Editor's Note: Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, from which this piece is reprinted. You can read Abrams' blog Pressure Points here.
By Elliot Abrams
If there is a single issue that explains the failure of Obama policy toward Israel, it is settlements. And this week the Administration once again indulged itself in a knee-jerk reaction that displayed incomprehension in a way that harms U.S.-Israeli relations without doing the slightest bit of good for the Palestinians.
This week Israel announced a plan to construct 277 more housing units in Ariel, a settlement that is a town of 18,000. The new units are to be constructed in the center of the town, it was also announced. This is a significant fact, for construction of new units at the edges of the town would mean that the security perimeter would need to be extended to protect the new housing and the people in it. But this will not happen, and Ariel will expand in population but not in land area. It is not, in the usual Palestinian Authority parlance, “taking more Palestinian land.”
When I worked on these issues in the Bush Administration, we discussed settlement expansion thoroughly with the government of Israel and (as I have explained elsewhere) reached agreement on some principles.
These were that Israel would create no new settlements and that existing settlements would expand in population but not in land area. New construction, that is, would be in already-built-up areas, and the phrase we used was “build up and in, not out.”
The usual complaints about new construction in the settlements were that “it is making a final peace agreement impossible” or at least more and more difficult by “taking more Palestinian land” that would have to be bargained over in the end and whose taking would right now interfere with Palestinian life and livelihoods. We understood that there would never be a long construction freeze even if there might be some brief ones, for the settlements - especially the “major blocks” that Israel will keep – are living communities with growing families.
So we reached that understanding with the Israelis: build up and in, not out. That way whatever the chances of a peace deal were, construction in the settlements would not reduce them.
This agreement the Obama Administration ignored or denounced, suggesting at various times that it never existed or that, anyway, it had been a bad idea and all construction must be frozen – even in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. (To be more accurate, construction by Israeli Jews was to be frozen; construction by Palestinians could continue).
No Israeli government could long accept such terms and though the Netanyahu government did agree to a short and partial freeze, when that failed to bring the Palestinian Liberation Organization back to the negotiating table the freeze was ended.
This Obama fixation with a construction freeze proved disastrous because the President and his Secretary of State took the view that it was a precondition for negotiations without which the Palestinians could not be expected to come to the table. Of course once that American position was announced the Palestinian leadership had to adopt it, lest they appear weaker in asserting Palestinian “rights” than Washington.
The argument over the construction freeze embittered U.S.-Israel relations and killed any chance of negotiations in 2009 and 2010. Late in 2010 the policy was finally abandoned. Nothing has replaced it, and no one really knows what Administration policy is these days beyond getting past September’s expected UN General Assembly vote on Palestinian statehood.
But if the fixation on freezing construction in settlements is no longer the main pillar of Obama policy, those old sentiments and statements linger on. Thus did the announcement that new units were to be built in Ariel evoke a new denunciation from Washington.
To be sure, it did not come from the President himself and was a pretty low-key affair; it did not suggest that new a crisis in bilateral relations loomed. But this was a reminder that the Administration appears to have learned nothing, and still does not understand the difference between expanding a settlement physically and expanding the population of a settlement by building in already-built-up areas.
Why not? Without dealing with the question of which individual policymakers are responsible for this foolish policy, it does seem that the policy is based on the view that every square foot of land controlled by Jordan before the 1967 war is rightly part of “Palestine,” so that every Israeli action on that land is wrong.
This view also explains why the President believes peace negotiations should start from the “1967 borders.” But there are no “1967 borders,” just the 1949 Armistice lines that all sides agreed in 1949 were not to be regarded as permanent.
It is reasonable to have the 1949 map on the table when negotiations begin, and to have next to it the 2011 map, and to seek a compromise. It is not reasonable to view it as a violation of international law and a threat to a peace agreement every time bricks and studs and drywall show up at the center of an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. In the real world those new units in Ariel do not make a final peace agreement harder.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Elliot Abrams. For more, visit his blog Pressure Points.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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.”But there are no “1967 borders,” Elliot Abrahms doesn't think that the current territory of Israel includes also the land it conquered during the six-day war in 1967.
Israel's borders thus aren't defined and the "Armistice lines that all sides agreed in 1949 were not to be regarded as permanent." Great, both parties – the Israelis and the Palestinians – will redraw the map.
I beg to differ. Israel has OFFICIAL INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BORDERS with Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. Saying that "Israel's borders are not defined" is, therefore, simply not true.
Absolutely.
it does seem that the policy is based on the view that every square foot of land controlled by Jordan before the 1967 war is rightly part of “Palestine,”
The funny thing about the spoils of war is that you get to keep them. If Israel had done so, they'd have quite a large buffer between them and the 4 large nations that tried to invade them in 67.
Also, get it through your head that "Palestine" was the name of that region from when Rome governed it. It is NOT a nation or a people. "Palestinians" are Syrians, Iranians, Jordanians, and Egyptians that were denied re-entry into their own nations after the war. Israel said they could stay, but many wanted to go back only to find that they were not accepted back in. Why? To ensure the fruition of what is occuring now!
Solution, Israel deal with their own. Maybe Americans should butt out of the affairs of other sovereign nations and mind their own goddammed business.
But this will not happen...because it is not meant to happen. 63 years since they declared their independence. A people who just want to exist being told by everyone else...no.
Israel would have been obliterated if not for massive US support. Even now if the US 'butts out' the place will ultimately be washed away by it's neighbors.
Simple fact is, if you're paying the rent and fighting the wars that result from it, you have some say in what goes on.
The "1967 lines" or "1949 lines" in context of the west bank refer to israel's wars with Jordan. Israel and Jordan have reached a peace agreement which define permanent borders between the 2 states. It pretty much follows the river. The peace has stood between the 2 countries for a while and there is no reason to dispute the location of the permanent borders between Jordan and Israel. Palestine has never been a state. The question of where the borders between Israel and Palestine lie today is utterly nonsensical for lacking the latter...
The Israeli government is taking 81 US Congressman and their families to see the new construction and make sure to have their support.
