The “freeze” is not as bad as it sounds.
By Ted Belman
Many critics of Netanyahu want him to be inflexible like they presume themselves to be. I always separate myself from them because I tend to be more pragmatic or “flexible” if you like.
Gil Hoffman discusses the announced freeze in JPOST by advising
-
The security cabinet’s decision to freeze settlement construction for 10 months was aimed at thawing three relationships that had grown cold: Israel’s with the US government, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Likud’s with Labor.
And ultimately, like any decision Netanyahu makes, its real goal is preventing the nuclearization of Iran.
You will recall that I surmised as much.
He goes on to say that neither Obama nor Abbas will be satisfied but at least Labor will stay in the government.
Aside from setting another precedent just as he did when he accepted a two state solution, there is an upside.
Min. Begin Promises Vigorous Construction after 10 Month Freeze
(IsraelNN.com) The decision to vote in favor of a government decision to temporarily freeze construction in Judea and Samaria was not an easy one, Minister Benny Begin told Arutz Sheva Thursday. “We considered the matter carefully and in the overall balance, despite the great difficulty in the decision, we need to weigh its advantages as opposed to its disadvantages,” he said.
Begin stated that the freeze would indeed end ten months from now.
“In the decision there is a clear clause that says that after the suspension, the government will go back to implementation of the policy of previous governments, in whose times there was a marked increase in settlement.”
“After the ten months construction will be renewed, and it will be renewed not to the level it has been at in recent months, but to the level it was at before August 2008,”
It could have been worse
“On the one hand,” the minister explained, “things need to be examined in the context of the situation we were in seven months ago, when [US President] Obama confronted us with an international demand to impose upon ourselves a total freeze of all construction. They wanted a situation in which not a single brick would be laid. Of course we could not agree to this demand. In the meantime we thought, and I agreed to this, that if this decision will strengthen Israel’s international standing, and houses and buildings will continue to be built in Judea and Samaria, and new residents will enter the communities, then this decision will also have advantages.”The minister-without-portfolio said that the nationalist public should form its opinion on the Netanyahu government by comparing it to previous governments. “In 2000 [Ehud] Barak offered to cede the PLO 95% of the territory and to carry out a land swap on all the rest. He also wanted to give up Israeli sovereignty on the Temple Mount. [Ehud] Olmert’s Kadima government proposed a deal that would concede 98% of the total territory of Judea, Samaria and Gaza and to forgo Israeli sovereignty on the Mount of Olives. The ‘Holy Basin’ was to be administered by Arab states. The Likud would never think of making such offers,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the 3,000 units are going ahead, the extra 500 are going ahead and Jerusalem is going ahead. Plus I happen to know that over 1000 units got started in Judea and Samaria settlements in the last two months. The government may be committed to stopping their completion but doesn’t have the manpower to do so. So I suspect that the “freeze” will not be as bad as it sounds.
Sometimes a freeze is just a freeze.
Although
-
In the decision there is a clear clause that says that after the suspension, the government will go back to implementation of the policy of previous governments,
one must not think that Obama agreed to this. It is not clear whether there was an agreement in writing or whether the “freeze” is just a voluntary commitment with the caveat that Israel will go back to building as it used to after the end of the freeze. My guess is that Obama has not agreed to this or even the construction in Jerusalem.
AFTER THOUGHTS
It is important for Bibi to keep Labour in the government at least to the end of the freeze. That he did. At that time it will be less important because a new election would not be unthinkable particularly if Bibi intends to build with a vengeance. Labour would have to go and Bibi could bring the rest of the Right into the government. In 2011 the timing would be right to call a new election. Present polls suggest that the Right would get at least 5 more seats.
As for negotiations if they get started, and that is a big “if”, they won’t go anywhere. Abbas and Erakat are both adamant that they won’t return to negotiations because the freeze wasn’t total. With their troubles with Hamas and the potential elections in January, it seems to me they won’t change their position. The release of Hamas prisoners, should it happen, would greatly impact potential elections and attitudes of the Arabs. The fact that Bibi held the line on Jerusalem suggests to the PA that chances of getting part of Jerusalem in negotiations is a pipe dream and this will mitigate against them entering negotiations. Resistance for the PA seems to be the best option. It worked before, why not try it again.
