in Arab-Moslem countries and increasing presence of Moslems in the Western world has created a heightened sense of urgency on the part of the U.S. and EU to remove any ambiguity and misdirected public support produced by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are fools or worse not to appreciate that the world needs a peace agreement even more than we do.

What you call “residual territory” is land designated for a Palestinian Arab state. It was never intended to be a part of an independent Jewish state as made clear by the Churchill White Paper published prior to approval of the Palestinian Mandate. International law is not created by interpretations of individual lawyers or single countries but by the consensus of Nations. The unanimous consensus of other nations and the organizations that they created to represent them and international law is that the settlements violate the human right provisions of the Geneva Convention and the right to self-determination. Both of these are jus cogens and erga omnes meaning that they admits of no exceptions and are binding upon all nations. To the extent that Israel refuses to abide by these laws it is a rogue nation whose leaders are subject to prosecution by the International Criminal Court where their conviction is a virtual certainty. Why do the US and EU focus so much attention on the illegal settlements? Because they are under attack by Islamist Jihadists who foster public ambivalence and confusion by deliberately concealing their true agenda behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Remove that cloak by settling the conflict and they will be exposed to all for what they really are: Islamic terrorists, pure and simple. The unsettled state of affairs in Arab-Moslem countries and increasing presence of Moslems in the Western world has created a heightened sense of urgency on the part of the U.S. and EU to remove any ambiguity and misdirected public support produced by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are fools or worse not to appreciate that the world needs a peace agreement even more than we do.

A quick clarification David: Israel terms it "disputed" and yet builds settlements on it; the rest of the world including the United States calls it "occupied territory" and the settlements illegal.

for years to do so. And, if they refuse to do so, one can only assume they don't return to the negotiating table because they refuse to talk about Peace for Peace, based on UN Security Council Resolution, 242, 1967. The reason: They would, at the end of the process, be forced to accept Israel's RIGHT to be, to exist as the SOVEREIGN NATION-STATE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE,. And, since they can't accept its existence as such on ANY parcel of the Jewish people's ancestral homeland, they keep finding excuses why not to talk peace.

Very sad, we're self-destructing by allowing a minority of extremist Zionists destroy our democracy, a country that I with many others worked hard to establish over the years. Truly sad. Time for the silent majority to speak up before it's too late.

Sigh...I will put this simply for you with a quick clarification: The territory is “disputed” as it had no legal sovereign for years, including the time when Israel was attacked (and attacked, and attacked, from before the League of Nations declarations and on [a minor point for you, I’m sure]). Disputed territory cannot be “occupied”.

1. The ersatz "Palestinians" have no standing to bring a suit before the ICJ. 2. The ICC has no jurisdiction over the State of Israel because Israel is not a signatory to the treaty which established the ICC. Neither, by the way, is the United States. 3. The best way to preserve our wonderful State and restore our goals and vision is to annex Judea and Samaria and repatriate its Arab population to Jordan, country of their citizenship. They can rename Jordan whatever they like, although calling it "Palestine" is really rather ridiculous, because there is no letter "P" in the Arab alphabet. The closest they can come is the sound of either the letter "B" or the letter "F." Pathetic, really. But I would remind you that the ersatz "Palestinians" were the aggressors -- and losers -- in six wars, and have engaged in vile acts of violence and terror against Jews both in the State of Israel and in the Diaspora for over seven decades -- long before Israel acquired Judea and Samaria. Do you really think they should be rewarded for their belligerence with a third state? I've met Rachel Rabin. Her English isn't nearly as good as yours. Don't you believe in your own thoughts enough to sign your real name to them?

Calling Judea and Samaria "occupies" has nothing to do with the law. It is 100% politically motivated, just like the old U.N. "Zionism is Racism" resolution. The legal truth about Israel's ownership of Judea and Samaria is incontrovertible fact. It has been proven by countless international law scholars. Israel's enemies can't even publicly debate the issue because the truth is so totally on Israel's side. That is why the terrorist P.A. refused MK Danny Ayalon's challenge to debate Judea and Samaria.

Of all the reasons to make decisions, fear is absolutely the worst motive. Yet leftists, like yourself, are constantly trying to scare Israel into doing stupid self destructive things. You don't scare Israel with your ICC/ICJ threats. In fact, this would be a golden opportunity for Israel to win the support of every good fair minded person. The proof of Israel's ownership of Judea and Samaria is so overwhelming, our enemies refuse to even debate it. The P.A. flatly refused MK Danny Ayalon's challenge to debate Judea and Samaria. Countless international law experts have proven this. Polls show the vast sane patriotic Israeli majority is opposed to the monstrous evil Two State Final Solution, which would give Israel's genocidal enemies our heartland and turn Israel into a 9 mile wide concentration camp.

This message is addressed to members of the vast sane patriotic majority of Israel. Instead of complaining, let's get a true campaign going to save Israel from lunatic policies. Call at least 5 MKs each day to DEMAND a complete end to all Israeli support for evil Fictional Palestine. No more food. No more money. No more materials. No more electricity. NOTHING for our genocidal enemies. Demand Israel stop being the only state in history dumb enough to support its enemies. Don't waste time calling leftist parties. Call only centrist and patriotic right parties. Have your family members and friends do the same.