CNN won't publish this.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/14/81-house-members-enjoy-hiatus-in-israel/
Elliot Abrams not doubt a NJew who is taking Israels side in this article and not the United states side which is typical of American Jews, has failed to also state that Israel is putting up 2700 more housing units in the West Bank and the Obama Administration was talking collectively about the Ariel construction and the New construction on Palestinian lands in the West Bank. As Usual the Author of this story and other stories concerning Israel are written By Jews in the United States with their Loyalty, dedication, heart, and soul standing with Israel over the United States everytime and these men like the Author can not be trusted in the United States since their loyalty stands with a foreign country. This author also failed to state the many people Israel has murdered for this land along with the arab possessions that were stolen by the Israelis and the pictures the Israeli soldiers have taken with dead palestinian bodies.
ELLIOT ABRAMS PLEASE DISCLOSE ALL FACTS NEXT TIME
Jason, Jews (who make up 1.5% of the US population) have fought and died in every war in which the US has been involved in in modern times. We contribute in every sector of the US including technology, education, medicine, law, etc. etc. It makes me wonder why some people seem to get off on bashing us. Chances are you have been treated by a Jewish doctor at some point in your life and probably didn't even know it. What is YOUR reason for bashing the Jews? Inquiring minds want to know.
Jason: I assume you are referring to murders like this one?:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/world/middleeast/19israel.html?src=me&ref=world
There are 2 sides to each coin and I would recommend thoroughly learning both sides before making assumptions.
"Elliot Abrahms doesn't think that the current territory of Israel includes also the land it conquered during the six-day war in 1967."
Interesting that J. von Hettlingen doesn't bother to mention that Israel "conquered" the land he speaks of only AFTER Israel was attacked by Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and all the other surrounding Arab countries in an attempt to wipe the newborn State of Israel "off the map", or that the Arab nomads voluntarily left that same land even after being begged by the Jews to stay, believing that they would be able to steal all that Israel had built after the Arabs destroyed Israel and killed (or made slaves of) the Jews as promised by the Arab nations.
Then there is the fact that there was no such thing as a "Palestinian" until Yasser Arafat invented them at about the same time, simply nomadic Arabs who had built nothing but tents on the ground that Israel "conquered". Perhaps a refresher course in M.E. history might be in order. Then again, I doubt that the truth would make any difference to him, he believes what he wants to believe.
And lest he forget, the same "Palestinians" still chant "Death to Israel" "Death to America" every chance they get. In America, we remember all the video showing "Palestinians" and Arabs in every M.E. country dancing in the streets and giving candy to children after 09/11/2001. These are the same people JVH wants to "save" from the Jews. The Jews in turn simply want to live in peace, raise and educate their families and contribute to making the world a better place for all to live, as they always have.
I guess Abrams will be happy if we just do whatever the Israeli government at the time wants and make sure that 3 billion American tax dollars we don't have are on time annually to Israel. Meanwhile the Mid East will continue to be the crap hole lighting rod it has been while he was there before him and after him as long as we have unconditional aid. The fact people like this make it in government is sickening.
I don't know about the craphole of Middle East, but this picture of a settlement is a stark contrast with the rest of West Bank. I guess if Palestenians put their mind and energy towards building rather than towards fighting, they could have built something similarly beautiful.
No, the Palestinians might be able to "build something beautiful" if they received the billions in aid that Israel receives.
All the settlement are illegal under international law. The International Court of Justice and the international community say these settlements are illegal and not one single government of any country in the world besides Israel recognizes the legitimacy of Israeli settlements. It is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the fact that you lobby in favor of it shows where your loyalty and bias resides. People like this should not be allowed in government.
Can you please SHOW the international law making "ALL" settlements "illegal"? I've NEVER seen an international law saying that it is "illegal" for people of one ethnicity (in this case, Jews) to live in a certain area while it is "legal" for people of another ethnicity (in this case, Arabs) to live there. Further, the Geneva Conventions (including the Fourth) apply to STATES (High Contracting Parties). The West Bank and Gaza DO NOT BELONG TO ANY STATE. Still further, The Fourth Geneva Convention deal with Protection of Civilian Persons at Time of War. If you need some information about the protection of Israeli civilians that is offered to them by the Palestinians - just ask.
The fact that only Jews are allowed to live in the settlements is a long standing Israeli policy. If there is any racism going on, then the Israelis are the ones practicing it. Neither Israeli Arabs nor Palestinians are allowed to reside in these settlements; they are for Jews only. Furthermore, international law states that an occupying power may NOT transfer its civilians into occupied areas. Something that Israel is not only permitting, but actively encouraging – through housing subsidies.
Stupified: For starters, ALL Israelis are allowed to live in settlements: Jews, Arabs, Armenians and anyone else. Second, if you're looking for a place where racism is going on look no further than the Palestinian-controlled areas of Gaza and the West Bank. Count the number of Jews there and then come back blaming Israel for "racism".
The same 'International community' decided in the league of nations to give Jordan to the Palestinians – which they did. And Israel to the Jews – which they did not do. And now they decide the Jews are 'Illegal' for the same reason they did not give them the land: Arab oil power.
The wars that the arabs started and lost were against international law, didn't stop the mooslims from going to war. Problem,they were stupid enough to believe their own propaganda, now deal with it,nobody ever mentions the 3/4 million Jews kicked out of arab lands, strange that?
Israel does formally accept the applicability of the Hague Regulations on occupation, and says it is acting under authority granted to an occupying power in international law (including in provisions of the 4th Geneva Convention). The 4th Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations contain detailed rules on the administration of occupied territory.
The Israeli Supreme Court (sitting as High Court of Justice in Beit Sourik Village Council v The Government of Israel 2004) has noted: "The general point of departure of all parties – which is also our point of departure – is that Israel holds the area in belligerent occupation (occupatio bellica)."
IF ISRAEL ACCEPTS THE FACT IT IS OCCUPIED TERRITORY HOW CAN IT DENY IT IS VIOLATING THE FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION???
ARTICLE 49
Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive.
Nevertheless, the Occupying Power may undertake total or partial evacuation of a given area if the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand. Such evacuations may not involve the displacement of protected persons outside the bounds of the occupied territory except when for material reasons it is impossible to avoid such displacement. Persons thus evacuated shall be transferred back to their homes as soon as hostilities in the area in question have ceased.
