U.S. Will Penalize Israel For Huge Security Fence

Defense News ^ | 10/13/03 | Opall

[pabianice]

The U.S. administration plans to penalize Israel for continuing to build a mammoth security fence around the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem to try and thwart terrorist infiltrations and suicide bombings.

The move likely will involve deducting costs of the fence from the $9 billion in U.S.-backed loan guarantees approved for Israel during the next several years. The action follows months of unsuccessful, attempts by Washington to persuade Jerusalem to reassess the nature and route of the project. Officials in President George W. Bush’s administration have informed Israel and its supporters in Congress of their intentions.

Known in Israel as the Seam Zone barrier and by Palestinians and much of the Arab world as the Apartheid Wall, the fence is intended to separate Israeli civilians from Palestinians living west of the Jordan River, the area known as the West Bank. While U.S. officials support Israeli efforts to defend its citizens against terrorist infiltrations, they have implored Jerusalem to be more sensitive to the expropriation of Palestinian lands, the uprooting of orchards and olive groves, and other hardships.

[pabianice]

Another huge disappointment from Bush. Can't have Jews defending themselves, can we? But we have no problem protecting ourselves from the same danger.

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[Lee Heggy]

I just knew that fence would violate the neighborhood covenant. Damn.

[ZinGirl]

I'm still pretty clueless when it comes to these things....HOWEVER, Bush doesn't seem to get the 'seal the borders' concept...figuratively or literally. At least Israel is able to put up something tangible that says, "you people hate us and keep trying to kill us...we're putting up a damn fence and good luck trying to fend for yourselves"

[bereanway]

Uprooting orchards, olive groves and other hardships.

Please, we're talking about men, women and children being blown up while in discos, pizza joints and riding on the bus. Is it only me or does there seem to be somewhat of a screwy value system at work here?

[etcetera]

I bet this an idea that came from the U.S. State Dept.

[Norse]

Like what, eehill?

[ZinGirl]

and that was posted to me because........?

Log onto www.ussliberty.org and check it out CAREFULLY before you call me anti-semitic.

I don't have to log onto anything...and I don't call people names.

[Mr. Mojo]

God forbid Israel makes an attempt to protect themselves against Islamic terrorists? What will those evil Jews think of next?

When is the Bush administration going to trash their roadmap to Hell, and admit that it's as foolish as the Oslo accords?

Of course, Bush doesn't quite understand the concept of protecting borders, does he?

[Redbob]

USS Liberty notwithstanding, the Israelis have a right to defend themselves, by putting up fences against unwanted intruders if necessary; George Dubya might take a hint and strengthen some fences to our south as well.

[Mr. Mojo]

That U.S.S. Liberty tinfoil crap has been debunked a thousand times. Go peddle your B.S. elsewhere.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Why should the U.S. fedgov allow the Israelis to do something to protect thier borders when the feds are so adamant about increasing the porosity of our own? Might look bad if protecting the borders actually increased the safety and security of another nation while our leaders are working to destroy our own illusion of security.

[Catspaw]

So our real friends in the region are the Palestinians? You mean the ones who were celebrating on 9/11?

Gimme a break.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

eehill 1965
Since Oct 9, 2003

I smell troll.

[Norse]

I guess the question is - what other circumstances would you point to besides the Liberty incident? Is there something more specific by chance?

[Norse]

Looking back on previous posts I would not come to the conclusion that she's a troll. More like an enthusiastic poster, a little naive perhaps

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Perhaps.

I shall defer for the moment, but I have my doubts.

[Alouette]

eehill is no longer with us.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

So Zot it be.

[JohnGalt]

Reducing the size of the welfare payment is not exactly punishment now is it?

[Mr. Mojo]

enthusiastic poster, a little naive perhaps

Enthusiastic, naive, and banned.

[ex-Texan]

We need to build a Security Fence across the Mexi-Cali border. GWB needs a Wake up! call.

[freedomcrusader]

Lots of folks in Congress aren't going to like this, and may try to restore the $$$.