Obama also didn’t get enough but at least this freeze saves him some face. I do not believe that Israel will give more in this regard if more pressure is brought to bear. When the freeze ends, the US will be into Congressional elections. It would not be a good time for Obama to try to strong arm Israel again. Besides he tried that already and didn’t get much. Also Obama’s popularity is sinking steadily. I see little in the next ten months that will reverse this. Thus Obama will be weaker in 10 months and Bibi stronger.
The fact that Begin, Lieberman and Yaalon are going along makes me more comfortable with it.
The Arabs states want Iran dealt with. Israel obviously got some kind of understanding with the EU and US in this regard. The time to attack is in three or four months when the skies clear.
A friend of mine was part of a small group of less than 10, that had a private audience with Bibi a few weeks ago. He left convinced that Bibi aims to keep control of Judea and Samaria and to keep building.
Steady as she goes.
Arlene Kushner comments.
-
The two Shas ministers — Interior Minister Eli Yeshai and Housing Minister Ariel Atias — absented themselves. The other 11 ministers voted for this proposal.
That means that the two nationalists, supporters of building in Judea and Samaria, whom I alluded to last night — Benny Begin and Moshe Ya’alon — voted for it. Which leaves the door open to many questions.
Begin made light of what had just been approved, saying all that will stop is the issuing of new permits. “During these 10 months thousands of housing units and public buildings will be built in the West Bank to allow [people] to lead normal lives, and once the 10 months are over the government of Israel, just as it has declared, will resume construction in the West Bank in accordance with the policy of past Israeli regimes.”
And indeed, that is what Netanyahu did declare last night: “As soon as the suspension period concludes, my government will resume the West Bank construction policy of previous governments.”
But that’s only what will happen if the PA doesn’t come to the table. There’s a good chance it won’t, and the prime minister may be counting on this. But it’s not quite as simple they say, and this way is fraught with dangers. Netanyahu claims he is doing this to bring the PA into negotiations. Does he imagine, by any stretch of the imagination, that if they did come to the table, they’d remain there if we started issuing new building permits after a 10-month halt?
It was Uzi Landau who was realistic about this, saying that it’s obvious that at the end of 10 months Obama will seek an extension. He’s right, and this might be the case even if the PA hasn’t come to the table. (In typical Obama mode, he might want to give them another chance.)
Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon said this action was taken to “avoid a confrontation with our allies,” but “the goal is to preserve our interests.” He maintained that it was the right thing to do.
~~~~~~~~~~
So now we ask: What the hell is going on? What is it that we don’t know?
Binyamin Netanyahu, whatever his faults, is not Ehud Olmert. Or Tzipi Livni. He does not have a genuine longing in his heart to give away our country. No one should think this of him. And I will defend him against anyone who does.
What Netanyahu has, is a reputation for caving under American pressure. And he developed this reputation, it must be noted, in a situation that was less pressured than the present. Right now he is confronting an enormous amount, with regard to the demands of Obama and company, coupled with the horrendous campaign of Israeli delegitimization that is taking place, and which has led to Goldstone and more.
So, is this what we’re looking at? A caving to the Americans and an effort to avoid international criticism? If so, this is a serious error.
Ya’alon’s comment about avoiding confrontation with our allies makes it seem so. So does Lieberman’s statement:
“We’ve been more than fair with the Palestinian Authority, both in our intentions to resume negotiations and in actions on the ground, including the removal of roadblocks….
“We’ve allowed this irresponsible group to hold the Fatah convention, where decisions that do not differ from those upheld by Hamas were reached. [The Fatah Congress this summer voted to retain the option of armed resistance.]
“We have a commitment to Israel’s allies, who supported us on the Goldstone Report issue, not to the PA. We also have a commitment to the Jewish settlers in the West Bank, so we must reiterate that construction will be resumed at the conclusion of the 10-month period.”
Because we received support from the US on Goldstone, and Obama’s government is committed to vetoing it in the Security Council, we have an obligation to compromise an essential right of ours? Don’t like the sound of this, at all.
This is not the way to secure legitimization for our nation, but would achieve the opposite — as we diminish ourselves. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to present a strong and secure face to the world. Now we must be firm in our rights.
Obama hates Israel. Passionately. All Netanyahu will get from kissing his ass is chapped lips.
Want to thaw this relationship, Bibi? Easily done. Murder some Jewish Olympics athletes, thereby establishing a persona with which Abbas can closely identify. I understand Mark Spitz is relatively unprotected.
But Labor wants Likud to fail. Netanyahu seeks to ingratiate himself to those with a vested interest in his political demise. Genius!
