The big news out of the Middle East yesterday was the Israeli government’s decision to approve an expansion of the Gilo settlement near Jerusalem. The White House’s muddled position on settlement expansion has been a key part of Israel-Palestine negotiations. Many headlines framed the news as you’d expect (New York Times: “Plan to Expand Jerusalem Settlement Angers U.S.”, for example).
The Washington Post, though, went with this headline today: “Housing Plan for Jerusalem Neighborhood Spurs Criticism.”
The article by Howard Schneider refers to a “disputed neighborhood of Jerusalem,” the “Jewish neighborhood of Gilo,” a place “annexed to the city in a step not recognized by the international community.”
There is also a reference to White House policy, noting that the Obama administration “has vacillated in its stance on Israeli construction in areas claimed by the Palestinians.” This is downright bizarre; the entire discussion about “Israeli construction” concerns illegal Israeli settlements–or, perhaps more accurately, colonies–in the West Bank. Why, then, refuse to label Gilo accurately? It’s an old story, actually; as Extra! pointed out in 2002, Gilo was a cause for pro-Israeli media activists, who pressured outlets like CNN to stop referring to Gilo as a settlement and use terms more innocuous like “neighborhood.” It’s still working, it would seem.
No surprise that this is happening – remember the AIPAC essentially gave Bill Clinton seed money to get into the 1992 primary = George W had a special meeting in May 98 – assumed to be the seed money for his primary run =practically every Senator and Congressperson has voted in favor of all legislation that pertains in any way to Israel – AIPAC has awarded most of the “politicians” with campaign contributions which they brag puts the Israel Regime in control of the U.S. political arena. And, remember when the young man started AIPAC – when he was asked what his goal was – to conquer the White House.
When President Obama campaigned – he said and I believed him sincerely – that no one was above the law, but Israel has and is in violation of the 1967 agreement – has never permitted any inspection of their nuclear inventory – has constantly abused any possible agreement meetings with Palestine – and no one seems to believe they should walk in the same tracks as the honest walkers walk. Too bad the folly of it all is that U.S. is being dragged through the barnyard crap for years and even though our new President was supposedly stop cowling down to the Regime, it is still the “walking a lot – talking a lot – but doing nothing a lot.
No surprises in content or context here… American politicians continue to treat the Cuban conquerors of Miami & the Israelis as the “Golden children” of the 20th Century. One is reminded of the pigs in Orwell’s “Animal Farm” as being “more equal”. Hello! Perhaps, though,as our new Century unfolds, there will be some comeuppance for our misplaced preferences, and a return to an international Rule of Law. One can only pray… ^..^
Nothing else can be expected from the Washington Post. They’re well-known big shills for AIPAC and the rest of the macabre Israeli lobby.
Nothing else can be expected from the Washington Post. They’re big shills for AIPAC and the rest of the macabre Israel lobby.
We are simply “preaching to the choir” here.
What we need to do is contact our Senators and Representatives and let them know, in no uncertain terms, that we as committed voters will oppose any elected official that does not move to require that Israel comply with the international demands that it withdraw from the settlements deemed by the international community to be illegal, that Israel cease any and all expansion outside of the 1967 borders, and that Israel returns to sincere peace talks with the Palestinians immediately. Our Senators and Representatives need to know that we will oppose all aid to Israel, including supplying parts and/or replacements for any military equipment we have supplied to the State of Israel if those conditions are not met.
If Israel insists on starting a war in the middle east, Israel needs to understand that they are completely on their own, and that the United States condemns and will not, in any way, be complicit in their actions.
Since Gilo was partially built on land purchased by Jews prior to 1948, and according to the 1947 UN Partition Resolution, the area of Gilo was supposed to be part of the Jerusalem that was to be internationalized, is, then, Gilo a “settlement”, a “colony”, a “neighborhood” or a darn Jewish ghetto that seems to bother to many liberals.
this is a reply to those Jews who refer to me, and people like me as” anti-semitic ” I am very proud to be a progressive Jew who is ashamed of those who are committing genocide in my name. there are many ways to kill people other than a holacaust. I feel that the government of Israel has betrayed the symbolism of the holacaust by their actions, and shame on all those Jews who support their policies.
The issue is whether Israel and the PA are to start negotiations. Since the PA doesn’t represent Gaza, they can’t enforce any deal they sign. So the negotiations are useless, anyway. Unless they’re working toward a new Arab State in the West Bank only.
Gilo is irrelevant to all of this. Abbas wants a construction freeze so Israel is slowing down considerably; But nothing in return from Abbas.
Regardless, Abbas will be out of office in a few years. And Gilo will still be a Jewish residential area in south Jerusalem.
Ruderman: There is no genocide, both the Israelis and the Arabs are increasing in numbers. The deaths due to traffic accidents are close in number to the deaths due to conflict.
Fredj: Will you stop with the misinformation.
“Abbas wants a construction freeze so Israel is slowing down considerably, but nothing in return from Abbas.”
What a disingenuous statement. Tearing down Palestinian houses in Palestinian land warrants no concession from Abbas. So Abbas wants a construction freeze and “Israel is slowing down considerably.” What a lame statement.
So the mass killings of Palestinians beginning in 1947 and continuing through Gaza in 2009 with 1400 killed is no genocide? “The deaths due to traffic accidents are close in number to the deaths due to conflict.” Even if that were true, that’s really a callous, unfeeling, uncaring minimalism of human carnage and suffering.
My Gods, where is your humanity?!