Israeli envoy calls divisive settlement plan a politically necessary reprisal

[bemildred]

Last edited Wed Dec 12, 2012, 05:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Israel’s recent decision to proceed with plans for settlement construction in a hypersensitive strip of occupied land east of Jerusalem was meant as a signal to Palestinian leaders that Israel will not let provocative actions go unpunished, the Israeli ambassador to Washington said Tuesday.

Speaking at a Monitor-hosted lunch with reporters, Ambassador Michael Oren placed the announcement of plans for settlement construction in the so-called “E1” tract of land in the context of the Palestinians’ successful bid Nov. 29 for enhanced United Nations status.

“We felt if the Palestinians were taking unilateral action in the UN, we had to also send the message that we could take unilateral actions,” he said.

Ambassador Oren addressed the E1 controversy in a wide-ranging discussion in which he described life for Israel in a Middle East of widespread upheaval and conflict as both “the worst of times” and – surprisingly – also “the best of times.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2012/1211/Israeli-envoy-calls-divisive-settlement-plan-a-politically-necessary-reprisal?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fusa+%28Christian+Science+Monitor+

[azurnoir]

1. okay so the E1 plans were necessary to show the Palestinians Israel too

had the ability to make 'unilateral' moves, well gosh I had thought Israel did that every time it build oops added 'natural' growth to one of its settlements or staked out yet more state land or transferred more Palestinians out of Area C , but nope it needs to do this to show the Palestinians who's boss

[bemildred]

2. I was surprised to see it made so explicit that it was a reprisal for disobedience. nt

[hack89]

5. They did say in advance that there would be repercussions.

there should have been no surprises.

[kayecy]

6. It sounds as though you approve of Israel's reprisals?..............n/t

[hack89]

8. That's quite a stretch

considering I merely pointed out that Israel had warned Abbas prior to the UN action.

[kayecy]

12. Which begs my question...Do you or don't you approve?.......

Which begs my question...Do you or don't you approve?.......Saying something is quite a stretch is merely hiding behind words......If you approve of Israel's actions in pushing ahead with building, why not say so?

[hack89]

13. I don't support it.

I support a 2 state solution with the settlements withdrawn. Untangling Jerusalem will be a mess however.

[kayecy]

24. Thank you for that clarification, I only asked because....

Thank you for that clarification, I only asked because....I don't think any Zionist members have posted on this thread (with the possible exception of yourself and oberliner) which makes you wonder what the others think.

[hack89]

25. I am not a Zionist. nt

[bemildred]

9. Saying what you are going to do in advance does not make immoral actions somehow moral.

If that's the PA's money, then not giving it to them "as agreed" is theft. The PA was under no obligation to not seek anything they like at the UN, or to not win their point there. Furthermore, Bibi and Co. are just making the Palestinians point for them globally about the unfairness and dishonesty of Israels dealings with the Palestinians.

[hack89]

10. All I said was that it was no surprise

nothing more nothing less.

[kayecy]

11. Self deleted.......

[bemildred]

14. And all I'm saying is it's quite predictable, that's how these guys think.

They are scared to death of looking "weak", because in fact they are weak.

And punishing the guy (Abbas) that wants to make an agreement and get along because he went to the UN looking for a bit of leverage seems most unlikely to lead to a secure "Jewish State" in the mid-East, it's more like a recipe for perpetual war and eventual defeat.

Edit: so OK, no surprise at all.

[hack89]

18. I think that Israel should sit back - they don't have to do anything at all

This entire UN gambit is a huge risk for Abbas as there is no reason to believe that Hamas supports anything that will enhance the PA's prestige. If all this does is emphasizes how "Palestine" is really two separate and hostile entities then it has not made things better. If all that happens is that Abbas is exposed as weak and impotent then it is a defeat for the Palestinians.

[bemildred]

20. Abbas is weak and impotent, it's no illusion, this was an attempt to regain some sort of relevance.

If Bibi prefers Hamas, that's what he is going to get.

[hack89]

21. I can't see how Bibi can help Abbas with Hamas

short of killing them (not that I am endorsing that idea). Nor is it Israel's responsibility to mediate between Abbas and Hamas.

Hamas will attempt to blow up any deal Abbas makes with Israel. Israel will not deal with Abbas if Hamas is attacking Israel.

Hamas needs to be dealt with. I don't know what the answer is but a three way conflict merely reinforces the status quo.

[bemildred]

23. Good luck. nt

[shaayecanaan]

3. Building settlements in order to punish the Palestinians...

I think most sane and reasonable types have realised this for some time, but it certainly is rather startling to hear it stated so baldly by an Israeli ambassador.

[bemildred]

15. Yes, it was the bald statement of the agenda that I found interesting.

That tone deafness about how they sound is a hallmark of Bibi's regime.

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. rather blatent about this stuff lately..

I suppose they know that few really tangible consequences--a few strongly-worded letters notwithstanding!--would ever be forthcoming from the US/EU, so why not?

This diplomat chump Oren--wasn't he the guy who recently compared the Gaza rockets to be "the modern equivalent of the London Blitz"?

[bemildred]

17. Yes, not the first example, it's like a pattern.

Hmm ...

Could this have anything to do with Israel's "growing isolation"?

[oberliner]

19. No, he didn't

That was Daniel Taub.

[oberliner]

7. 22 January 2013

Hopefully Israeli voters will make a wiser choice.

[bemildred]

16. +1. nt

[shaayecanaan]

22. Unlikely

T'will be right wing governments as far as the eye can see.

[oberliner]

26. I disagree

Assuming Hamas (or Islamic Jihad, or another group) doesn't pull off some kind of horrific terrorist attack right before the election, I think there is a strong possibility that we will see Likud and company kicked out of office.

[azurnoir]

27. well one can hope however

Israeli polls show the Rightist/Religious block holding on to a solid 54-55% majority of the vote with Likud Beiteinu still holding by far the largest block of voters at 32%

http://972mag.com/polls/