Less than a week from now Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to become the next leader of Israel. Judging by his pre-vote bombast, Netanyahu may just complete the settler takeover of the West Bank that progressed so rampantly during the Bush years. From The Guardian:
Under Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are likely to grow more rapidly, putting Israel at odds with the new US administration.
In a speech, Netanyahu said that rather than peace talks with the Palestinians about giving up territory, he favoured economic development – a plan of "economic peace". He has stopped short of endorsing a two-state solution that would see the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
It is a stance that is likely to draw criticism from Washington, particularly from new Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who wrote a report in 2001 explicitly calling for a halt to all settlement growth. Since then the Jewish settler population has increased significantly until today it stands at nearly 500,000 settlers in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Netanyahu has said he will not be bound by current prime minister Ehud Olmert's commitment to withdraw from some West Bank settlements and from large parts of the occupied territory as a whole. "I will not keep Olmert's commitments to withdraw and I won't evacuate settlements," Netanyahu was quoted as saying last week in the Ha'aretz newspaper. " Those understandings are invalid and unimportant."
Netanyahu presents a direct challenge to the Obama administration, one that could lead to a showdown. America alone has the means to compel Israel to comply with international law and end the illegal occupation of the West Bank. It's a challenge that grows harder by the day and unless the Israeli government is really allowing this expansion with any genuine willingness to force settler relocation to Israeli territory, Obama may have to engage Netanyahu in a test of will not previously experienced by Israeli leaders.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/04/israelandthepalestinians-usa
I can't believe this egomaniac, radical is on the cusp of taking power again. Netanyahu makes Sharon look like a hippy.
ReplyDeleteHe's a blatant extremist and, I fear, the sort of character who could set the few calm spots in the Middle East afire. If anyone could drive Sunni and Shia together, it's Netanyahu. I hope for the sake of all the Western soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq that Obama manages to win the showdown.
ReplyDeleteBibi pulled Israeli settlers out of a big chunk of Hebron. He also signed the Wye agreement.
ReplyDeleteLikud Prime Ministers are the ones who sign peace treaties.
Bibi may surprise.
I liked your pictures below .
ReplyDeleteThat is the extent of my comment.
I am suffering from a recession,or as some might say, a depression.
Too many politicians getting me down.
Interesting article on Bibi:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0199/9901031.html