Sigh. I will put this even more simply: there are no relevant international conventions that apply to Judea and Samaria because the West Bank is nonsovereign. Get it? Nonsovereign. Not "disputed." Jordan controlled the West Bank, went to war against Israel and lost the West Bank. Israel is not the "occupier." Israel is the victor in a war of aggression launched by Jordan. What part of that do you not understand? By the way -- I'll save you the trouble of making yourself appear even more of a horse's ass (and no, I am not referring to Ms. Ashton's unfortunate visage). Israel is not in the business of appeasing the international community. Israel is in the business of looking after the national security of Israel and seeing to the well-being of Jews. The only thing that could possibly please the international community would be Israel to roll over and cease to exist. And that's not going to happen. By the way, you're not Jewish. Shouldn't you call yourself "Bint Dawwid Suleiman?" Yes, I noticed. BDS. You're not at all clever, and you're astonishingly ignorant of law and geopolitical reality. Perhaps you should confine yourself to tiddlywinks. That's more your speed. The Geneva Convention does not apply to Judea and Samaria. The Geneva Convention applies exclusively to sovereign states.

The Palestinians and Arab world constantly Destroys and seeks to destroy lives and cities - evident in their actions from rocket fire in Gaza to the streets of Alleppo Syria. Yet the UN remains quiet When Israel seeks to defend itself or in this case construct, build, create and contribute - we get condemned. Quiet to those who Destroy Loud to those who seek to Create. This is the UN

Baroness Ashton hasn't been elected by anyone. She would do us a big favour, if she started to worry about the countries she represents. For beginning, she should condemn the rise of antisemitism and neo-Naziism in Hungary, the plight of over million Romas in Eastern Europe, to the slaughter that goes every day in Syria, in Dalfour, to the rise of Brotherhood in Egypt, to the plight of Kurds and declare Hezbollah, for what they are, a terrorist organization. Until such time Catherine, please, shut up!

Why doesn't she go after the Arabs who abuse & mutilate their women? Who have no respect for human life? How much $$$ does she get from the Arabs for siding with them and instigating againt Israel? She's some piece of work.

Someone please refresh my memory, when did Ms. Butt ugly become the PM of Israel? MORE ISRAELI BUILDING IS THE BEST POLICY. KEEP BUILDING !!!!!!

If she is so interested in East Jerusalem I can offer Ms. Ashton an East Jerusalem condo at a discount.

Excellent unparalleled. Thanks you so much. Shalom and Mazel.

But she was close.....

Well this time I'm really disappointed about you. Being a lawyer, you are not in court, at this moment, to defend a dubious lawsuit, but you undermine the history of the country YOU live in! You wrote about what I call the "residual territory" (the so called West Bank) that "it was never intended to be part of an independent Jewish state as made clear by the Churchill White Paper published prior to approval of the Palestinian Mandate". First of all, Dear Sir, Churchill had in mind the East Bank of the Jordan River and not the West Bank. Anyhow Britain as Mandatory of Palestine had to respect the road map imposed by the League of Nations by the unanimous vote of all its 51 members, in 1922, and not interpret it! What Britain, as a colonial minded power, never did. They breached Article 5 of the Mandate, by ceding the Golan Heights to the French Mandate of Syria, and by a treacherous way convincing the League of Nations to "postpone or withhold", (but not to nullify) the application of the Mandate for the East Bank, in order to create by their own decision, later on, an artificial country named Jordan. Furthermore the illegal British White Papers intended to limit and stop Jewish immigration to Palestine, what made Britain a collaborationist of Hitler in the extermination of European Jewry. And you, On the Balcony, you deny Jewish-Israeli rights on behalf of a British White Paper !?

Jump Off The Balcony is another in a series of fictional lawyers posting rubbish on behalf of Fictional Palestine. It is very appropriate that a fictional state, with a fictional government and fictional economy should also be represented by fictional lawyers.

Tens of thousands dead in Syria and you have the cheek to call on Israel to show restraint! You and you impotent and incompetent EU have done NOTHING to stop the carnage in Syria. In fact, you have actually aided and abetted in the killing by talking crap and letting the Russians and the Chinese support Assad! As for the Palestinians, tell them to hold fair and free elections, recognize Israel as the home of the Jewish People. If you can't then shut up, resign and let some who is not as Antisemitic as you take over!

Ignorant she sounds? Calls for jihad Against Israel Has Been Published Just Yesterday, these calls for destruction are from gaza and occupied Ancient East Manassah and Gad Territories. The terrorists of hizbullah have Threatened War With The Jewish State All Because ashtons persian arab friends are Still Fomenting, Giving Orders, boots on the ground and hizbullahs participation as well. And you speak of Israeli Settlements Again? Your Dence At The Least?

Please! Cite those 'relevant' laws!

The so-called lady (seems her line is a little bit degenerated thru the centuries) is so stupid that even over here she appears as an utmost incompetent moron. Nevertheless, she got this job with supoiort from other morons. One of this stupid political figures in EU landscape who are dumped from local play to Brussels where there are many of them awating their pension. On the expense of EU tax payers. In a way, the Brussels' bureau-crazy is like a cancer.

Nobody elected Ben Bernanke either, and he dictates to the world Ms. Ashton is just another un-elected dictator

For a different interpretation of Ashton's remarks, see: EU Ashton Supports Jewish Prayer on the Temple Mount http://myrightword.blogspot.com/2013/05/eu-ashton-supports-jewish-prayer-on.html

Israel can sue the shit out of them and recoup attorneys fees and, the wonderful publicity they crave above life itself.

Yes please cite "the" relevant laws?? Ms BDS.

She is certifiable. How did someone so full of racist hate ever get to the top of the EU? Now that's really disturbing.