The Occupying Power undertaking such transfers or evacuations shall ensure, to the greatest practicable extent, that proper accommodation is provided to receive the protected persons, that the removals are effected in satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition, and that members of the same family are not separated.
The Protecting Power shall be informed of any transfers and evacuations as soon as they have taken place.
The Occupying Power shall not detain protected persons in an area particularly exposed to the dangers of war unless the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand.
The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.
You forgot to explain WHICH of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Conventions Israel violated despite showing ARTICLE 49 which deals with forcible transfers and deportations.
the last sentence.
Jason, I've tried. There's no reasoning with a zealot.
Jason: As I've explained earlier the Geneva Conventions apply to "High Contracting Parties" or STATES. The West Bank is NOT A STATE and, therefore, the Fourth Geneva Convention does not apply to it. To make easier to comprehend I'll use the following example: An American citizen and his family are traveling to Europe on an Air France airliner. According to your logic, Americans are NOT ALLOWED to use the lavatories on that airliner as such action causes the sign "OCCUPIED" to light up. It's obvious that any person or Court (up to and including the Supreme Court) will rule that entering a lavatory and locking a door is equivalent to OCCUPYING the said lavatory and by occupying a French lavatory the American civilians violate the Fourth Geneva Convention.
I just don't know how to respond? I mean an occupying power and an airline crapper are so similar? I though Jews were smart. Maybe you are some end time Christian fundamentalist. A lot of them ain't too bright! Or maybe you are the dumbest Jew. There has to be low and high end. Maybe you got the low end of the genetic totem pole.
If not for the U.S. the rest of the world would not tolerate this gross injustice of international law. Only because we are the only super power and AIPAC and prophetic Christian Fundamentalists have such an influence in America does this gross violation of international law exist without sanctions! And what does America gets in return for this blockage of international law in the U.N. (see U.S. veto Feb. 2011), 3 billion dollars in free tax payer dollars while the U.S. borrows money from the Chinese, loan guarantees, high tech weapons transfers, diplomatic pressure on Iran etc. We get insults from Israel's PM, lobbying spurred on by Israel in the U.S. for a spy against the U.S. (Jonathan Pollard) to be release, and people like Elliot Abrams embracing Israeli foreign policy at the expense of U.S. objectives.
I think Think23 has an odd idea of what Occupie in the legal/international sense and Occupy as in the Bathroom sense.
Occupy in the international sense is to take over temporal power in an area that is not yours and impose upon it your laws.
To correct his example, it would be like the American goes into the Air France Bathroom, putting down an American Flag and starts to bulldoze the room and to built an American Settlement on it in the name of American.
I hope that would show him the ludicrousness of his point.
To further argue his point. If Israli citizens lived in lands that is not Israel's that would be immigration – because the "settlers" would not be impossing their laws. They would be subjected to the Laws of whatever land they moved to. Such as American Laws if they moved to America. Or Air France Laws in the case of the Air France Bathroom.
The Moment the "settler" decleraed that they will not follow Air France Law, and then start killing any Air France Employees who tries to remove him/her, that becomes occupation.
Thinker23, This is the brilliant example! And extending the analogy, a Russian saying that would apply to the Palestinians would be, "If you don't want to crap, get off the pot." They've had enough chances to settle the dispute, but they don't seem to be interested. And neither Israel, no the rest of the world should wait until Palestinians are ready indeed.
I'm sorry. I just can't take this guy seriously. Not when his administration's response to the '06 Gaza War was: Blame Hamas; sucks to be Palestinian. This is, by the way, the same war that killed 1,200 Palestinians and ruined Gaza in every way imaginable. His pro-Israel bias is pretty obvious. So how he can legitimately criticize Obama's approach to restarting peace talks is beyond me.
As for the article's premise, building up a settlement in any way poses a problem. A settlement with 10,000 people is a bigger problem than one with 1,000 people, regardless of how much area it takes up. Building up settlements turns them from temporary outposts to permanent fixtures. Building them up just because some of them are expected (by one side) to be retained in any final deal doesn't legitimize those actions.
If the Palestinians did not like the current arrangement they would NEGOTIATE a better one long ago. If they did so the Palestinians would get peace and a sovereign independent state of their own with not a single settlement or even a single Jew within its borders. Further, if "a settlement with 10,000 people is a bigger problem than one with 1,000 people" how would you grade a problem of 1.4 MILLION Arabs living in Israel?
I'm going to just ignore your old and bizarre argument that Palestinians don't want a country of their own. Onto your next claim: Arabs aren't the same as Palestinians. Shocking as this may be, Arabs do actually hold Israeli citizenship. Israeli Arabs living in Israel aren't a problem in any of the negotiations that I've heard of. Since they're Israeli citizens living on Israeli soil, their houses aren't really infringing on Israeli territory. Settlements inhabited solely by Israelis built on Palestinian territory is. Now granted, my argument falls through when approached from your position, which is presumably that the Palestinian territories are Israeli lands that Israel just hasn't gotten around to annexing yet. So to answer your question, what problem?
kar: As there is no Palestinian state yet there is no "Palestinian territory" to infringe. Therefore, I'll re-phrase my question: if Jews living in NO ONE'S territory are a "problem" how come Arabs living in Israeli territory ARE NOT?
You've once again shown how far from consensus thought you are. That's the first time i've heard it referred to as no one's territory. Refer to previous arguments. And please stop postin until you have something well-reasoned to say.
KAR: Can you NAME THE COUNTRY the West Bank and Gaza belong? And please stop postin until you have something well-reasoned to say.
The desusional Palestinians have never been a people nor ever had a country. Greek, Roman, Ottoman, British protectorates are not countries. They are Arabs.
Philistia then Palestine were Greek and Roman names used in the area to identify a European (probably from Crete) group who came to and left the area.
By the way, who says this Aragb group deserves a state? The Basque, Kurds, Jews are an identifiable people who deserve a state. The Arabs are addicted to their own myths. How quickly do the so called Palestinians forget the backed the Nazis who killed 6 million Jews.
If 1.4 million Arabs are graded as a problem why not do like every other democracy and allow everybody living with in its territory of a certain age a vote? Then Israel can claim the territory is not occupied. Let Hamas and Fatah have a political party in the Knesset. That would be true democracy instead of this lie that Israel is a democracy. How can Israel be a democracy when Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip can't vote in Israeli elections?