That will be achieved only when Israel defies Obama and defends itself, which seems increasingly unlikely given Netanyahu’s apparent descent into madness.
Comment by ayn reagan — November 26, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
Such pragmatic flexibility agreed to the British taking 2/3rds of mandated Palestine and given to some Iraqi Bedouins.
Then agreeing to ceasefire in 48 just before we had Jerusalem in our grasp, Then retreating from Sinai in 56 for worthless promises and pieces of paper. Then offering all the territorial Gains in 67 for more worthless promises and pieces of paper. For not nuking Egypt in 73 war in Sinai. For giving up all of Sinai for a certain National Flag on a certain building in Cairo. For bringing Ali baba Arafat and his 40,000 thieves and brigands to our door step after they were just about defunct. For arming, training and paying them to kill us.For offering not once but several times Jerusalem and most if not all of the Shomron and Yehuda. For not finishing off Hizbolla when we were in Lebanon. Leaving Gaza,Yamit and Ofira and 33 permanent settlements in Sinai. Then Gaza and the Shomron
Hell your pragmatic flexibility has worked so well for us. Any more of such pragmatic flexibility we will be swimming in the Med. That is if we are lucky. G-d save us from your pragmatic flexibility. You are playing the o;d Jewish Half full game and our enemies are playing the full glass game and beating the hell out of us.
Losing ground is a National sport here and we have pragmatically flexible coaches and managers to thank.
Comment by yamit82 — November 26, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
Yamit, why should Israel bind itself to a freeze the Arabs will never accept? Its stupid and self-defeating. And it wins Israel no credit with the Americans. After the 10 months are up, what happens? Is Israel obligated to renew it? There are a lot unanswered questions. Its proponents cannot show how taking away Jewish human rights brings the Arabs back to the negotiating table.
Comment by NormanF — November 27, 2009 @ 2:34 am
I have to agree with Yamit82, and would like to add in the same vein that “Such pragmatic flexibility” brought upon us the Munich betrayal on Sept 30 1938 - with catastrophic consequences. There is no room for flexibility when it comes to the Nazis, and their Mideast copy-cats. The Arab reaction has proved this point immediately - “swiftly rejected”, are the words AP used. Erekat and Mitchell both sang from the same hymns-book: more, more, more. Doesn’t that remind you of Adolph H, who, after getting the Sudetenland, devoured Czechoslovakia entirely? Netanyahu made a fatal mistake; it would have been catastrophic under any US president, but with The Kenyan in the White House, it is absolutely imperative to stay the course. Even as an atheist, I feel like crying, “May the Lord have mercy on Israel”.
Comment by Joseph Norland — November 27, 2009 @ 3:12 am
You guys may be right and then again you may be wrong.
It is important for Bibi to keep Labour in the government at least to the end of the freeze. That he did. At that time it will be less important because a new election would not be unthinkable particularly if Bibi intends to build with a vengeance. Labour would have to go and Bibi could bring the rest of the Right into the government. In 2011 the timing would be right to call a new election. Present polls suggest that the Right would get at least 5 more seats.
As for negotiations if they get started, and that is a big “if”, they won’t go anywhere. Abbas and Erakat are both adamant that they won’t return to negotiations because the freeze wasn’t total. With their troubles with Hamas and the potential elections in January, it seems to me they won’t change their position. The release of Hamas prisoners, should it happen, would greatly impact potential elections and attitudes of the Arabs. The fact that Bibi held the line on Jerusalem suggests to the PA that chances of getting part of Jerusalem in negotiations is a pipe dream and this will mitigate against them entering negotiations. Resistance seems to be the best option. It worked before, why not try it again.
Obama also didn’t get enough but at least this freeze saves him some face. I do not believe that Israel will give more in this regard if more pressure is brought to bear. When the freeze ends, the US will be into Congressional elections. It would not be a good time for Obama to try to strong arm Israel again. Besides he tried that already and didn’t get much. Also Obama’s popularity is sinking steadily. I see little in the next ten months that will reverse this. Thus Obama will be weaker in 10 months and Bibi stronger.
The fact that Begin, Lieberman and Yaalon are going along makes me more comfortable with it.
The Arabs states want Iran dealt with. Israel obviously got some kind of understanding with the EU and US in this regard. The time to attack is in three or four months when the skies clear.
A friend of mine was part of a small group of less than 10, that had a private audience with Bibi a few weeks ago. He left convinced that Bibi aims to keep control of Judea and Samaria and to keep building.
