As if to appease Barak Obama after their meeting in the White House, Bibi Netanyahu announced the dismantling of a single illegal outpost of 20 or so settlers on the West Bank, which was immediately reconstructed, according to news reports. To emphasize his seriousness, Netanyahu then ordered that 22 illegal outposts be torn down.
Crumbs, crumbs, and more crumbs since the real obstacle to peace are the major settlements comprising Israeli only villages, towns and virtual cities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu: We’ll build only in existing settlements
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday that the government would not establish new settlements in the West Bank, though he did say that existing settlements ought to be allowed to expand due to “natural growth.”
Netanyahu is under stiff pressure from the United States to halt settlement activity on lands claimed by the Palestinians. The U.S. considers settlements – home to some 280,000 Israelis – obstacles to peace.
The premier said his government was committed to upholding the law in the West Bank, a reference to his government’s plan to dismantle unauthorized settlement outposts in the territories.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that 22 illegal outposts in the West Bank would be torn down, and warned that settlers would be evicted forcefully if they resisted.
(All settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are considered illegal by international law.)
It was recently reported that Israel intended to construct another 70,000 new homes in the coming year in the Palestinian territories. Presumably, this expansion is to accomodate “natural growth.”
Give us a break, Mr. Netanyahu.