I think he's referring to the internationally recognized borders of Israel. Not Palestinian territories plus Israel. The Arabs he's referring to are already Israelis, which is why it's slightly puzzling that he views voting Israeli Arab citizens as Palestinian settlers.
Israel has carried out an occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Golan Heights, and Gaza Strip for more than 44 years. During this occupation they claim they are a democracy. Yet they control the a population if not as large, that is close to as large as Israeli Jews. For them to continue this occupation they should be forced to accept these people as citizens. With the volume and location of settlements in the occupied territories a two state solution is lost. It will have to be a one state solution. This will mean and end to the Jewish state of Israel. And this is one of the reason Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel as the "Jewish State."
KAR: You're right, I;m referring to INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BORDERS OF ISRAEL. Borders defined by international treaties with Jordan and Egypt and approved by the United Nations Organization. These borders currently include ALL of Gaza and ALL of the West Bank. Israel did not and does not declare ALL these territories as Israeli lands leaving an option for creation of an Arab Palestinian state within borders that will be NEGOTIATED with the Palestinian leaders when such leaders ABLE AND WILLING to negotiate a peace agreement will emerge.
No, Thinker23, that's not what I meant. International consensus would probably demarcate at the borders to the *Palestinian* territories. I'm not sure the settlements are really international consensus either. But once again: what's the point in arguing with you. You don't need a clear and evidenced argument to respond, nor do you accept others' clear and evidenced arguments.
Kar: On this planet borders between countries are established by NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS between these countries, not by "international consensus" whatever it may be. If and when the Palestinian Arabs will produce a leadership ABLE AND WILLING to negotiate a peace agreement the resulting agreement will include the precise definitions of the borders between Israel and the still non-existing Arab Palestinian state.
How can there be peace in a world that has hated Hashem's Chosen people since the beginning? We will wait it out until Moshiach saves us from the blood-thirsty goyim.
Well I have some bad news for you! My imaginary friend made ME king of the world, which makes you one of my subjects! I'll send you a follow-up, telling you where to remit your tribute.
Steve, I do believe in your supremacy, but I can't be one of your loyal subjects ... my imaginary friend has declared me Universal Doyen! So it is being written, so it is being said! Let's just hope no one believes in a multiverse ...
But for real ... no "moshiach" or religion is going to save anyone or anything. Humor, friends, humor.
ProudJew, you can't just wait it out. You need to be able to fight and defend yourself. Otherwise you won't survive until Hashem arrives to restore the order.
Israel annexed the West Bank, if it was already theirs they wouldnt be annexing it. Annexation after a war is illegal and the world is against that annexation and does not support it. Just because you built on it doesn't mean parts of it now belong to you. "Oh look theres a family on there what will they do" They shouldnt have been allowed to settle on occupied land in the first place, so too bad. Lies always are uncovered in the end.
Arguments based on LIES are not very convincing, my friend... You see, Israel DID NOT annex the West Bank.
When exactly Israel annexed the west bank and gaza? you should check you facts before you post unless you want to present yourself as ignorant.
Israel continues to grab land from Palestinians, and the headline writers ask if it will block peace? If your neighbor kept moving his fence a little farther onto your property, how good would your relation with him be?
Did you read the article? That's the exact opposite of what he's saying.
Here's the article CNN and every other news outlet needs to run:
"Will Hamas and Fatah's refusal to recognize Israel block peace?"
or perhaps
"Will continued Palestinian incitement against Jews block peace?"
or maybe even
"Will Palestinian glorification of mass murderers of Jews block peace?"
There will be no peace agreement so long as Israel (rightfully) believes that Palestinians won't hold up their end of the bargain. Land for peace? The Palestinian's track record says that land for rocket attacks is more likely.
IIf the Palestinians recognized Israel, adopted non-violent resistance, and engaged in good faith negotiations they would have had a state decades ago.
"Land for peace" DID NOT, DOES NOT and WILL NOT work because it is both UNFAIR and ILLOGICAL. "Land for peace" is unfair because it assumed that only ONE side in the conflict (in this case, Israel) is interested in peace and that this peace loving side is supposed to PURCHASE peace from the other, violent, side paying for it by land while the violent side will get BOTH land and peace for free. "Land for peace " is illogical because it assumes that the violent side in the conflict will somehow become peaceful after PROVING that violence works and that MORE violence will, probably, work even better.
Abrams falsely suggests that it's OK to increase population in seized land. Ultimately Israel will have to return most if not all of this land to achieve peace. Bringing in more people only shows their unwillingness to recognize this reality.
If and when the Palestinians will produce a leadership ABLE AND WILLING to negotiate a peace agreement the resulting peace agreement will include the precise definition of the borders between Israel and the future Arab Palestinian state. I can guarantee you that not a single settlement and not a single Jew will remain in that Palestinian state. Unfortunately, there are no signs whatsoever that such Palestinian leadership will be created in the foreseeable future. In the mean time Israelis can continue building settlements as a way to convince the Palestinians that peace is preferable over a war.
Israel is taking 81 US Congressman and their families to see the new construction and make sure to have their support.
CNN won't publish this.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/08/14/81-house-members-enjoy-hiatus-in-israel/
Do you have a problem with that, Johnny? If so why don't you recommend the Palestinians to do the same and take even more US Congressmen to Ramallah?
the entire Middel East peace process is a joke – you have one side lobbing shells into the other side and then you have one side building up illegal settlements on the other's land – it's a joke, why do we even bother with these people any more – nobody wants peace over there, yet we spend countless hours writing about the Middle East and we constantly send our diplomats over there to try to make peace. It's never going to happen – everybody is too greedy – let them destroy each other. As Ron Paul says, quit trying to change the world. Take care of America first.
Obviously, the relevant fact is that this is the settlement of Ariel, which even the Israeli Supreme Court has ruled is so far in the West Bank that the security wall can not extend around it. Under any possible peace agreement it will have to be evacuated like the settlements in Gaza or all the settlers will legally be within a new Palestinian state. Therefore, it is not the borders of Ariel that matter but the number of people within those borders. Abrams point may apply to settlements near the 1969 borders or within East Jerusalem districts that will clearly be ceded to Israel, but his argument does not apply at all to Ariel which is in the middle of the West Bank and would cut any future Palestinian state in two if it were given to Israel.
