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Israel to retain 85% of settlement blocs, Kerry reportedly says
Orly Azoulay
Published: 01.08.13, 10:28
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54 Talkbacks for this article
1. land swaps
Daniel ,   Nahariya   (08.01.13)
Time for a Revolution!!! Over our dead bodies
2. so much for no leaks
CJK   (08.01.13)
this seems like a trial balloon. kerry or unnamed sources, well informed sources, will continue to leak like a sieve. anyone who believes anything that is leaked is a fool.
3. Pure propaganda, it'll never work
Yossef   (08.01.13)
thanks to Hamas
4. what is certain: Obama will bully Israel till the end
Cipora Julianna Kohn   (08.01.13)
the wall street journal has an article titled: "obama's creeping authoritarianism." netanyahu and those closest to him need to keep in mind that they are dealing with a snake. the american political establishment is totally paralyzed by this snake. netanyahu cannot allow himself to be caught in the same situation. he cannot acquiesce to general allan determining israel's security needs. netanyahu must, no matter what, keep the initiative or else he and israel will be swallowed whole.
5. Don't worry
John ,   USA   (08.01.13)
Israel will make legal most of the territories it has opened for settlement with this move. There will be no peace and there will be conflict between gaza and westbank and with a final strike Israel at last will completely acquire the region.
6. Is this a joke? The only good bit is that it is so vague
Miracle Dog ,   Israel   (08.01.13)
So first, Israel will keep the settlement blocs. Now it's 85%. How long is it before we give up everything apart from Ramat Aviv, Hertziliya Pituach, Kfar Shmaryahu, and Keserya, all linked by a system of tunnels? First they came for the socialists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.
7. Sugardaddy already has decided...
Alf Red ,   Londonistansk   (08.01.13)
It transpires the "talks" are just a smokescreen - the Sugardaddy Primus already has decided who gets what, and we must thank him that " a homestead for Jewish people" will be preserved. Sorry, "Homeland". Some miniscule indefensible ghetto-ranch in the ocean of Arab lands. Bibi doesn't like it, but being what he is, a plasticine baby, he will be quickly persuaded. May be, by given another expensive bed for the aeroplane to travel in his sleep. Indeed, we need a Revolution! Before it is too late!
8. No less than 100%
Sarah B. ,   U.S.A./Israel   (08.01.13)
If Hussein Obama wants to evacuate Jews from their homeland he will have to pay no less than USD 500 thousand to each family... No less than that.
9. Horizon 2020 program
Cipora Julianna Kohn   (08.01.13)
israel should withdraw from this program if the eu insists on implementing its directives regarding israel's borders and activities beyond the armistice lines. israel should not under any circumstances allow anyone at all to determine her borders. that would be the death of israel's sovereignty. since israel's participation would require an investment of some 800 million dollars, those monies can be invested elsewhere.
10. Israel LOST & were Endangerned under USA Democrat Parties
Zion Warrior ,   Everwhere   (08.01.13)
Just glance back in time & you will see that Israel's security was weakened, Life were endangered, Life were lost, Israel was humiliated & Lost under American pressures of mainly Democrat Party! The shameful & upsetting part is that most people who directly & indirectly supported all pressures on Israel to surrender to the Terror & Land Swaps are bunch of disgusting self hating American Jews mainly reside in NY & CA! (I have some in my own family unfortunately) These self hating Jews which interestingly some are even call themselves Religious ( Modern Orthodox) What these people all have in common is a belief that Israel should @ all time & scenarios maintain a great & strong bond with the USA even at the price of giving Land & Painful compromises Just to Keep USA happy! After all over the course of year Israel turned to the 51st American State, our Leaders are fond of USD & greatly in service of the White House & enjoy hefty bribes of Americans.... Shame on Israeli Leaders! both left & right are just the same jokers ... On W
11. Really!
Daniel ,   Nahariya   (08.01.13)
14 “However, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ 15 but it will be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors.
12. #8 Sarah B - No
Devorah   (08.01.13)
Putting a price on our heads is like putting a yellow star on our chests. No more. Never again.
13. #6 it doesnt matter
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (08.01.13)
Once Israel accepts a foreign sovereign state in her heartland, we are lost, it does not matter whether it is over 30% or 100% of Judea and Samaria. The Arab state will destroy Israel's water and other natural resources. Its impoverished and embittered populace will immigrate to Israel, legally or illegally, and once in Israel will demand secession wherever they live (places like Haifa, Shfaram, Lod). A massive wave of foreign Arabs (many Jihadis) will immigrate into that state, after which they will move to Israel. Officially or through "previously unknown" groups, Israel will be subject to terror attacks which she can't defend against to avoid violating the Arab sovereignty. When these attacks get to Ramat Gan, Herzliya, Tel Aviv and the Airport, Israel economy will not be viable, especially with the added costs of defense and law enforcement. None of the above is new or surprising. It has been the Arab strategy for almost a century, Israel will be eulogized as proof that representative democracies are not viable. Once the leadership is sufficiently corrupted, the state can be induced to commit autogenocide.
