(Articles prior to October 1 2005 are not available at this time) see News Archives

Dealing With Israel's Settler Movement
THE policy proclaimed by young Jewish settler-militants on the West Bank is called “Price Tag”. Whenever the
Israeli army tries to dismantle settler outposts—even individual caravans or huts—that have not been authorised
by the Israeli authorities, the militants retaliate violently. Not necessarily in the same place; they may hit
Palestinians or soldiers somewhere else. They stone cars, smash windows, burn olive trees and fields. They attack
villagers and shepherds, and tangle with the army and police.

Now a new government under Tzipi Livni, hitherto the foreign minister, looks likely to take over. Will she stiffen
General Shamni’s spine? For decades the Israeli establishment has been flaccid in the face of the settlers. But she
has a chance to build on the changing thinking of her three predecessors. Ehud Barak (1999-2001) accepted the
principle of swapping territory and sharing Jerusalem; Ariel Sharon (2001-06), actually evicted several thousand
settlers; and Ehud Olmert (2006-08) now says that the land swaps must be equal, so that the Palestinian state ends
up with the full equivalent of territory occupied by Israel in the war of 1967.
-October 19 2008
I have always said there is an easy answer to the settlement problems. All settlers should be offered full compensation to move into Israel proper. Those who do are generously compensated, and those who dont accept are welcome to stay in their homes in the illegal settlements, without the protection of ANY Israelis soldiers. They will be living in Palestine and they will have to deal with the Palestinians all on their own. How can this possibly not work?

Israel Must Rein In Settler Movement
-September 4 2008

Behind Closed Doors, Police Admit 'Turning A Blind Eye' To Settler Violence
The Shin Bet representative stated in the discussion that settler violence has been "intentional and planned," adding that
any Israel Defense Forces operations against settlers (eviction or demolitions) now comes with a violent "price tag."

Police officers at the meeting criticized the IDF for reportedly saying they do not want to act against settlers, and
purported comments like "Leave me alone, don't get me mixed up with those guys."

In response, chief of the West Bank precinct patrol unit said police also prefer not to confront settlers. "Sometimes cops
also avoid acting against Jews. There are also instances where police have looked the other way in order to say 'I didn't see
anything.'"
-August 19 2008

May Israel Withdraw More Lands From West Bank?
-August 18 2008
sure, if the palestinians would only positively negotiate with israel...
Israel 'Worry' At Settler Attacks
Israeli security officials are reported to have raised concerns about an increase in violence by Jewish settlers in the West
Bank.

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper said officials had found an increase in incidents of settlers causing harm to Palestinians and
to Israeli soldiers.
-August 18 2008
the fact that israel is "worried" about the acts of their own says a lot about their society

Nothing Justifies Settlement Expansion
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Friday that "nothing justifies" Israeli settlement expansion, and urged Israel to do more to lift restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank.
-May 28 2008
and he is right. the fact that the palestinains have, and continue to commit horrible crimes against israel, thjis doesn't give them an excuse to build illegal settlements on palestinian land.

Shas Announce Settlement Expansion
Just hours before US President George W. Bush's arrival Wednesday in Israel, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai made a point of announcing that building beyond the Green Line would continue.
-May 16 2008
the Shas is a religious fundamentalist group, and they are about to ruin it for all of israel!

Livini: Israel Has No Hiden Agenda On The West Bank Settlements
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Sunday that Israel has "no hidden agenda" regarding West Bank settlements, after U.S. Secretary of State called Israel's policy in the area "problematic."
-May 6 2008
actually there was a plan being drawan up by Olmert LEAVING THE WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS until hamas kidnapped shalit and started this bloody battle with israel!

Sarkozy's Advice Was Just What Israel's Leaders Needed To Hear
French President Sarkozy has laid down a useful marker by telling his visiting Israeli counterpart, Shimon Peres, that his country's policy of "settling" occupied Palestinian land has to end. A successful peace process is the only guarantee of the Jewish state's security, Sarkozy said, and "settlements" undermine that process. Tellingly, the advice came from a man whose own politics and Jewish ancestry make him well-disposed toward Israel, and he prefaced the admonition by stressing that it came from "a friend."
-March 14 2008
by the way, let me make my position very clear to everyone: ISRAEL'S ILLEGAL PRESENCE IN THE WEST BANK DOES NOT IN ANY WAY EXCUSE OR EQUATE THE BARBARIC ACTS OF THE PALESTINIANS!

