Israel advancing large settlement construction plan

[GandD 5,966]

By Batsheva Sobelman

June 12, 2013, 7:33 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- As U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry is poised to return to the region, Israel is advancing a plan for a large-scale expansion of a West Bank settlement, according to Israeli media reports.

Plans for more than 600 housing units in the settlement of Itamar were recently submitted to authorities, the reports say. If completed, the new construction would significantly expand the settlement, which currently has about 1,200 residents.

A previous government pledged more housing for Itamar after five family members were killed in an attack in their home. Ehud Barak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previous defense minister, gave initial approval to moving ahead with the project last year.

While settlers welcomed the news, liberal lawmaker Zehava Galon described the move to local media as "giving the U.S. the finger" while the government was engaged in efforts to resume the peace process.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu told lawmakers that settlement construction would continue but that there was a need "to be smart, not only right" about it.

Recently released figures from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics show new construction in the West Bank this yearhas increased almost threefold compared with the same months in 2012.

In recent days, the issues of peace talks and a two-state solution have caused some tension in Netanyahu's coalition, exposing deep differences between the partners and raising questions about his ability to engage in peace talks with the Palestinians.

But Netanyahu continues to say he seeks renewed negotiations. Last week he urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to "give peace a chance" and drop preconditions for entering talks.

Kerry was expected in Israel this week for his fifth visit since taking office in February, but the trip was postponed. It is believed he will now arrive next week.

Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a Netanyahu ally, said this week in a radio interview that "we are interested in Kerry succeeding."

http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-israel-settlements-20130612,0,6854913.story

[Karee 4,190]

http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-israel-settlements-20130612,0,6854913.story

Yay!! Let's reward them with billions more dollars. It reminds me of a rich girl smoking crack. Her parents warn her to stop. She ignores her parents, yet they still giver her more money while saying "If you don't stop, there's going to be consequences" After they have the talk with her, she starts shooting Heroin. The parents still giver her more money. Everyone knows the rest of the story.

Basically the U.S. is enabling a bunch of land thieves. The U.S. tells them to stop stealing land. Israel does it anyway, and we reward them for it. And then the U.S. is pretends to be shocked by it.

I think whoever sets foreign policy towards Israel, needs to watch a few episodes of Intervention on A&E. They might learn something.

[GandD 5,966]

The only way to defend their country is to annex everything around them. You know, terrorists.

[Karee 4,190]

The only way to defend their country is to annex everything around them. You know, terrorists.

If you think any differently, you hate Jews and you're a Nazi.

[Darnell 8,478]

this is stupid - yet another settler incursion? I says stop all funding into Israel, boycott their exports ...

[JohnR! 5,495]

this is stupid - yet another settler incursion? I says stop all funding into Israel, boycott their exports ...

More decadence....

I say have the Israelis pay back the money they owe us and stop sending them money immediately. In addition, let them defend themselves. They are big boys now.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I agree that when it comes to continuing expansion of settlements Israel is their own worst enemy. This is Dumb with a capital B.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The more Israel keeps building, the larger the Palestinian state gets.