I don't know what's more shocking ... the complete and utter lack of any logic or compassion on the pro-israeli side, or the wailing misnomer that is "Thinker23".
If you get kicked out of 1 party, maybe that party is being unreasonable?
If you get kicked out of a bunch of parties, maybe you're being unreasonable?.
If you kicked out of every party for the past 5,000 years ....
Am I mistaken or did you jsut accuse the pro-israel side of having a "complete and utter lack of logic or compassion" and then proceed to blame the Jews for the long history of anti-semitism? Just checking.
Perhaps, but not intentionally. Just inquiring about about what is *surely* just coincidence. There seems to be a lot of people across the board who have a problem with this little clubhouse. How many people have a raging hatred of Taoism? Not too many, right? It's pretty hard not to be perceived as discriminatory when I'm just a dirty non-believer talking to one of the superior, erm, "chosen people".
Yeah, I'm sure they were asking for it before the Holocaust... Give me a break. The reasons they were hated were because killed Jesus, drank Christian infant blood, and somehow controlled all the money yet failed to prevent their own genocide. Sounds like solid reasoning, right?
In a reply to Adam: "How many people have a raging hatred of Taoism?"
Now that is a clear euphemism for "How many people have a raging hatred of Jews". Right Adam? Of course I am. Just so that it is clear that you have a "raging hatred of Jews". What have the Arabs done for ya lately? Have they provided you with vital intel you could not get from anyone else? We invested in the Iron Dome and Arrow anti-missile systems because we plan to deploy it against missiles from say, Iran. Or North Korea. The technological achievements in the fields of science, agriculture and medicine as examples, the US receives from Israel are used by the US (and most of the free world) every day. The 3 billion a year in assistance from the US is an investment for the US. Israel is the ONLY country in the strategic M.E. that the US can count on as an ally. And the Palestinians will help the US how? So I can only wonder why you have this "raging hatred" for Jews. Are you suggesting that Israel itself is illegitimate? Sounds a lot like Ahmadinejad to me.
Informed: This is THEIR "logic": If we hate and kill you it must be YOUR fault... and YOU should not dare to fight back.
Ariel's territory can be swapped 1:! with Israeli territory. It's part of any deal that is made.
ANY deal should be NEGOTIATED first. If and when the Palestinians will produce leadership ABLE AND WILLING to negotiate a peace agreement Israel will gladly agree.
Why anyone would listen to anything this Israeli-Firster has to say is beyond me. He was the one who instigated the attempted coup of Hamas after they were democratically elected. He's stated that Jews should minimize their contact with goyim.
With regard to settlements, it doesn't matter whether you expand illegal settlements or just increase the numbers in already established settlements. It is illegal any any case.
It seems to me that the only reason he stays in the U.S. is to influence U.S. policy toward Israel's advantage. He's clearly patriotic, I'm just not certain it's toward the U.S.
"Illegal" means "IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW". Can you SHOW THE LAW forbidding Jews to live in the West Bank but ALLOWING Arabs to live there?
The Israelis have it coming.
I don't see the settlements as a problem as long as the settlers are ok with being palistinian citizens in the next couple of years. My guess is they would not like that too much.
Your guess is wrong. Many Israelis living in those areas suggest exactly that. Israelis living in Gaza (before its' evacuation) requested exactly that – the government denied and forced them to evacuate.
Look, I am an 87-year old woman, and prior to my present day illnesses, I traveled the world extensively, especially back in the 1960's and 1970's, when I was still a young chick. Israel has every right to continue building on their occupied settlements and territories. When speaking of blocking peace negotiations, I can only think of one, and only one true cause for peace negotiation breakdowns; it is called Hamas.
Go get 'em Israel!!! Take more palestinian land. I love it!
The basic premise in the author's discussion is that all settlements will remain. That cannot be an assumption going into a negotiation. Some setttlements must go away, others will have to remain, but something will have to be given in return. Allowing additional construction, even within the existing boundries of a settlement, are a block to peace because it becomes more difficult to remove those settlements due to number of people and the cost of moving them.
All of this is irrelevant. There are people on both sides who do not believe in compromise and are willing to cause harm, not just to the other side, but to there own. All of this in the name of religion. Until enough people on both sides stand up to them, there will be no compromise.
The President has altered American foreign policy toward Israel. His foreign policy denies the legitimacy of Israeli statehood. President Obama has forced the State Department to treat Jerusalem as if it is no longer part of Israel. Like the Babylonians and then the Romans, Mr. Obama, 2000 years later, has evicted the Jews from the Holy Land. The State Department is litigating for the right to deny a visa to an Israeli because he listed his birthplace as Jerusalem, Israel.
He has treated the Israeli Prime Minister impolitely. He has abandoned the foundation of Americn foreign policy that the role of the U.S must be limited to that of facilitator anjd conciliator without dictaing terms and conditions to either the Palestinians or the Israelis. Instead, he has for the first time required that acceptance of the 1967 borders be the starting point for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
He has ignored the fact that the PLO no less than Hamas still calls for the destruction of Israel. He has never condemned Palestinian antisemitic propaganda. He has called for a construction freeze in Israeli settlements which do not expand the land area without any concession fromn the Palestinians.
The United States, for the first time under this Administration, failed to veto anti-Israel resolutions in the Security Council. The President has held the third annual official state dinner for Iftar, the end of Ramadan. The White House invites prominent Moslem Americans and Moslem ambassadors to celebrate the end of the Moslem daytime fasting period associated with Ramadan. No similar event is held at the conclusion of Lent or the breaking of the fast on Yom Kippur.
These decisions leave me alarmed and saddened but not surprised. For more than 20 years, the President sat and remained in the congregation of Rev. Wright who preached against Jews and Israel. To quote another famous African Ameircan, "the chickens have come home to roost."
You forgot to mention that the President's birth cirtificate doesn't exist and that he staged the raid on Osama.......