Sarkozy: Israel Must Stop 'Colonization'
Israel's security depends upon a halt to "colonization" in the West Bank, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday, as he welcomed his counterpart President Shimon Peres for a five-day state visit.
-March 14 2008
i have gained a lot more respect for sarkozy. looks like he is a genuine, but blunt,  friend of israel, and at the same time not a war-mongering neoconservative like his american counterparts.

Palestinians Sue For Land Taken By Settlers
Palestinian landowners on whose property the West Bank settlement of Homesh was constructed are demanding NIS 40 million in compensation and the right to access their land. The state is trying to reach an out-of-court compromise in order to avoid a precedent setting ruling.

In recent Justice Ministry talks, Attorney General Mike Blass concluded that if the case goes to trial, the court is likely to rule in favor of the plaintiffs. As such, efforts are being made to reach an agreement that would enable compensating the property owners without the case becoming a legal precedent. The Israel Defense Forces took over the property by means of "holding warrants." This means security forces are taking over the land in order to secure the area.
-January 13 2008
what many people dont know is that Palestinians have the right to sue the IDF IN ISRAELI COURS if they believe the IDF caused them an unnecessary loss. it is estimated that 2 out 3 times the israeli court will in favor of the palestinian.

Factbox: Israel's West Bank Settlements
Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank is again causing friction between Israel and Palestinians on the eve of a visit in which President George W. Bush hopes to bolster a recently revived, U.S.-sponsored peace process.
-January 11 2008
Israel Hiding Settlement Facts To Protect Image
THE Israeli Government has told a court that it does not want to reveal the true extent of Jewish settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories because the information would damage its image abroad, a local newspaper has reported.
-January 10 2008

Jewish Nationalists Form Human Chain Around Jerusalem Walls
Thousands of Israeli nationalists formed a human chain around Jerusalem's Old City on Tuesday to protest at peace talks with the Palestinians ahead of a visit by US President George W. Bush.

They gathered in the cold and rain near the ancient walls of the city, holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims, to claim Israel's right to the eastern half of the city, which it occupied in the 1967 war and annexed shortly afterwards.

The international community does not recognise Israel's claim to the mostly Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem, which Palestinians have demanded as the capital of their future state.
-January 10 2008
read this whole article and see how ridiculous and irrational these religious extremists sound to the average person.

Israel To Continue Settlement Construction
Israel will expand the construction in Jerusalem and in major settlement blocs in the West Bank, rather than build new settlements, local English daily the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

The newspaper quoted an anonymous senior Israeli official assaying, "It is very clear that we are committed not to building new settlements, and Israel has taken actions to curtail settlement activity over the last years."

"(But) it is well understood that there are (densely populated areas where) some activity will continue," he added.
-January 10 2008

O.U. Rejects Bush's Jerusalem Claim
The Orthodox Union rejected President Bush's claim that Jerusalem is a "tough issue."

In summing up his two days in Israel and the Palestinian areas, Bush on Thursday called on the parties to tackle core issues in peace talks, among them the status of Jerusalem.

"I know Jerusalem is a tough issue," he said. "Both sides have deeply felt political and religious concerns. I fully understand that finding a solution to this issue will be one of the most difficult challenges on the road to peace, but that is the road we have chosen to walk."

In a response statement, the Orthodox Union praised Bush's "record of staunch support for Israel’s security and Israel’s character as a Jewish state," but added "the fate of Jerusalem is not 'a tough issue.'
-January 10 2008
thats right, its not a tough issue. UN resolution 181, which created israel, called for jerusalem to be an international city. neither israelis or palestinians have the right to declare it their capital.

Video: Israel's Ongoing Settlement Construction
-January 10 2008

Military Presence In West Bank Justified
Maintaining an Israeli military presence in Judea and Samaria to protect Jewish lives is completely justified and overrides the concerns over Palestinian suffering, according to OC Chaplaincy Brig.-Gen. Avichai Ronzki.

"Our presence in Judea and Samaria is a case where one value, the value of Jewish life, takes precedence over another value, which is the prevention of Palestinian suffering," says Ronzki, who has a rich military past in addition to his rabbinic training.