Steady as she goes.
Comment by Ted Belman — November 27, 2009 @ 4:04 am
Ted,
I never thought I would say this, but your analysis is very lacking of any intellectual rigour. What BB has done is perplexing, almost to the point of being unexplainable.
Nobody is happy with BB’s latest initiative. Likud members are furious and may revolt, Kadima and Labor are never satisfied with anything he does, and as per their public comments, this is no exception. The right wing parties are pissed. The US is still not pleased and the Palestinians, well, he didn’t even get to first base with them.
Unfortunately, what BB did accomplish, is to set the bar of the minimum that Palestinians are “entitled to”. In so doing, he is making it harder for a future israeli leader to negotiate a settlement that offers them anything less. Also he has validated the claims of every single antisemite that this is Palestinian land that Jews have settled in at the expense of the dispossesed Palestinians, and that must be returned to their rightful owners. He has thus weakend the justification for a Jewish state (one of his pre-requisites for negotiating!).
No matter how you slice it, BB looses. That other Likudnik cabinet ministers are somewhat muted in their reactions bespeaks to the lack of leadership in this party. I’m very disappointed with Begin, Ya’alon and others. I truly hope Netanyahu is forced out and gets replaced by a leader true to the principles of Likud. Like Feiglin says, only in Israel when you vote Left you get Left and when you vote Right you also get Left.
As for your friend who came out of a meeting with Bibi convinced that he intends to control Judea and Samaria, what can I say, he was duped by a great used car salesman!
Bottom line, BB needs to go, start working on the alternative!
Comment by drjb — November 27, 2009 @ 5:13 am
Dear Ted, I’m kind of new on your blog. I have read some of your columns on INN but I did not fully agree with everything. Particularly with your flexibility. I’m a secular right wing fanatic who believes that Jewish land is NOT negotiable.
Perhaps it would be helpful if you could outline what is your vision for Israel - in pragmatic terms, of course.
Too many Israelis seem to be holding their breath, as if only they managed to wait a little longer, things would get easier. Easier how?
Those who dislike Israel get the impression that Israelis are up to no good. That they are stalling and playing games. Sneaking around and building outposts in the middle of the night. And waiting for a more sympathetic US administration that may allow them to continue building in Judea and Samaria.
The status of the area cannot remain uncertain for much longer. The wolves are circling ever closer. Israelis say that according to the Bible the land belongs to Israel. The Arabs claim it’s been theirs for generations, and start reciting UN resolution this and UN resolution that.
Ted, what is keeping the Israeli government from presenting legal documents that are solid proof of Israel’s ownership of the land?
They haven’t even tried, for Pete’s sake!
The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine is an international agreement that is still valid. The UN is bound by that agreement.
So why continue with these games sneaking around, playing politics, stalling, and all the rest?
The land is yours, Ted! All you have to do is to show them your legal ownership papers. As you may have noticed, the Arabs and the US are extremely fond of citing “international agreements”, or “UN Resolutions”. They love to surround their demands with that aura of legitimacy.
So they want to talk Legitimacy??? Israel has it in spades. Shower them with copies of Agreements that were legitimately signed by their legitimate heads of state. And by the US Congress.
We know the land is historically Jewish and legitimately Israeli. But by not speaking the legal language of your enemies, you are placing yourselves in a position of illegitimacy.
You have to act quickly because, as we all know, the political and economic situation is changing rapidly and not for the better.
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 6:43 am
The latest from Justice Now For Israel:
November 25, 2009
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 6:50 am
I just added to the post with Arlene’s Kushner’s comments.
Comment by Ted Belman — November 27, 2009 @ 8:33 am
No Israeli needs any friend or third party to know who and what BB is. All of us in some no small manner have felt his inadequacies as a political and national leader.
BB out of MIT was working for a Big well known Wall St. firm making at the Time 150 K a year. He suddenly quits moves Back to Israel in order to sell furniture at RIM furniture making 15k a year.
Can someone tell me how a political unknown only living in Israel for a short time gets a political appointment as # 2 in of all places the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Then In a short tome was made Ambassador in the UN, then Deputy Foreign Minister, then PM.
When Asked, why BB? Arens the Ambassador to US who appointed him, remarked “that George Schultz told him to”.
,
Would any of our resident Lawyers comment on what all this circumstantial evidence indicates.
