The Settlements Myth
by Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post, June 5, 2009
President Obama repeatedly insists that American foreign policy be conducted with modesty and humility. Above all, there will be no more “dictating” to other countries. We should “forge partnerships as opposed to simply dictating solutions,” he told the G-20 summit. In Middle East negotiations, he told al-Arabiya, America will henceforth “start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating.”
An admirable sentiment. It applies to everyone — Iran, Russia, Cuba, Syria, even Venezuela. Except Israel. Israel is ordered to freeze all settlement activity. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton imperiously explained the diktat: “a stop to settlements — not some settlements, not outposts, not natural-growth exceptions.”
What’s the issue? No “natural growth” means strangling to death the thriving towns close to the 1949 armistice line, many of them suburbs of Jerusalem, that every negotiation over the past decade has envisioned Israel retaining. It means no increase in population. Which means no babies. Or if you have babies, no housing for them — not even within the existing town boundaries. Which means for every child born, someone has to move out. No community can survive like that. The obvious objective is to undermine and destroy these towns — even before negotiations. (Continue Reading this Article)
Krauthammer gets it. It isn’t that difficult mind you, unless you are Pres. Obama, whose new vision for American diplomacy is marked by grovelling before the Muslim world and the Middle Eastern dicatators and Arab street.
Obama is no fool however. He is probably astute enough to know all the relevant facts, circumstance, history and truths as regards Arab and Arab/Palestinian - Israeli relations.
That said, truth is not what Arab and Palestinian dictators want to hear. Obama knows what happens when Arabs are confronted with truths they do not want to hear and which clash with the lies they tell themselves.
Comment by Bill Narvey — June 5, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
If every single Jew left Yesha and East Jerusalem today, the conflict would still continue. The Disengagement from Gaza should have taught people the Arabs hate Jews for reasons that have nothing to do with settlements. And what the US is demanding from Israel is not going to make that hate disappear.
Comment by NormanF — June 5, 2009 @ 8:36 pm
I agree with Krauthammer and Narvey.
Just look at the map. It’s a bi-polar world, with a Russian-Chinese camp in the east and an American camp in the west. In between, are the Moslem statews of Turkey, Iran, Afganistan and Pakistan — in which Russia is and has always been, of geographic necessity, interested in. South and west of the Turko-Iranian plateau lie countries dominated by the US: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt; and between them and Iran lies the bulk of the world’s oil supply.
In this big game of “Risk”, Israel is insignificant; and it’s foolishness to think otherwise. The US has ittle or nothing to gain from friendship with Israel. Though few here want to admit it, American support of Israel is and always has been because of our Biblical orientation. Take that away, and it’s just an international power play; a play that will trample to death anyone getting in its path.
Obama’s Presidency, with its anti-Christian (read, “largely Jewish”) makeup, is arguably the first completely “Post-Chriatian” administration in Washington; and the turn in policy against Israel is a natural consequence of this.
Settlements?
Do Americans really care about settlements, one way or another? It’s hard to muster support for the “settlers” in Israel, where people actually know what they are. Why should Americans be concerned? The issue isn’t “settlements”, or any other technical issue. The issue is whether Americans will continue as a Bible-believing people, or get seduced by their leaders and mentors in government, academia and the press into beliving the non-Biblical lie — a lie, unfortunately, that has been disproportionately promoted by Jews in this country. The obvious, in-your-face truth is this: Take away Americans’ love for the Bible, and you take away their love for Israel. The two are equivalent.
Comment by BlandOatmeal — June 6, 2009 @ 5:12 am
Well oat in your bi polar fantasy China holds America by her nuts and hasn’t even begun to squeeze. While your stupid American WASP, inbred mutants are worrying about Israel and our hilltop tents and trailers, The Chinese have secured rich oil concessions in Nigeria, Ivory Coast, the Gulf states and Iran. They have aggressively sought and received many natural resource concessions in Black Africa and South America along with for a few billion dollars total; votes in the UN. They already have a blocking majority in any UN forum. They own America and have recently not only laughed as American pomposity when Treasury secretary was telling them all was well with America and that they should continue to purchase American debt. They Laughed in your stupid arrogant faces.
For Christs sake they aren’t stupid even though they aren’t WASPS. The Russians are building and expanding Naval bases in Syria, threatening FSR, Kicked Americas guy out in the Ukraine, hold Western Europe by the nuts in energy supplies especially natural gas.
They all support Iran in same material way, mainly as a weapon against America and Americas Globalinfluence. Anything to weaken American power and influence. But we all know it’s the settlements, ask Peskin.
The truth of the matter is Israel can’t affordto be Americas friend anymore. America is a declining world power who will never return to her glory days. t will take time and bariing a real global conflict it will be a slow decay over decades but it is all downhill from now on. Israels future is to be close to India, China and even Russia, against the EU and America.
WHEN A CAUGHT BANK ROBBER WASASKED WHY HE ROBBED BANKS,”he replied: because that’s where the money is”
Comment by yamit82 — June 6, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
Some sage advice to the Black Plague
Never treat your opponents and detractors better than your friends.
Comment by yamit82 — June 7, 2009 @ 3:14 pm