The IDF Spokesperson's Office maintains that Ronzki's comments were referring solely to Israel's military presence, not to Jewish settlements as reported earlier in Tuesday's edition of The Jerusalem Post.
-December 31 2007
this may be a bad example, but i compare Israel and the Palestinian territories with U.S. and Afghanistan. The U.S. has the right to place its troops in afghanistan as long as the taliban remains a threat to the US. however, the U.S. has no right to build settlements and to start placing its civilians in afghanistan and using some perverted biblical prophecy to justify it.

Israel To Build New Settlements In East Jerusalem
Israel is planning to build new settlements, which will include 1,000 housing units, the biggest ever in occupied East Jerusalem area and the closest to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim has given the green light for a plan to build a new Jewish neighborhood in East Jerusalem, according to Israeli Haaretz newspaper on Wednesday.
-December 21 2007
the peace process takes another step backward

Evangelicals Blast Any Jerusalem Division
The heads of three major evangelical Christian organizations based in Jerusalem on Tuesday criticized the proposed division of Jerusalem as part of a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, saying such a move would severely restrict freedom of worship in the holy city.

"We view any attempt to divide the city as a tragic wedge that is unacceptable," said Rev. Malcolm Hedding, the executive director of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.
-December 19 2007
even if its going to save thousands of lives? its interesting how the evangelicals claim to care so much about an unborn baby, yet they seek a foreign policy which will cause perpetual war and deaths in the middle east.

POLL: Most Settlers Won't Leave For Cash
Only a small minority of settlers would leave their West Bank homes voluntarily if the government were to pay them compensation, a poll showed Friday.

Earlier this week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak endorsed a proposal to offer cash to Jewish settlers living on the "Palestinian" side of the security barrier Israel is building along and inside the West Bank. Barak reasons it could reduce forced evacuations if Israel reaches a peace accord with the Palestinians and agrees to cede West Bank land.
-December 9 2007
i have a perfect solution for this. if the settlers refuse the cash offer for their homes (that they built and/or paid for) the israeli government should withdraw all troops from the settlements, and tell the settlers they are now living in palestine where the idf wont protect them. i think the cash offer would sound a lot more appealing then dealing with the palestinians.

Israeli Vice PM Says Parts Of Jerusalem Must Be Given To Palestinians
Israel's Vice Premier Haim Ramon said on Sunday that parts of Jerusalem must be given to the Palestinians to avoid losing U.S. support, local daily Ha'aretz reported on its website.

According to the report, Ramon's comments were made in response to U.S. criticism of Israeli plans to expand an East Jerusalem neighborhood.
-December 9 2007

Olmert: Israel Will Freeze Settlement Activity And Evacuate Outposts
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday indicated that his administration would freeze all West Bank settlement activity and abandon all currently-existing illegal outposts.

Speaking to the Israeli Cabinet, Olmert told ministers that such a move would see Israeli fulfill its road map obligations.

"It is impossible to repeat that the road map is a strategic asset for Israel and at the same time to ignore our obligations ... let us admit to ourselves: We committed not to built new settlements ... we promised not to expropriate land ... We promised to raze illegal outposts ... We will not deviate from our principles, and we will fulfill all of our obligations," the Israeli PM stated.
-November 28 2007
i praise olmert for doing what Israel needs to do for peace, despite the threats from the jewish extremists He has completely redeemed himself of his past blunders.

Jerusalem's Israeli Mayor Announces Plan For Annexation Of East Jerusalem
The Israeli mayor of Jerusalem (the city has two mayors: one Israeli, one Palestinian) Uri Lupolianski announced Wednesday that his municipal government would engage in a 'development plan’ for East Jerusalem, a plan which Palestinian residents of Jerusalem claim is actually annexation of Palestinian land for Israel.

Lupolianski presented the plan at a City Hall news conference Wednesday, stating that it is a 'way to keep Jerusalem united’. His statement conveniently left out the fact that Jerusalem is, in fact, a city under Israeli military occupation since 1967.
-November 24 2007
Jerusalem was actually supposed to be an international city monitored by the UN. neither the jews nor the muslims accepted this. Israel has no legal mandate to jerusalem. if israel insists on ruling a part of jerusalem, they must share it with their neighbors, the palestinians.

Division of Jerusalem Raised At Talks
Senior Israeli officials expressed support Monday for the transfer of Arab parts of Jerusalem to Palestinian control, offering a concession on one of the most contentious issues in the Mideast conflict. The offer appeared to fall short of Palestinian calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from key areas of the holy city.
-October 8 2007

Settlers Attack UN Personnel
Two residents of an illegal settlement outpost near Hebron attacked United Nations workers on Thursday.