Comment by yamit82 — November 27, 2009 @ 8:35 am
The following may show up as a duplicate because my original didn’t get posted. Here it is:
Dear Ted, I have read some of your columns on INN but I did not fully agree with everything. Particularly with your flexibility. I’m a secular right wing fanatic who believes that Jewish land is NOT negotiable.
Perhaps it would be helpful if you could outline what is your vision for Israel - in pragmatic terms, of course.
Too many Israelis seem to be holding their breath, as if only they managed to wait a little longer, things would get easier. Easier how?
Those who dislike Israel get the impression that Israelis are up to no good. That they are stalling and playing games. Sneaking around and building outposts in the middle of the night. And waiting for a more sympathetic US administration that may allow them to continue building in Judea and Samaria.
The status of the area cannot remain uncertain for much longer. The wolves are circling ever closer. Israelis say that according to the Bible the land belongs to Israel. The Arabs claim it’s been theirs for generations, and start reciting UN resolution this and UN resolution that.
Ted, what is keeping the Israeli government from presenting legal documents that are solid proof of Israel’s ownership of the land?
They haven’t even tried, for Pete’s sake!
The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine is an international agreement that is still valid. The UN is bound by that agreement.
So why continue with these games sneaking around, playing politics, stalling, and all the rest?
The land is yours, Ted! All you have to do is to show them your legal ownership papers. As you may have noticed, the Arabs and the US are extremely fond of citing “international agreements”, or “UN Resolutions”. They love to surround their demands with that aura of legitimacy.
So they want to talk Legitimacy??? Israel has it in spades. Shower them with copies of Agreements that were legitimately signed by their legitimate heads of state. And by the US Congress.
We know the land is historically Jewish and legitimately Israeli. But by not speaking the legal language of your enemies, you are placing yourselves in a position of illegitimacy.
You have to act quickly because, as we all know, the political and economic situation is changing rapidly and not for the better.
References for anyone who wants to check the details:
Justice Now For Israel has good background information, and is actively pursuing a legal challenge to US demands from Israel.
http://www.justicenow4israel.com/
The US Congress Resolution in 1922:
On June 30, 1922, a joint resolution of both Houses of Congress of the United States unanimously endorsed the “Mandate for Palestine,” confirming the irrevocable right of Jews to settle in the area of Palestine—anywhere between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea:
http://www.mythsandfacts.com/article_view.asp?articleID=100
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Israeli Settlements and International Law
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Israeli+Settlements+and+International+Law.htm
The Palestinian Mandate
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Palestine_Mandate.html
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 9:20 am
Thank you Aline!!!!
Finally someone has the hutspa to put in words something that should have been implemented years ago! Throw at the Americans their own laws and constitution!! They are exercising their bullying tactics because of the Administrations latent antisemitism and are ignoring their own laws. It is long past the time that the US government should be brought to answer for their actions in their own law courts…more power to OICL!
Comment by mike packer — November 27, 2009 @ 10:53 am
I fully understand Israel’s legal rights and have been promoting them. That is not to say we have an iron clad case. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we stake our claim. Settlements are legal, the “occupation” is legal. We can not win the PR war unless we dispel the notion of illegality.
I want Israel to control Judea and Samaria in one way or another and not to have to give citizenship if possible.
My first choice is to pay Arabs to leave.
My second choice is to give them autonomy over Area “A” while we annex Areas B and C.
We must continue to build. It is our right.
I too wonder i we should simply say “no” to the peace process or play the the game instead. At this moment I favour the latter. After Iran is dealt with and when we have a more favourable WhiteHouse, I favour abrogating Oslo.
Comment by Ted Belman — November 27, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
God’s promise of land to Jews has deep pull on secular Israelis
By Rachel Elboim-Dror
Tags: Zionism, Martin Buber
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131099.html
Read the talkbacks to this article very educational.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131099.html
Comment by yamit82 — November 27, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
TO MIKE PACKER
Thank you for your post but the thanks should go to the Justice Now for Israel. Please help disseminate their work and their website. http://www.justicenow4israel.com/ They are doing what Israel’s leaders should have done long ago.
They will need a lot of popular and financial support once this legal process gets underway because the Israeli government will be busy with more important things. Such as making sure the Yesha Jews don’t dare to build even a single dog house.
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
TO TED BELMAN: thank you for replying to my question.
I agree with a lot of what you say. And thank you for promoting Israel’s rights and for publishing columns that support them. I really appreciate it.