14. no democracy, no peace!
nadav ,   tlv   (08.01.13)
No peace treaty will last until the ersatz palestianians have a united government that is based on liberal democratic principles with a system of checks and balances. Otherwise, any peace treaty Abbas (who is technically a dictator since he is illegally past his term) signs can be abrogated if his government is replaces like those of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, etc. ALso, there can be no lasting, just solution to the conflict without the palestinian majority in Jordan being denied a democratic voice in that country. After all, why should the majority of palestinians, who live in Jordan, be denied majority rule because of some British-invented monarchy?
15. Israel to Retain 85%
Nili   (08.01.13)
Kerry's goal is a Homeland for the Jewish people?!? We already have our homeland and its about time we speak up or we won't have bupkiss! Wake up and smell the coffee. Obummer has promised to give all to the PA and now it is in motion. Get Rid of Netanyahu now or we are doomed...
16. I estimate that everyone should just keep things quiet
Jacob E ,   Holon, Israel   (08.01.13)
There will be a popular vote among the people for any peace deal, so everyone in connection to the negotiations should really just shut up. No need to rile people up now. Leaks just hurt the talks. Just keep your big mouths shut and let them work.
17. Reality?
michael ,   israel   (08.01.13)
Wishful thinking from unidentified sources. Highly suspect.
18. #8 Yes Cash up front no useless political gaurantees
Martin SA   (08.01.13)
#8 Yes Cash up front no useless political gaurantees like what happened in Gaza withdrawal. Why not 120% the additional should be AS A PENALTY knas for rockets suicide bombers rock and stone throwers etc.
19. Agreed #12. How true indeed!
Israeli 2   (08.01.13)
20. Land swaps
Mark ,   London, UK   (08.01.13)
Will they get barren desert or the overwhelmingly Arab towns? What about Israeli Arabs who don't want to give up their citizenship and rights?
21. And Hamas Will Say They Did Not Agree
emanon ,   USA   (08.01.13)
With no fewer than three groups claiming to represent their interests, it is a no win situation for Israel: all the other groups have to say is they did not agree to this and whatever was stipulated with one group is automatically dead. There is no chance of peace with a group trying to kill you, much less three groups that can't even agree among themselves on anything beyond a Jew free world.
22. Blah...Blah...Blah...
ABC   (08.01.13)
Zionist arm-chair critics...all talk and no action....if those sitting pretty elsewhere in their echo chamber can do a better job... come and live in Israel and vote for a change...otherwise...its all hot air....
23. Kerry phoned to congressmen?
tiki ,   belgium   (08.01.13)
What happened to "talks behind closed doors"?
24. #8
D ,   USA   (08.01.13)
A bit absurd to say no less than 100% and then provide your price for giving up.
25. It's all meaningless until Pals agree on all issues
Sam ,   Canada   (08.01.13)
Palestinian negotiators can make the impression that they are very generous so long as they don't have to sign on the dotted line. They do this to get free concessions from Israel and the West. However, there is no agreement on any of the issues for them so long as there is no agreement on all the issues.
26. 85% of the settlement blocs remain Israeli?
A ,   Belgium   (08.01.13)
Is that the best Bambi Livni could do? 100% of the settlements and 100% of Judea and Samaria remain Israeli. Very simple. Here's a better land swap: all arabs holding Jordanian passports should be immediatly expelled from Israeli land to Jordan/"palestine" land. After that, Israel can negotiate with the remaining few thousand arabs about their future, if the arabs are even willing to negotiate
27. # 8 Not the REAL Sarah Israel's NOT FOR SALE!
BUILD BABY BUILD !!! ,   United States   (08.01.13)
KEEP BUILDING !!!!
28. The real goal of the peace talks
Mordechai   (08.01.13)
All that can happen is Israel trades land for nothing. Abbas has been clear he will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state, never give up the right of return and never abandon terrorism. So Kerry's goal is Israel gives up everything but 85% of the large settlement blocks to make the Arab invasion easier
29. The Land of Israel
Brod ,   USA   (08.01.13)
Judea and Samaria-the Land of Israel is Israel's Historic and Biblical Homeland which Israel liberated from Arab Islamist-Jihadist occupation in the 20th century. Israel should say NO to this Kerry crap. Israel should not give an inch of its Land of Israel to the Islamist-Jihadist usurpers. Israel should NOT allow external entities to be king or god of Israel. It is time to stop this 85% nonsense.
30. #8 and #12
Harold ,   USA   (08.01.13)
Why should the US pay 500 thousand dollars to each settler's family when all US Presidents told Israel that settlements on Palestinian lands are illigal. Moreover I don't believe Israel will keep 85 percent of the settlements.
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