The UN personnel were driving in the South Hebron Hills area when one of the settlers jumped on the car and smashed the windshield, sending shards of glass into the driver’s eye.
-August 3 2007
the settlers have n respect for anyone other than themselves

Everyone Knows the Solution
Anyone with eyes in his head knows the land will be divided between the Israelis and the Palestinians, along borders similar to the pre-1967 lines, and that the refugee problem will be resolved through a reparations arrangement. Every few years, there is an attempt to move toward such a diplomatic division, and the moderates suffer a resounding failure as radicals on both sides undermine compromises by claiming "it's all mine."

The settlers think - correctly, by and large - that every failed round of talks further strengthens them, and that time is on their side. But what is good for the settlers is bad for the country. Last week, Moshe Levinger and Daniella Weiss were once again clashing with Israel Defense Forces soldiers on hilltops. Another Sebastia at Homesh, another house commandeered by squatters, another expansion of an existing settlement, another infiltration of an Arab neighborhood. If Israel's strategic goal is to live in peace with its neighbors, it must work harder to block the settlers. Anyone who does not want a historic compromise is bolstered by the violence and suffering the sides cause each other.
-July 31 2007

Olmert: Israel Should Leave West Bank, But Not Unilaterally
Anyone who believes that Israel can maintain it current hold on all the West Bank is "living in a dream," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Friday, reiterating that Israel "needs to withdraw."

Speaking at a forum of Jezreel Valley farmers, Olmert said, however, that Israel would not make any unilateral withdrawals, and that any steps would need to be negotiated with the Palestinian Authority government.
-July 20 2007
Israel has no right to maintain settlements in the West Bank. However, no one should expect them to dismantle them unilaterally. The Palestinians are guilty too of terrorism, and not recognizing Israel. A West Bank withdrawl should be accompanied by changes on the Palestinian side as well.

UN Chief: Debate on Shaba Farms Ownership is Premature

The UN chief spoke in London, following a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in response to a Haaretz report earlier Wednesday saying the UN had asked Israel to hand the land over to UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

UN officials later denied the report, saying "the UN has not asked the government of Israel to hand over the Shaba Farms to the UN."

"The UN's cartographer continues his work and will be visiting the area shortly. The secretary-general remains engaged on the issue," a UN official said.
-July 16 2007
Hezbollah and its allies use the Shaba Farms as an excuse to launch attacks on Israel, but the problem with this is the Shaba farms is actually Syrian territory.

Court Rejects Jerusalem, Israel, Birthplace On Passports

A federal policy that bans Canadians from listing Jerusalem, Israel, as their birthplace on their passports does not violate the Charter of Rights, the Federal Court of Appeal says.

A three-judge panel has ruled that the Canadian government is not required to allow 19-year-old Eliyahu Veffer, the son of a Toronto rabbi, to change his passport to show that the city is part of Israel. "There is no discrimination here," the judges wrote in the decision released late last week.

"Mr. Veffer still maintains the freedom to express his faith and his subjectively held views as to the status of Jerusalem; he is just not able to do so in his Canadian passport."

The ruling, which concludes that any impact on Mr. Veffer's religious freedom is "negligible," notes that Canada's refusal to recognize that Jerusalem is part of Israel is consistent with the position of the United Nations.
-July 13 2007
what the jewish chouvenists just dont get is that Jerusalem is supposed to be AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. neither side is supposed to be in control of it. if israel is going to insist on ruling jerusalem, they must be willing to share it with their neighbors: the palestinians; who also have claims to jerusalem.

The Golan is Israeli
It is almost politically incorrect, practically heresy, to claim today that the Golan is not Syrian in the least nor a deposit or bargaining chip for negotiations. But it is precisely time to say so to the Israeli leaders who are trying to blunt the public's awareness.

The Golan is a lot more "Israeli" than "Syrian." It has been Israeli for 40 years, double the time it was in Syria's hands. It has been under Israeli sovereignty for 26 years. It has neither a foreign people nor a demographic problem. The Golan has become a part of Israeli life. It is the most frequently visited part of the country, dotted with dozens of Jewish communities, agricultural fields, industrial areas and tourist resorts, nature reserves and wild landscape.