As a non-Israeli I don’t have the right to lecture Israelis on what they should do, but I can’t help myself. Please bear with me.
- Yes, Justice Now’s legal challenge will be tough, but it has to be done. I’m quite optimistic, though.
-
This is so true.
- Regarding the Arabs, I agree too.
Although Jews can’t ever feel safe with Israeli or Yesha Arabs in the country, and Arabs naturally feel humiliated when governed by Jews, and can’t regard themselves as Israelis, the idea of expulsion is a no-no (except in case of war).
But there are many ways to reduce their population in a cooperative way such - as you say - giving them financial incentives to resettle elsewhere.
And also by other means such as promoting the hiring of Jews.
- No citizenship for Yesha Arabs. Agree too. They could have all basic rights as residents. Even vote in municipal elections. But that’s it. It’s done in a lot of countries with foreign residents in the country. Automatic citizenship is not a right.
I’m not sure what autonomy means, but it doesn’t sound good. You have to have more control over their media, their education, their “justice” system, and put a stop to their incitement and terror academies.
- About Iran. My impression is that it’s being used as a carrot, not by the US but by Netanyahu! He knows that Obama is extremely polite with every tyrant in the world, and particularly with Muslim tyrants. He wouldn’t dare to even apply harsh sanctions on Iran.
The US is also overextended militarily, and almost financially bankrupt. Plus “War” is a dirty word among his supporters. Obviously I’m not an expert but I sense that there is ZERO chance of stopping Iran.
But the Iranian threat got Netanyahu elected, and he continues to milk the issue. Doesn’t say much but he implies a lot. And keeps you guessing and hanging in there, waiting.
Ted, if Iran gets their nukes, Israeli politicians will come up with another reason to support the “Peace” process, Oslo-style. Another carrot to dangle before your eyes.
It’s time for something bold. Annex Yesha. Present your legal proof of ownership. And if world opinion gets nastier (can it?), well, that’s too bad. It’s better to be hated and strong, than tolerated and weak.
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
HELP with TECHNICAL QUESTION: Why do the borders on Israpundit home page appear blank? Is it just me? Is my computer or my anti-virus doing something weird? I see a number of columns ending with this one but no way to see the previous ones, no window showing talkback activity, no subject list, no nothing!
Thank you.
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Aline first close your window and browser and try again, If that doesn’t work log out and in and see if that works and if not reboot.
Comment by yamit82 — November 27, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
YAMIT82 - Thank you for your suggestion but it didn’t work. I shut down the computer, turned it on again, accessed Israpundit through Google instead of my ususal desktop icon, but it’s still blank everywhere except for the columns and the masthead. The only way to access columns no longer on the home page would be for me to save their link.
Oh, well. Maybe it will fix itself eventually.
And if I don’t answer replies to other postings I’m not being rude, I just don’t know they’re there. I can’t see the current talkback monitor window at all.
Thanks again Yamit82
Aline
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
Aline if you go to view on your browser, I use firefox you will see page style see that you have checked basic style then close your browser and restart it again just the browser.
Comment by yamit82 — November 27, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
YAMIT82 - Thank you for your advice.
I’m extremely technophobic. The worst kind. Still, I tried.
I have Explorer so I searched all possible setting options but there’s nothing related to my problem. This happened suddenly, all by itself. All my other favorite websites are OK.
I treat my laptop with utmost care, never trying any creative changes, trembling in fear that it might mess up my perfect settings. Every couple of years or so I do a Restore, to clear off all the bugs. The rest of the time I just pray that it’ll work and that my anti-virus will stay alert.
Maybe it’s a sign from above not to give Ted Belman a hard time.
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
Aline don’t worry about it I also have explorer and it’s the same with mine so it is Teds sever having HTML problems with explorer. Download Google Browser if you want a simple fast alternative it works. I didn’t see the problem as I almost never use explorer. It’s not your problem it’s Ted’s. He will have it corrected I’m sure, it’s happened before,
Comment by yamit82 — November 27, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
When you feel up to it, go Firefox, it’s a free download and better IMHO.
Comment by RandyTexas — November 27, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
TO YAMIT82 AND RANDY: Thank you. But being the technophobic chicken that I am, I’m too afraid to try any downloads yet. I’ll wait a few days and see if it fixes itself. I’ll be saving the links for these columns just in case.
Comment by Aline — November 27, 2009 @ 9:23 pm