Bush aide draws line on Jewish settlements

The Age ^ | 12-20-04 | Andrew Metz

[SJackson]

US President George Bush's top strategist on the Middle East conflict has told private gatherings of scholars and Jewish leaders that Jewish settlements outside Israel's controversial barrier through the West Bank will have to be dismantled.

The comments by Elliot Abrams, a senior director at the National Security Council, exceed previous Bush Administration statements and have sent a signal to tens of thousands of settlers that they are on untenable ground.

But by specifying that these settlements must be abandoned, Mr Abrams indicated that Israel would be able to hold on to its most populous settlements and continue building the barrier.

Although Israel has acknowledged it will ultimately have to relinquish parts of the West Bank, home to about 230,000 settlers and 2.3 million Palestinians, the extent is a highly charged debate.

During closed talks in Washington late last month, Mr Abrams reaffirmed President Bush's recent policy shift allowing Israel to retain settlement blocks on land captured in 1967 and denying Palestinians the right to return to homes inside Israel. But according to Israeli media accounts and people who attended the sessions, Mr Abrams went further by explicitly addressing the fate of settlers living beyond a barrier being erected in response to Palestinian suicide bombings but condemned in the international community as illegal.

Depending on the ultimate route of the wall and fencing, 50,000 to 70,000 settlers would be left outside the barrier in about 70 settlements. There are Israeli proposals to sustain many of these communities through a network of private roads.

The warnings coincide with predictions by Mr Bush that he would bring peace to Israel and the Palestinians during his second term in office.

Israeli officials said Mr Abrams' comments were counterproductive as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tries to keep his Government together and pursue a pull-out from the Gaza Strip. They said any decisions about borders would be part of final negotiations.

Michael Tarazi, a legal adviser to the Palestinian negotiations team, said Mr Abrams was "basically giving a green light to build settlements. It is open support to do whatever you want."

 Mr Sharon has approved the release of 170 Palestinian prisoners as he looked to bolster the new moderate PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The decision was made by a special ministerial commission headed by the prime minister. It did not specify when the releases would take place.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[anotherview]

You know, the Palestinians complain bitterly that Prime Minister Sharon is "prejudging the final status agreement" by taking unilateral action. Isn't the U.S. doing precisely the same thing but in the Palestinian's favor? I wonder what would happen if some Israeli government official would use that line on President Bush?

[FreeReporting]

"Michael Tarazi, a legal adviser to the Palestinian negotiations team, said Mr Abrams was "basically giving a green light to build settlements. It is open support to do whatever you want."

Now explain to me why the Palestinians think that they could exercise a "right of return" ie entry of Palestinians into Israel, but at the same time not permit the formation of Jewish villages in their territories, i.e. in the "West Bank" and Gaza? Where is the logic?

[SJackson]

Isn't the U.S. doing precisely the same thing but in the Palestinian's favor?

Yes. Essentially the US is giving the PA most of what they could expect to get prior to negotiations, leaving little or nothing to negotiate.

[SJackson]

Now explain to me why the Palestinians think that they could exercise a "right of return" ie entry of Palestinians into Israel, but at the same time not permit the formation of Jewish villages in their territories, i.e. in the "West Bank" and Gaza? Where is the logic?

Because Jews aren't allowed to live in Arab lands. Even the US accepts that piece of logic.

[bvw]

" sent a signal to tens of thousands of settlers that they are on untenable ground"

Untenable?! To use that word for that ground is like tearing up a Bible and using it for cat litter.

[Alberta's Child]

Essentially the US is giving the PA most of what they could expect to get prior to negotiations, leaving little or nothing to negotiate.

Exactly. I don't know if you remember this, but on a similar thread a couple of years ago I predicted that this would happen. My rationale was that the U.S. would help both the Israeli government and the PA save face with their respective constituents by saving them the embarrassment of making key concessions to the other side.

[Cicero]

The precedent was set with the Oslo Peace Accords. First the Jews are expected to give the Arabs 95% of what they want. Then, in return, the Arabs get to think it over and decide how they want to reciprocate.

Not even a used car salesman would get away with the bargaining technique.

[MissAmericanPie]

For a Christian Bush sure doesn't know his bible. God gets a little upset with those who think to divide up the land of Israel. He may as well strike a match and light the fuse for WW3.

When we eventually leave the middle east, Russia, or China may rush in to fill the void using middle east civil war as an excuse to intervene.

China is building an impressive army on the greed of global corporate need to compete. China will use what it builds evenutally. There is a verse in Revelations about an army of 200 million that wipes out a third of the Earths population. "Peace" will kill billions.

[anotherview]

I am certainly glad Israel does not make ANY decisions because of Christian religious belief. (To me, as a Jew, "Revelation" is a very nasty piece of fiction.) I am also glad President Bush doesn't make his decisions that way.

Your idea of peace isn't mine. We need peace in Israel if we are ever to have security. Sadly, I don't think the Palestinians are ready to make peace.

My objection to President Bush's views is that the security fence is a defensive measure only. It was never, ever meant to be a permanent border. Further, even President Clinton's ideas included retaining the Jewish presence in Hebron. Considering the importance of the Tomb of the Patriarchs to the Jewish people I can't imagine just walking away from there.

[SunkenCiv]

Elliot Abrams should keep his trap shut.

[chukcha]

Elliot Abrams should be fired.

[anotherview]

My big fear is that Elliot Abrams is saying precisely what the President wants him to say.

[FreeReporting]

I think that in this game of chess that is the "Israeli-Palestinian question" someone made up a bunch of arbitrary moves that the world considers reasonable for no good reason that I can find:
-Israelis make concessions, Palestinians reject them is one.
-Arabs are welcome to live in Israel but Jews aren't allowed to live in Arab countries.
-Christian and Moslem holy places are obviously open to their worshippers in Jewish held territories and treated as sacrosanct, but Jewish holy places in Moslem countries are violated.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Bush aide draws line on Jewish settlements

>>>Untenable?! To use that word for that ground is like tearing up a Bible and using it for cat litter. <<<

Reminds me of:

Daniel 11

31. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary and fortress, and he shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate:

32. And he shall corrupt by flatteries those who do wickedly against the covenant; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and take action:

It is axiomatic that a Pali state in Judea [standing where it ought not] is an abomination that will make Israel desolate.

Come to think of it, "desolate" and "without inhabitant" are often used within the same verse and/or context. A Judenrein Judea certainly qualifies.

 

 

Daniel 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

[Jeremiah Jr]

Tick tock...

[SunkenCiv]

I think he's just a loose cannon. OTOH, if you're right, that means the Bush administration is just playing 'em. :')

[ApesForEvolution]

"In other news, Canada tells America to give Arizona back to Mexico - and US says that's perfectly cool..."