Whoever talks about "returning" the Golan to Syria is being misleading. The Golan was placed under a French mandate in the colonialist agreement that divided the region; Syria won independence only in 1946. In the brief period it was in the Golan - 0.5 percent of its territory - Syria turned the region into a launching pad for its attempt to conquer and decimate Israel. The Syrian army shelled the Israeli communities along the border, attacked the Lake Kinneret fishermen, tried to divert the course of its waters and made life "down below" a Sderot-style hell. The Golan was conquered in a justified defensive war. We paid for it with blood. The Syrians lost it fair and square.
-June 18 2007
anyone who looks at this site long enough knows that i have no tolerance for illegal settlements on occupied land. however, i fully support and recognize the golan heights as being a part of Israel. unlike gaza and occupied west bank, Israel is not occupying the golan, they have annexed it. they have given full citizenship rights to ALL residents of the Golan - jewish and non-jewish.

No BBC, Jerusalem Is Not the Capital of Israel
-June 16 2007
Israel has absolutely no right to east jerusalem and has absolutely no right to consider Jerusalem as its capital. NO OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD CONSIDERS JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL'S CAPITAL not even their staunchest ally, the United States. It can't be that Israel is right and the rest of the world is wrong.

BBC Rejects Jerusalem as Israel's Capital
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) issued an apology this week for having referred to Jerusalem as being the capital of Israel in one of its broadcasts. The apology came in response to complaints by four Muslim-British organizations: Arab Media Watch, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, Friends of Al-Aksa and the Institute of Islamic Political Thought.

The reference to Jerusalem that drew the complaints occurred on March 24th, when a presenter on BBC’s Football Focus program mentioned that Jerusalem was, in fact, the capital of Israel, as well as her “historic soul."

Fraser Steel, head of editorial complaints at the BBC, sent each organization a letter in which he stated: "We, of course, accept that the international community does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and that the BBC should not describe it as such. I was therefore pleased to see that Katherine Tsang [BBC Information adviser], when she wrote to you in April, acknowledged the error and apologized for it. [Presenter] Steve Boulton and other senior managers in BBC Sport told us they very much regret the mistake and apologize for it."

The BBC is not the only one who has recently called into question the status of Jerusalem serving as the capital of the State of Israel. Recently, a Visa credit card customer noticed that his bill listed items he bought in Jerusalem’s Old City as purchases made outside the country of Israel.
-June 16 2007
the jewish extremists just dont get it. EAST JERUSALEM DOES NOT BELONG TO ISRAEL. in fact no part of jerusalem should belong to israel, it was meant to be under the control of the UN. But if Israel insists on owning west jerusalem, they must be willing to allow east jerusalem to be run by the other people on that land: the palestinians. jews need to learn that being jewish does not give them special privlages! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "CHOSEN PEOPLE"!

Cost Of Occupation - Over $50 Billion
This week Israel marked 40 years since the Six Day War in 1967 and the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Immediately following the war, organizations and politicians began criticizing Israel's occupation of the territories, and warned that Israel would end up paying dearly for it.

According to experts' estimates, the total economic cost of the occupation has by now reached more than $50 billion, including security and civilian expenses (the construction and maintenance of the settlements), as well as the potential loss of gross domestic product.

Furthermore, one of the most significant outcomes of the war was the establishment of the settlement movement in the West Bank and Gaza. Some 121 settlements have been built to this day in the West Bank (not including east Jerusalem), and are home to about 250,000 settlers.

The civilian costs in such communities are higher than in communities within the Green Line, due to the various security expenses: Armored vehicles, special lighting on highways, and large army and police forces required to defend them.

The civilian cost of the settlements is valued at about NIS 2.5 billion per year. The value of property built in the territories is estimated at over $14 billion, and the losses in domestic product for the Israeli economy due to the recession that followed the second intifada are estimated at NIS 50 billion.
-June 12 2007
why would israel spend so much money on imlitary occupation? could it be because there is a security threat? could it be becasue as soon as Israel withdraws the territory wil be used as a launching pad for attacks against civilians and kidnapping attempts?

now, this does not excuse the illegal settlements. the settlements actually decrease israel's security and were onlybuilt because of religious bigotry, something that has no place in politics. imagine how muhc better off Israel would be if they didn't have to maintain the illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

Peace Now in Hebron: Expel Settlers From City
Under heavy security by dozens of police officers and IDF soldiers, some 300 Peace Now activists held a demonstration in Hebron on Tuesday marking 40 years since the Six Day War and "the Israeli occupation" of the territories. The demonstration, held near the Tomb of the Patriarchs, passed largely without incidents and only several dozen right-wing activists arrived to hold a counter-protest.