How asinine is it that this author places more blame on Washington and Obama for a failure to negotiate than on the two parties actually involved in this dispute. Where is this author's indignation for Netanyahu, a clear instigator in this dispute over his refusal to even consider America's or Palestine's ideas and positions for a peace deal. Or how about Abbas and the Palestinian Authority for their complicity with Hamas. If Israel wants to continue to benefit from our friendship, then it needs to start considering us a friend and not an adversary.
The losers in a war they start don't make the terms. Never in the history of this species!
This statement by Elliot Abrams is just ridiculous – (To be more accurate, construction by Israeli Jews was to be frozen; construction by Palestinians could continue). He's implying that the Palestinians were given an authority to build while Israel was told no, but the Palestinians are not building in Israel! They are building on their own land. Construction in Israel by Israelis has never been questioned. No wonder the Bush administration got nowhere on peace with this guy's input.
Re "They are building on their own land." : no, it isn't . That's the whole point. Or, at least, it is in dispute.
In 1967, Israel won a war of which I defy anyone to claim that Israel started (except by its very existence). As part of defeating its enemies, Israel captured land from its opponents. Since then most of the world has been saying – "No fair, give the land back!" No compensation, just give it back. Israel did give a lot of land back – the Sinai Peninsula – in return for a peace treaty. Besides Egypt, no other country or people (so as to hopefully avoid an argument rer the Palestinian "country") bordering Israel is willing to go the same route. I don't know of any other country in history that was forced to return land captured in a war, but this is exactly what's been going on since 1967.
Ok fine MJ. Israel can keep all the land, but they will of course have to give the Arabs living there now Israeli citizenship and let them vote in Israeli elections, unless they want to be ostracized by the civilized world, like South Africa. Or are you foolish enough to think the world is going to stand for Israeli ethnic cleansing of the current Arab population of the occupied territories? Israel is going to get it's wish of one state. Talk about justice...
The land is not thiers to build on and should never have been given to them in 1948. The Palestinians were bombed out of thier land and homes and everything was stolen from them by Greedy Jews. The Palestinians will take back thier land and dignity one day and the Zinoist Jews will pay for thier crimes one way or the other. All building must stop and until then there will never be a chance for peace. The Zionist Jews are Evil, Greedy Predatory People and must be stopped and held accountable for thier crimes of Genocide, Aparthied, and Torture.
Who gave it to them? they WON the right to their ancestral homeland, the arabs chose to invade and the brave warriors that they are got their behinds handed to them by a vastly smaller force.
The brits gave almost 70% of the mandate to the hashemites who were thrown out of arabia by the house of saud, thanks england.
In 2000 Y. Arafat rejected B. Clinton- E. Barak borders for Palestinian and started Intifada.
Why do so many of my fellow liberals forget that in the areas that are part of the negotiations of a final settlement the Palestinians are outbuilding the Israelis 3 – 1?
If these areas are Palestinian and not Israeli (and this is the way the issue is reported in the western press makes it seem) then there's nothing at all to negotiate and Israel should simply get out of every area claimed by Palestine.
But, who will get to incorporate these areas into their country is exactly what the subject of the negotiations is. So – to claim that the Israelis shouldn't build in the"disputed" areas while allowing the Palestinians to build all they want is the same a saying that the Israelis have nothing to negotiate.
The "Palestinians" do not occupy a single square meter of any land that is within the 1967 borders of Israel. They cannot build on any such land. They have nothing to negotiate.
Jews have an absolute moral right to live anywhere they wish to live. A Jew has the same right to live in Ariel as does an Arab to Live in Haifa. A Jew has the same right to live in Ariel as he does to live in Moscow, Berlin, or NY.
Have you heard the sentence, "LEARN USEFULLNESNESS"?...
What is "USEFULLNESNESS"?.
Hey! I remember that sentence, Bush said it in his nookler speach, right?
Mr Abrams, you should be israels pm, if not, you should ask the israelis for a nice salary, that be a good idea to get some of our tax payers money back.
Ultimately, one fact remains. Regardless of any disagreement regarding borders, right of return, a sensible sharing of the area known as Jerusalem, or anything else, the basic problem is that neither side wants peace. Neither side is willing to make the slightest move to have peace. It's easier to continue the killing and arguing then to actually say "let's sit down and figure something out that's better."
Golda Meier said it best when she observed "we will have peace when they love their children more than they hate us." The thing she didn't say was that her premise applied equally to both sides. To date, neither side loves their children, and none of the adults seem to care that their children will continue to die. In the US we sometimes talk about what sort of country we're leaving for our children. Neither side in this brawl cares.
How can you say that when for the better part of the last 2 decades israel has been giving away control of large portions of land sometimes in exchange for promises of peace and sometimes in hopes that good will would beget good will? and consistently getting terrorism, rockets, missiles, drive-bys, homicide bombings etc. in return? name one concession the arab side made in return for control of most of the west bank and all of gaza. i will even give you symbolic measures such as recognizing israel, renouncing violence, stopping incitement, etc. let alone something tangible, like actually laying down their weapons and returning to the negotiating table in good faith.
the sad part is that this hasn't happened not because there aren't any arabs that genuinely want peace, are tired of the conflict and are ready to ice the hate, but that they are afraid for their lives to show any signs of such sentiments – every single last one of them from a cripple on the streets of gaza to their so-called president.
The only thing that has blocked peace in Israel are the murderous thugs bent on killing Jews. That is the bottom line.
It's just so ironic that the same stuff people like this say about Israel is the same stuff american settlers said while they were exterminating the native americans: they don't "really" have a country, they're the aggressors, it's all their fault, blah blah blah. The Palestinians can forget it. Ask a Hopi about a colonizer being required to follow law.
Some facts for a change:
1. Israel pulled out of Gaza, including Jewish settlements.
2. The Palestinians turned it into a region of poverty and terror under the direct influence of Iran..
3. The Palestinians in the West Bank are thriving economically and could most probably live in peace with the Israelis around them if the world politicians would just take it off the US – Russia – UN – Turkey – Iran agenda.
