Bibi: I'll resume settlement activity

[oberliner]

Binyamin Netanyahu will resume building in existing West Bank settlements if he is elected prime minister, the opposition leader told Walla! News on Sunday.

"I don't understand why there can be natural growth in Arab neighborhoods, but not in Jewish neighborhoods," he said. "There is a difference between the plans of a family that has more children and wants to close off its balcony and the building of additional neighborhoods. There is no reason why there shouldn't be development of existing neighborhoods."

The opposition leader reiterated that there was currently no chance of a peace deal with the Palestinian Authority and therefore, the only option was an economic arrangement. He said that after such an agreement had been kept properly, a peace deal could be examined.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017420676&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Anyone seen a recent Israeli opinion poll? How popular is Bibi these days over there?

[LeftishBrit]

1. Hope Bibi is not elected.

He is not what Israel, or the Middle East, needs.

[Vegasaurus]

2. Bibi has an audience and supporters

because none of the other ways have worked.

So now even more moderate people don't think he's so bad,

He isn't good for Israeli politics, but people should understand why he has influence, since he didn't get it in a vacuum.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. And the exact same thing can be said for Hamas...

Isn't it strange how you only say it about Nutty and not others the same thing applies to...

[azurnoir]

3. A question for the OP

Do you think that the outcome of the American presidential elections could influence the outcome of the Israeli elections? Could a win by Barack Obama increase the chances of a win by Netanyahu?
I have tried to envision a mid east with Livni and Obama heading Israel and the US vs a mid east with McCain and Netanyahu the latter IMO does not make for a "pretty picture"

That being said I was unaware that the settlement building had actually stopped anywhere except on paper.