Top Likud minister: Peace will not come by uprooting Jews from their homes

[Jefferson23]

Speaking at West Bank settlement, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar says withdrawal from Gaza Strip 'did not improve or elevate Israel’s status, nor did it help achieve peace and security.'

By Chaim Levinson

Peace between Israelis and Palestinians will not come as a result of uprooting Jews from their homes, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the establishment of 64 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Har Bracha, Sa’ar told the crowd that Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip “did not improve or elevate Israel’s status, nor did it help achieve peace and security.”

Sa’ar, who was graciously received by local leaders, stated that the settlement enterprise is based on the “Jewish right to the land,” and that any form of withdrawal will leave Israel vulnerable to threats from countries such as Iran.

Sa’ar’s speech came hours after he announced a plan to expand a pilot curriculum of student tours in the West Bank city of Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/top-likud-minister-peace-will-not-come-by-uprooting-jews-from-their-homes-1.410463

[Jefferson23]

1. Seven rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel

Rockets exploded in Sha'ar Hanegev and Ashkelon Beach regions, causing no casualties or damage.

By Yanir Yagna and Gili Cohen

After weeks of relative quiet, seven rockets were fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday night.

The rockets exploded in open areas in the Sha'ar Hanegev and Ashkelon Beach regions, causing no casualties or damage.

Six rockets were fired in a single volley around 9 p.m. A lone rocket had been fired two and a half hours earlier.

Following the rocket fire, the IDF ordered area residents to stay within 15 seconds of protected shelters.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/seven-rockets-fired-from-gaza-into-southern-israel-1.410483

[azurnoir]

5. Interesting considering this

Cabinet approves housing benefits for priority areas

The benefits include – inter alia – subsidies for development costs up to
NIS 150,000 in agricultural communities and NIS 107,000 in cities, as well
as supplementary housing loans of up to NIS 100,000.

At the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it was also decided
that communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip will enjoy maximum
benefits. He also directed that a decision on adding the communities on the
northern confrontation line be submitted for Cabinet approval within two
weeks.

The decision is designed to encourage positive migration to the communities
and to assist in finding solutions to ease the housing situation. The
decision will also contribute to economically strengthening these
communities.

Among the communities included are: Kiryat Shemona, Beit Shean, Sderot,
Safed, Dimona, Hurfeish, Rama, Maalot-Tarshiha, Nahariya, Upper Nazareth,
Migdal Haemek.

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=55516

[mike_c]

2. yes, peace will only come...

...when the last shred of Palestinian land has been stolen, the last olive grove is destroyed, and the last Palestinian family killed by settlers.

[oberliner]

4. What Palestinian family was killed by settlers?

There was an Israel family (who were settlers) killed by Palestinians not too long ago (an attack which included the murder of a three month old baby).

Here are the details:

Itamar massacre: Fogel family butchered while sleeping

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4041237,00.html

I know that there have been incidents of Israeli settlers killing Palestinians, but I don't know of an incident like the one above where an entire family was killed.

[azurnoir]

6. ah so the settlers are kinda bad but nearly as nefarious

as Palestinian got it

[oberliner]

8. No, neither the settlers nor the Palestinians are "nefarious"

Don't know where you got that word from.

I thought maybe the poster was mixed up - I don't know where they got the idea of settlers killing every Palestinian family.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

7. The short answer is "yes it will, and it won't come from anything else".

If Israel removes the settlements, there will be peace.

If it does not, there will not be.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Just like Gaza?

Precedent says land for peace is not something the Palestinian factions will find sufficient

[Donald Ian Rankin]

11. Continuing the occupation did not bring peace. This was unsurprising.

Israel was occupying the West Bank and Gaza.

Israel withdrew from Gaza, while continuing to occupy the West bank.

The conflict continued.

So far so simple. What is surreal is that the lesson people drew from this was not "continuing to occupy the West Bank made the conflict continue" but "withdrawing from Gaza made the conflict continue".

[oberliner]

12. Lots of Palestinians believe the whole of Israel is Occupied Palestine

Israel withdrew from Gaza, while continuing to occupy the West Bank.

The conflict continued.

Israel withdraws from the West Bank, while continuing to occupy the rest of Palestine.

The conflict continues?

[Shaktimaan]

17. By this reasoning...

Israel should refrain from making ANY concessions until a final status, comprehensive deal is worked out and implemented all at once. Until then it should build up its checkpoints, keep Palestinians under strict curfews, lock down all travel privileges, etc., as these will only be used to perpetrate terrorism barring the conflict's conclusion.

Israeli concessions = more terrorism UNLESS Israel has made ALL the concessions, right?

So what about stuff like the right of return and ALL of east Jerusalem and stuff? What if Israel doesn't make every concession to the satisfaction of all of the Palestinian terrorist groups? IYO can Israel EVER make ALL the concessions demanded of it? If not, should Israel refrain from making any concessions then, if they'll just bring about more violence like the Gaza withdrawal did?

[azurnoir]

10. IMO Israel already has the 'peace' it wants in the West Bank

and as to Gaza that will be dealt with in time

[oberliner]

13. Palestinians as well?

Has the peace in the West Bank been mutual?

[azurnoir]

14. you answered yourself in comment #12 n/t

[oberliner]

15. What is the answer?

I've read the comment I've written and don't see where/how it answers the question I asked you.

[Shaktimaan]

16. what makes you think so?

Especially when Palestinian leaders say otherwise?

[Shaktimaan]

18. Sadly, this man has a point. np

[Crunchy Frog]

19. Only by uprooting Bedouins.