4. Many cooks in the kitchen will never make a good omelet.
The "settlements", whether building upwards or building outwards never had anything to do with peace or the lack of peace between Israel and its Moslem neighbors. On the very first day of Israel's existence, the armies of at least five Arab/Moslem countries invaded Israel with the stated intention of destroying the new nation and murdering its Jewish inhabitants. There were no "settlements" then! The Arabs/Moslems never recognized Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state in any borders. That is true today. Nothing has changed. It is not only Hamas that refuses to recognize Israel, but the PA/PLO also, and Iran, and all of the other 56 Moslem countries. That is the reason there is no peace. It has nothing to do with "settlements". To Moslems, ALL of Israel is an illegal settlement.
My presumption is the settlement is named for Israel's war criminal Sharon.
Ariel (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל; Arabic: اريئيل) is an Israeli settlement and a city in the West Bank. Ariel was established in 1978. Its population at the end of 2009 was 17,600,[1] including 7,000 immigrants who came to Israel after 1990.[2] It is the fourth largest Jewish settlement city in the West Bank.,[3] after Modi'in Illit, Beitar Illit, and Ma'ale Adumim.
In July 2009, the city council approved the mayor's proposal to name the city after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The final decision is ultimately made by the Israeli government's 'Name Committee'.[4]
"If I were an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have taken their country....We come from Israel, but two thousand years ago, and what is that to them? ...." Who said that? Arafat? Osama? Obama?
David Ben-Gurion, first PM of Israel (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/David_Ben-Gurion). So anyone who says that the land of Israel was anything but TAKEN from a collective of mostly non-Jews living there who are now considered "Palestinians", and GIVEN to Israelis, is hoping for short-term memories.
Search for some of the settlers' comments, beliefs, the rabbis that lead them, right-wing Israelis (who make up 1/5 of the country and influence the Knesset much more than religious fundamentalists here in the U.S.) and such to see that they aren't saying too many things different than Hamas regarding Arabs, Palestinians or goyim for that matter.
as far as what we hear from our media: http://www.ifamericansknew.org/
you forgot to mention the percentage of arabs that live to see the destruction of israel and death to all jews. the percentage of the people who call themselves palestinians that cheer and praise cold-blooded murders of israeli and american civilians and mourn counter-terrorism operations that punish those who commit those murders. the percentage of people who subscribe to the widely stated tenets of the palestinian factions that (while warring with each other) are united in their death to israel, death to america mantras.
israel has been able to control their religious right and largely keep them away from taking lives of other people. Can you say the same about the arabs? and another thing you fail to mention is the israeli religious left that bends over backwards to bring about the same destruction of israel that arabs are hoping for and openly siding with the arabs who will gladly drown them in the rivers of israeli blood they hope to spill. have you any such examples on the arab side of the equation? the opposition to hamas is even more religiously intolerant and terrorism-prone than hamas itself. look at what they've done with the infidel arrigoni who actually dedicated his life to advancing the palestinian cause...
Palestinian militants murder innocent civilians in Southern Israel – what else needs to be said... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL?SITE=IADES&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Arabs , especially Arab Muslims seem to have difficulty peacefully co – existing with anyone . This is painfully ( usually pain for those that are being murdered ) true for anyone that does not belong to the same sect as themselves . This type of hatred can be observed in the country of Ireland ( IRA against the Protestant ) though most of that has subsided now . In Africa and other countries with large populations of Blacks one can observe the same behavior . To be fair of course a lot of the human population will show behavior to varying degrees of this type . That being said , the chance of the so called
That being said , the chance of peace between the so called Palestinians and anyone is far from likely .
HERE'S THE REAL SOLUTION TO BRINGING ABOUT PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST..OF COURSE IT BEGINS WITH THE PALESTIANS GETTING A HOME LAND AND HAMAS AND OTHER GROUPS IN THE REGION ABANDONING VIOLENCE AND FINALLY RECOGNIZING ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST. BUT HOW DO YOU BRING ABOUT THIS PEACE? THE UNITED STATES UNDER VARIOUS PRESIDENTS AND ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE TRIED FOR DECADES TO NO AVAIL AND ISRAEL CONTINUES TO BE DEFIANT, EXPANDING THEIR SETTLEMENTS ON DISPUTED LANDS. LET'S FACE IT, IF YOU PUT YOUR HANDS IN A FLAME AND IT HURTS, YOUR SENSORY TELLS YOU THE NEXT TIME YOU DO THAT, YOU'D GET BURN AGAIN. SO THE PALESTINIANS AND THE MUSLIM WORLD HAVE TRIED VIOLENCE AGAINST ISRAEL FOR FIVE DECADES TO NO AVAIL. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS TRIED DIPLOMACY FOR 50 YEARS TO NO AVAIL. SO WHAT'S NEXT? PLEASE READ ON.
REMEMBER APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA? THE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT CONTINUED THEIR OPPRESSION AND BRUTALITY AGAINST THE BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS UNTIL THE UN IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THEM AND INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WHO DID BUSINESS WITH THEM DECIDED TO WITHDRAW THEIR COMPANIES AND ALLEVIATE TRADE WITH THE OPPRESSIVE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT. THE END RESULT? APARTHEID EVENTUALLY COLLAPSED. BUT THE QUESTION HERE IS WILL THE UN AND THE US IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL? THE ANSWER IS NO AND EVEN IF THEY DID, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF JEWIS AMERICANS IN AMERICA WHO WOULD SEND AID AND KEEP THE OPPRESSIVE AND DEFIANT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AFLOAT. SO WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? IT'S VERY SIMPLE! JUST READ ON.
THERE ARE PRESENTLY MANY EUROPEAN AND WESTERN NATIONS WHO DO BUSINESS WITH THE ARAB WORLD AND RELY ON OIL IMPORT FROM THE ARAB WORLD TO KEEP THEIR ECONOMY WORKING. SO WHAT IF THE ARAB WORLD WAS TO WALK OUT OF OPEC TOMORROW AND ANNOUNCE AN OIL EMBARGO ON THE ENTIRE GLOBE UNTIL THE UNITED STATES AND THE UN GO IN TO ISRAEL BY FORCE, DIVIDE THE COUNTRY AND BRING LASTING PEACE? SO WILL IT WORK? YES IT WOULD WORK 100% GUARANTEE! FOLKES, VIOLENCE ONLY BREEDS VIOLENCE AND IT'S TIME THE ARAB WORLD CHANGE THEIR STRATEGY AND USE THE TOOLS THAT WOULD FINALLY BRING ABOUT PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR THE PALESTINIANS AND THE ISRAELIS.