After the rally a bus filled with left-wing activists leaving Hebron came under assault as Palestinians hurled rocks at the vehicle and a police squad car traveling near it. No injuries were reported.
-June 8 2007
the Palestinians shoot themselves in the foot again. Peace Now was rallying for THEIR cdause, yet the Palestinians still attack them.

Arab Group Declares Independence in East Jerusalem
A group of eastern Jerusalem Arab residents on Monday declared their half of the Israeli capital an independent municipality and requested recognition as such from the United Nations.

“All UN resolutions since 1948 are based on the fact that Jerusalem is occupied territory, and that the occupation has no right to change its legal status, its geographical character or demographic makeup, and it is the right of its residents to take the necessary steps to organize and maintain their civilian lives,” wrote al-Gharabli.
-June 5 2007
the truth is Israel has absolutely no right to east jerusalem. technicaly jerusalem is supposed to be under UN control. but if Israel insists on owning west jerusalem they must allow the arab residence to own east jerusalem. the only justification the israelis have for being in east jerusalem is the torah. AND THE BIBLE AND TORAH HAVE NO PLACE IN POLITICS in Israel or here in the USA or anywhere else in the civilized world.

Secret Memo Proves Israel New Settlement Were Illegal
With Israel now celebrating the 40th anniversary of the war, the 76-year-old Meron, who went on to become a leading international jurist, challenges Israel's long-held argument that settlements do not violate international law.

Quoting its author, the newspaper said the memo concluded "that civilian settlement in the administered territories contravenes the explicit provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention."
-May 29 2007
i think everyone in the world, except Jewish faccist, have known that Israel's settlement activity violates international law...

US and EU Snub 'Jerusalem Day'
Ambassadors from both the US and the EU have declined Israel's invitation to its celebrations this week commemorating the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.

"We believe that Jerusalem's future should be part of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians," German Embassy sources told Ynetnews Sunday. "Our point of view is not new and Germany must take this stance in accordance with the rest of the countries."
-May 13 2007
the truth is Israel has NO RIGHT to East Jerusalem, and therefore has no right to declare Jerusalem its capital. No country in the world recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, not even its cheif ally, the United states. the only reason why Israel refuses to negotiate the status of East Jerusalem is because of religious bigotry. the jews believe they have some god-govin righ to jerusalem, and based on that they just walk in there and take it. The jews seem to belive that their religious claims are superior to that of any other faith.

Livni: Israeli Withdrawl Crucial For Peace
Israeli media reported Saturday that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has said any future Palestinian state would require Israel to withdraw from the West Bank.

While the Jewish state was ready to move forward in negotiations with Palestinians, the path to the creation of a Palestinian state 'begins with the denunciation of terrorism,' she said.
-May 13 2007
very smart words from a very smart women. Livni is the only member of olmert's administration that still has some respect and credibility from the Israeli people.

Peace Now's Blunder
Peace Now, the Israel-based advocacy group, claimed in an October 2006 report that Israeli settlements are situated mostly on “private Palestinian land,” and in particular that the territory of the largest settlement, Ma’ale Adumim, is 86.4 percent “private Palestinian land.” CAMERA raised a number of serious objections (here and here) to Peace Now’s claims, which the group has failed to address.

The original report, Breaking the Law – One Violation Leads to Another, was based on information described as leaked government data, and now, through Israel’s Freedom of Information laws, Peace Now has gained access to updated information which it portrays as confirming its original claims. However Peace Now has had to admit that it made a massive error regarding Ma’ale Adumim, a 15,900 percent mistake. Rather than 86.4% Palestinian land, the new data shows just 0.54% of Ma’ale Adumim’s land as supposedly Palestinian. In addition, Peace Now deceptively omits any mention of this extremely serious error both in its press release posted on its US website, and in the announcement posted on its Israeli website. Only in the middle of its updated report, strangely enough entitled Guilty, does Peace Now get around to its updated claims regarding Ma’ale Adumim’s land.

