Israel says it will take Palestinian settlement

[newyorican]

JERUSALEM — Israel said yesterday it had ordered the seizure of land owned by Palestinians to build a separation barrier that will encompass the West Bank's largest Jewish settlement.

Palestinian officials objected vehemently to the plan, which effectively annexes the settlement of Maaleh Adumim to Israel. They called on the Bush administration to intercede.

"This is a disastrous decision," said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator.

The plan would place Maaleh Adumim, five miles east of Jerusalem, inside the security barrier Israel is building around the West Bank. The settlement, which has a population of about 30,000, has been cited repeatedly by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as among the Jewish population centers in the West Bank that Israel intends to keep if and when the Palestinians achieve statehood.

read more...

[madeline_con]

1. Those a**holes can't be trusted.

I knew getting the "settlers" (squatters) out seemed too good to be true.

Turn around for a second, and see what happens? I really don't know bad enough words to express how I feel.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. What would happen if the Palestinians plopped themselves

in the middle of Israeli territory -- oh never mind.

[Crunchy Frog]

3. How much coverage are we going to see

of weeping, wailing Palestinians being expelled from their homes? I wonder what sized compensation packages they'll be getting?

[tucoramirez2005]

4. Palestinians know how to fix this

and they will. It worked in Gaza, and will work elsewhere; they have nothing but time.

[Brightmore]

5. What worked in Gaza?

?

[newyorican]

6. Too many Arabs...

equals a demographic nightmare for Israel. That's what worked in Gaza. The biggest threat to Israel is Arabs having babies.

[bluesoul]

7. ...

I hope they continue having a lot of babies in the future. Maybe once the number grows they will be noticed they exist and don't plan to go anywhere (message for the Israeli right and elsewhere)

[barb162]

8. The biggest threat is people standing on each other's heads

because of overpopulation. "Soylent Green" here we come. Then again, the UN basically said the same thing to every country on the planet because 6 billion people and resources from forests to water are getting scarcer by the day. It doesn't add up to a pretty picture

[tucoramirez2005]

10. Biggest threat is people believing that

being buried by those who don't.

[tucoramirez2005]

11. The biggest threat

is Arabs having MORE babies.

[tucoramirez2005]

9. Demographics

and violence.

[Scurrilous]

12. PA to fight settlement expansion

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3133930,00.html

<snip>

"The Palestinian Authority is set to launch an official campaign Sunday aimed at convincing the international community Israeli plans to construct new homes in the West Bank, and particularly near the settlement of Maaleh Adumim, would serve to undermine peace efforts.

Senior Palestinian officials have engaged in a series of contacts with international sources in recent days, including American and European officials. On Sunday, the PA is expected to hold a press conference on the matter and on Friday it plans to hold a tour for diplomats aimed at pointing out the dangers inherent in Israeli settlement expansion plans.

Palestinian Cabinet Secretary Samir Huleileh told Ynet the Authority is highly concerned about Israeli construction plans.

"What is the message the Israeli government is sending the Palestinian side?" Huleileh asked, blasting Israel for boosting the number of West Bank settlers and expropriating Palestinian land.

Huleileh added the Palestinians have already contacted U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over the matter and have also relayed a message to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The PA is also expected to raise the matter with European Union envoy Javier Solana, scheduled to visit the area on Tuesday."