[JudgemAll]

Nope, in this world of condoms for promiscuity "against" AIDS, banishing yourself from evil will get you punished ... and not merely banishing evil.

[The Westerner]

I don't know the specifics, JohnGalt, but this article says these are "loans." And being that Israelis aren't "looters" like the rest of the world, they probably pay back loans.

[JohnGalt]

Fine, reducing the amount in guaranteed loans is not exactly punishment.

[Your Nightmare]

The question is "what are Israel's borders"? They seem to be building the "security wall" on a path that has other advantages besides security (eg, water, arable land).

[The Westerner]

I hope so. This is one time I will be glad to see Congress stand up to the President and his henchpersons Powell and Rice. "...they have implored Jerusalem to be more sensitive to the expropriation of Palestinian lands..." This is diplomatic code equivalent to "Israel needs to keep its eye on the bigger picture." How insensitive! After cleaning up the splattered body parts of Israeli citizens month after blood-soaked month, Bush is asking Israel to be "sensitive"!

[putupon]

The move likely will involve deducting costs of the fence from the $9 billion in U.S.-backed loan guarantees

You would think Israel already had enough credit from the blood paid to cover that bill.

Just wait, when homicide bombers come along with the average mass murders, rapists, etc. start coming over Rio Grande, our borders will close.

Just because we don't have any common sense, doesn't mean we need to force our stupidity on Israel.

[LarryM]

We need to face the fact that Bush is a Saudi stooge. His whole family has been tied to the oil industry for years. Any hope of a moral component is far-fetched.

[onedoug]

We're all "tied" to the oil industry.

A valid question is how success in Iraq may lead to at least some democratization of Islam within Saudi Arabia, and a hedge against Saudi domination of oil markets.

"Any hope of a moral component is far-fetched", indeed with anyone less moral than Bush fighting the war.

And non-existent if the atheist Democrats come back into power.

[anotherview]

No doubt a troll. The anti-Israel pro-Arab crowd digs up a 36 year old mistake and ignores everything that has come since. The alliance and friendship between the U.S. and Israel is as strong as exists between any two countries in the world. Israel remains the only steadfast ally the U.S. has in the Middle East.

[anotherview]

Bush administration foreign policy in the Middle East has been schizophrenic at best. Bush says one thing, Powell another, Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rice a third, fourth, and fifth. The administration needs to pull together and speak with one voice instead of lurching between mutually exclusive positions.

I think alot of us thought the U.S. had a President that had a clear vision of what needed to be done and a true moral compass after 9/11. I think alot of us have been sorely disappointed.

[anotherview]

Yes, indeed, Israel is one of the few countries on the planet that actually pays it's debts. The loan guarantees do not end up costing the U.S. taxpayer so long as that happens.

[anotherview]

Welfare? What the U.S. invests in Israel is not welfare, and is an investment which has definite and tangible returns.

[JohnGalt]

LOL

That was Gephardt says about gubmint healthcare.

[anotherview]

And non-existent if the atheist Democrats come back into power

Don't lump all Democrats together this way. Last I heard Senator Joseph Lieberman was a (modern) Orthodox Jew. He also seems to have his head on straight when it comes to foreigh policy.

Also, religious belief doesn't seem to guarantee that the U.S. will have a sane foreign policy. Jimmy Carter is a born-again Christian who takes his religious beliefs seriously. He was still a disasterously bad President.

[anotherview]

My apologies. With half the thread deleted it's kinda hard to follow. I suspect we don't disagree.

[Hollywoodghost]

The fence will save lives! Both Isreali and Palistinian. Bomber will not be able to kill themselves because of the fence. This is a win win if ever I saw one.

[Norse]

How do you know if someone is banned? Just curious....

[onedoug]

Deed over creed.

The Democrat party gives every indication of its leadership having been co-opted by Communists, who are atheistic.

Let these pious try to "save" their party...no less too many RINOs, theirs.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I figured as much. No doubt the admin agreed.

With all the singed fur, you would think the DUmmies would get the message and stay in thier respective closets.

[philetus]

The only reason Israel is building this fence is to try to save Israeli lives from suicide bombers and terrorists.