FINALLY, WHY ARE WEALTHY COUNTRIES LIKE DUBAI AND THE UAE SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS YEARLY, BUILDING EXCLUSIVE RESORTS TO ENTERTAIN WEALTHY EUROPEANS AND WEALTHY CELEBRITIES AROUND THE GLOBE WHILE THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE DYING EACH AND EVERY DAY OF POVERTY AND FAMINE IN PALESTINE, SUDAN, DAFUR, ETHIOPIA, SOMALIA AND ACROSS SO MANY ARAB COUNTRIES IN THE GLOBE. SO WHEN YOU COME TO MECCA EACH YEAR, WHAT DO YOU REALLY PREACH AND TALK ABOUT? ARAB AND MUSLIM PEOPLE, IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK..
SO WHEN THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETS ANNUALLY, WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE REALLY TALK ABOUT? HOW TO LAUNCH MORE MISSLES INTO ISRAEL? FOLKES THAT STRATEGY IS INEFFECTIVE, COSTLY AND USELESS. YOU HAVE TO THINK LIKE THE WESTERN WORLD AND USE THE KINDS OF LANGUEAGE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND THE KINDS OF TOOLS THAT WOULD GET THEIR ATTENTION AND WAKE THEM UP. AND THAT STRATEGY, THAT TOOL IS NOT MILITARY AGGRESSION BUT RATHER AN ECONOMIC ASSAULT IN THE TERMS OF AN OIL EMBARGO. I GUARENTEE YOU THAT IT WOULD WORK 100%, GUARANTEE.
Let's face it, Israel is in the grip of the religious right. Mr. Abrams is so wrong it hurts to read what he says. The settlements are not for Israelis but for religious extremists, subsidized by a right wing government to the detriment of peace and to the Israeli population at large. The demonstrations in Israel about reduced social services and funding is a direct result of resources sucked up by the settlements. Israel has clearly made a choice: pandering to zealots over peace.
of course it is that kind of pandering that gave the land in wb to palestinian authority. it's that pandering that gave gaza to what turned out to be rocket-armed thug mob. religious right.... take a wild swipe at guessing how many israelis could be called religious right... israel is a democratic nation and their government represents their demographics fairly well. the religious right has its small niche, just like the religious left, whose religion is national suicide.
In this conflict Israel has the preponderance of power and influence. Therefore they must show courage and leadership if they want to secure their long term security. Settlements is a good starting point and the Administration's insistence on a building moratorium is an attempt to apply pressure. During the Cold War I saw the need to bolster Israel, now what are my tax dollars doing? Our legitimacy, and indeed our contribution to the world, is based on our impartiality and justice. With regards to Israel when the word sees tanks bearing down on rock throwing teenagers, and we (the US) is on the side of the tanks...How many Kent States have we witnessed? If Israel wants to impress the world and live up to its promise it needs to be magnanimous. Giving the country's track record I'm dubious. Our security has been threatened as a result of our affiliation and our tax dollars are being wasted. Time for American voters to pull the plug. I understand the history and grievances and greed but until the more capable inter-locker in this dispute (Israel) shows the courage to secure its future, the US should focus elsewhere. This is very tiresome, expensive, and child like. If in fact the Israel lobby is exerting outsized influence on our politicians, then we need to vote those politicians out as well. Take care.
behind your affinity for dictionary words, your idea is lost. are you proposing israel utilize its strength and bring about an end to the conflict by force? ethnically cleansing its country of anyone not loyal to it? they've done everything they could on the other front, so that seems to be the one options they haven't tried, so that's what you're calling for, right?
Israel is as much our ally today as it was during the cold war and the u.s. has as many problems and as many detractors as it had then in the world. the only difference is that they are less centralized and obvious, which doesn't make them any less dangerous. you mention paliwood propaganda and blame israel for it, rather than blaming the shameless propagandists who will not only risk the lives of their youths to make a new youtube clip, but literally sacrifice them for the purpose as surely as cutting their heads off at the altar. you don't have a problem with our tax dollars going in support of the fine folks who employ these tactics (the u.s. is the biggest donor to palestinians in the world by far), dollars that you can kiss good bye as soon as they are wired over, but you do have a problem with the support for israel, which we get back ten-fold in various ways israel co-operates and helps us out when called upon. why?
Mr. Abrams surely know there is an easy way to test his argument that "these units do not make a peace agreement harder" lets do this – lets expropriate land from and give it to the Arabs to build on. Certainly the Arab population is growing just as fast.
Oh right....expropriation is only ok if its land from the Palestinians to the Jews....with a casual "its ok" "they don't mind" ...and this vulgar act is paid for by the US taxpayer.........suckers.....!!!!
you'd have to wait for israel to launch a war of genocide against the said arabs and lose it to stage your experiment and i mean an actual real war of actual real genocide, a la jordan et al aggressions on israel not the counterterrorism operations that your arab buddies call genocide because they have no idea what genocide is.
try not to turn into a fossil while you wait...
Peace? What peace? There was never one and there will never be peace in Palestine until judgment day. Israel will never have peace because Israel is built on occupation, land theft, ethnic cleansing, and murders. You can't negotiate with criminals in "good faith".
The only expropriation was that moslems from Arabia stuck their tentacles all over the ME, decended into Africa and Europe and the Indian subcontinent. Look at all those places and see the destruction that this expropriation has caused. Afghanistan was once Budhist. Where are the Budhists now? Dead or exiled. Iran was once Zoroastrian. The only remenant of that religion is in India. Don't take the wrong side of this fight here. Anyone courageous enough to stand up to the Islamists and restore their heritage has got to be lauded.
Elliot Abrams (author) must be an AIPAC supporter if not an Israeli at heart. The settlements are illegal under international law. The Israelis have continually violated human rights and standard decency. It's a terrible shame that American dollars support such awful people. Let's hope that awareness increases, American policy changes, and that the blatant anti-Arab anti-Islam propaganda currently spewed in the media ceases. Mr. Abrams, if you you love Israel so much so as to defend its illegal activities, why don't you just move there. We have enough bad journalists in this country.
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