Such a massive error – acknowledged in such a grudging and deceptive way – raises serious questions about Peace Now’s credibility, and the reliability of the rest of their claims (which include that most other settlements also infringe upon “private Palestinian land”). If they could make such a transparently absurd allegation about Ma’ale Adumim – and it was transparently absurd – then how can one trust their assertions about the land situation in other communities?
-April 23 2007
folks, this is a must read

Jewish Settlers Claim West Bank Building
DOZENS of Jewish settlers took over a building under construction in the West Bank city of Hebron today, saying they had bought the three-storey structure. A local Palestinian family disputed the ownership claim, saying it had purchased the building from a Palestinian living in Jordan.

Some 400 Israeli settlers live in heavily guarded enclaves in Hebron and the attempt to expand their presence was likely to stoke tension in the city, where 150,000 Palestinians live.
-March 19 2007
Israel Freezes Settlement Plans
Israel has frozen controversial plans for a new settlement in the West Bank, Israel Radio reported Friday morning.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the plans for the settlement frozen indefinitely, the report said. No Defense Ministry confirmation was immediately available.
-January 19 2007
i am liking mr. Peretz more each day. i wish olmert and liberman would learn a thing or two from him
Peace Now Holds Protest in Hebron Despite Ban
Some 150 Peace Now activists held a demonstration just outside of Hebron on Thursday to protest the harassment of a Palestinian woman by one of her Jewish neighbors.

Last week, a B'tselem video showing Hebron resident Yifat Alkobi pushing the woman from the Abu Isha family and calling her a sharmuta (slut) was released to the media. Alkobi, who claimed that the woman had provoked her, was summoned for questioning by police.

The left-wing protesters tried to enter the West Bank town, despite an IDF order issued earlier in the day against holding the demonstration inside Hebron because of the public security threat it posed. Police who were deployed at the scene stopped the protesters on the outskirts of the city.

At the demonstration, Peace Now Director-General Yariv Oppenheimer called the police "cowards" and accused them of failing to enforce the law against the settlers.
-January 19 2007
every democracy has its shameful moments. this is israel's. shameful not because of the attacks, but for the fact that the IDF did nothing to stop it. And even worse was the IDF's decision to ban the Peace Now protest. this was a step backwards for Israeli democracy
Jewish Settlers Seen Abusing Caged Palestinians
-January 19 2007
this is disgraceful

Legality of West Bank Settlements Being Reassessed
Israel is conducting a widespread evaluation of the legal status of settlement construction to come up with "carrots and sticks" to use in convincing settlement leaders to voluntarily evacuate illegal settlement outposts.

This mapping out is designed in part to give the government "negotiating cards" with the settlers so it can then go to the settlement leaders and say that other neighborhoods they may want approved in various communities beyond the Green Line will receive approval only if the illegal outposts are evacuated.

The Defense Ministry has for months been engaged in negotiations with the heads of various communities beyond the Green Line regarding the possibility of voluntarily evacuating the illegal outposts.
-January 6 2007
there is much debate in Israel on how to solve the settlement issue. but there is almost no debate among the Palestinians on wheather to recognize Israel or to stop the terror attacks against civilians.
Hebron Jews: Amnesty International Refuses to Meet With Us
We strongly protest the description of your visit in Hebron, the conclusions you so arbitrarily reached, and the fact that you refuse to meet and discuss the issues involved with representatives of Hebron's Jewish community.
-December 28 2006
this explains a lot.
U.S. Condemns Israel For New West Bank Settlement
The United States said on Wednesday that Israel's plan to construct a new settlement on the West Bank would violate its obligations under the road map for peacemaking.

"The U.S. calls on Israel to meet its road map obligations and avoid taking steps that could be viewed as predetermining the outcome of future negotiations," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said. "We are seeking an explanation from the Israeli government regarding this development," Gallegos said.
-December 27 2006
Israel Approves New Settlement in the West Bank
THE Israeli defence ministry has approved the construction of a new settlement in the occupied West Bank, for the first time in more than 10 years.

"The ministry has given its green light for construction of 30 houses, in conforming with the promise given by the previous defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, to rehouse residents of some settlements in Gaza who were evacuated in 2005,'' a defence ministry spokeswoman said.
-December 26 2006
and this sets the peace process another step back
Israel to Build 64 New Settlements in the West Bank
-September 21 2006
great! more illegal settlements!

El Salvador Moves its Embassy to Tel Aviv From Jerusalem
The decision comes a week after fellow Central American nation Costa Rica – the only other country that had an embassy in Jerusalem – announced it was moving its diplomatic mission to Tel Aviv, which is used by other countries because of Jerusalem's disputed status.

