Israel the Great
Israel is at it again and is determined to create a greater Israel way in excess of internationaly agreed borders for the State of Israel. It is clear Israel has no interest in peace with Palestine and probably hopes the muslims killing each other in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Tunsia keeps the world's attention away while they build more homes previously occupied by the Palestinians.
If only the Arab nations were united more pressure could be put on Israel to reform it's actions but with American support and Arab disunity, Israel can act how it wishes. Shameful.
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Israel approves new East Jerusalem settlement homes
Settlements in East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law
Israel has announced plans to build new homes in a Jewish settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, hours after freeing 26 Palestinian prisoners.
Officials said the construction of 1,500 housing units at Ramat Shlomo was one of four projects given approval.
The Palestinian Authority said the move was "destructive to peace efforts".
It is believed to be an attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assuage anger in Israel at the release of the long-term prisoners overnight.
The convicted murderers were freed as part of a US-brokered agreement to resume direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after a three-year hiatus.
The men - the second of four groups to be released over nine months - were welcomed by thousands of people in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
'Worried'
"This might kill the two states vision which we would like to see on this land”
End Quote Rami Hamdallah Palestinian Authority Prime Minister
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli interior ministry placed an advert in a Jerusalem newspaper announcing that it was pressing ahead with a project to expand Ramat Shlomo.
The plans, which were approved by the Jerusalem district planning committee in September 2011, include the construction of 1,531 housing units, public buildings and gardens.
The government also approved the development of a tourism and archaeology centre near Jerusalem's sensitive Old City, as well as plans for the establishment of a national park on Mount Scopus in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem campus.
An estimated 200,000 settlers currently live in East Jerusalem, alongside 370,000 Palestinians.
You want to have sex with a country. How strange
i just wanna say F**K isael
Was that before the crusades or before the muslim invasion? Probably before the Roman invasion as well.
There was a time when Jerusalem was the epicenter of trade and all religions / people lived in harmony.
I agree it is not viable but it is the most humane and sensible solution. For too many years people have been fighting over this piece of dirt in the levant and I for one would like to see that change. Most people just want somewhere to live, food, a big TV and maybe a car, normal people like these have no interest in religious violence or tensions. They just want a safe life.
Rip Cord: For a start there are Christian Palestinians also. Secondly, a one state solution is not viable. I do agree though that Jerusalem should be openly accessible to all faiths.
I think the best solution for all people would be a one state secular solution for Israel/Palestine where both jews and muslims can be free to worship whoever they want as well as other minority religions and atheists. The constituion should have a provision that no political party can turn the country into a religious state if they win a majority. The Palestinians would likely be or become the majority in a new country and may try to impose Islam on everyone.
I think you have been listening to too many Abba songs....
Actually I do blame Israel, how can they negotiate with the Palestinians in good faith if they keep taking land that is supposed to be part of a two state solution. Israel hopes that it can squeeze the palestinians into the gaza strip and take the rest in a greater Israel.
Israel has used the same model for the past twenty years. Building settlements, which give it "territorial" rights and also act as a defense / fence for the Palestinian expansion.
We have seen "Middle East" peace negotiators falter when it comes to settlements. I don't blame Israel. It is using a weapon for its future protection.