El Salvador's foreign ministry said in a statement the decision was made after analyzing, with Israel, “the current situation in the Middle East,” and after resolution 1701 of the U.N. Security Council, “whose mandate is to seek the promotion of security and greater stability, generating a new stage of favorable expectations for the Middle East.”

The foreign ministry statement said El Salvador “recognizes and guarantees the right of the state of Israel to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders.” It also said that “equally, the government of El Salvador repeats its recognition of the right of a Palestinian state to exist.”
-August 29 2006
El Salvador did the right thing. East Jerusalem does not belong to Israel and Jerusalem is not its capital. Hopefully these gestures by Costa Rica and El Salvador send a message to ISrael that its annexation of East Jerusalem is against international law.

Costa Rica Moves Embassy From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv
The new president of Costa Rica has said that his country will move its embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, in a move that pleases Arab nations.

Oscar Arias, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, said on Wednesday that he made the decision to win more friends in the Middle East and comply with United Nations' resolutions.
 
"It's time to rectify an historic error that hurts us internationally and deprives us of almost any form of friendship with the Arab world, and more broadly with Islamic civilisation, to which a sixth of humanity belongs," Arias said at an event marking his first 100 days in office.

Arias said the relocation to Tel Aviv should not, however, be interpreted as a slight to Israel, which has had historically close ties to Costa Rica. "As far as Costa Rica is concerned, the right to exist and live free of threat, particularly the criminal threat of terrorism, is beyond all doubt," said Arias, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end civil wars in neighbouring Central American nations.
The decision will leave El Salvador as the only country in the world with an embassy in Jerusalem.
-August 17 2006
yes that sounds reasonable to me. Unlike Israel's other occupied territories, the occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem was done completely for religious purposes and not at all for security purposes. as an atheist i do not believe religion should be mixed with politics. see Israel's Settlement Activity.

Israel Will Never Agree to Total West Bank Pullout
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that his country will never agree to pull out of all of the West Bank because the borders that existed before Israel captured the territory in 1967 could not be defended.
-June 13 2006

Church of Scotland: Label Products From Illegal Settlements
The Church of Scotland has called on European authorities and the World Council of Churches to clearly identify products from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands, a church official said Wednesday.

Mylne, who reported to the General Assembly on Tuesday, said the church advocated clear identification of products from illegal settlements to enable consumers to make informed choices.
The Church of Scotland, formerly the official church in Scotland, is a Presbyterian body.
-May 24 2006
I actually support this. While i oppose general boycotts of Israel, i think that labeling products that are made in the illegal settlemens is much more fair and reasonable than those entities that wish to boycott Israel completely. No matter what anyone's opinion is on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, no one can deny that Israel is in violation of the fourth geneva conventions, which forbids an occupying power from placing its citizens on occupied land. Maybe NATFHE shoule learn from the Church of Scotland.

Iran Closes State Newspaper for Sparking Azeri Riots
Iran has suspended publication of its official state newspaper after it published a cartoon that sparked violent ethnic protests in the northwestern city of Tabriz, a senior judiciary official said on Tuesday.

Furious members of the Azeri minority pelted government buildings and banks with stones in Tabriz on Monday night, enraged by the cartoon, eyewitnesses in the city told Reuters. The Press Supervisory Board closed the paper for stirring up ethnic rifts, state television reported.

The cartoon, which appeared in Friday's edition of Iran, showed a boy repeating the Persian word for cockroach in different ways while the uncomprehending bug in front of him says "What?" in Azeri.

The Azeris of northwestern Iran speak a language related to Turkish. Although Azeris have many luminaries among Iran's commercial elite, Iran's majority Persians mock them in jokes.
-May 23 2006
Seriously, what is it with Muslims and Cartoons that always start such riots?

Tuesday's Israeli Elections About Re-Drawing Border
Israel's parliamentary election will decide the very fate of its borders, as voters decide Tuesday whether to support a centrist party intent on withdrawing from most of the West Bank.
Recent polls suggest most voters support Kadima's plan for withdrawal, rejecting the polarized mandates of the left-wing Labour party and the hawkish Likud.
While Labour urges continued peace talks with the Palestinians, Likud is highly critical of Kadima's promise to give up dozens of West Bank settlements.
-March 27 2006