Posted on 08/22/2005 7:03:50 AM PDT by Alouette
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
This 2.2 billion Israel wants to move its own people in its own country could pay for about 1,200 miles of a very effective wall between the US and Mexico.
But giving free money to Israel is a higher priority I'm sure.
The issue of contrusting a wall along the Mexican border is not a problem of finances - its an issue of intelligence lapse or political cowardice.
I don't get it. Why move your people out of Gaza to appease the "Palestinians" and the rest of the world if you're going to turn around and thumb your nose at them by building new settlements in (on?) the West Bank? It makes no sense at all.
BTTT...
The US has clearly pressured Israel toward disenagement. A venture that puts US and Israel security at risk if it fails. It's appeasement, plain and simple IMO. But seeing that the US pushed Israel into it, should the US not contribute to the cost of Israel's security under the plan?
Secondly, thumbing his nose? The PA agreed to disarm the terrorist groups. They haven't done it and have said that they will NOT do it. Which part of that isn't thumbing their nose?
Thirdly, rather than accept the gesture (with which I vehemently disagree) from Sharon of dismantling the settlements in Gaza as a step towards peace, Abbas says that the Big Intifada had now begun. Which part of that isn't thumbing their nose?
Fourthly...it appears that it is the Israelis that are expected to move forward on the "Road-map". The Palestinians get a pass, as evidenced by your comment.
I think you misunderstood my comment. I think Sharon was stupid for ever pulling out of Gaza in the first place (which I thought would have been evident by the use of the " symbols around the word "Palestinians"). My point is that Sharon is an idiot. You either believe that you can achieve peace through negotiation or you don't (I don't). It appears that Sharon does, which he appears to have indicated by handing back Gaza. That's why this story makes no sense to me.
It's time to bring Netanyahu back.
I can't help but think that new settlers might be a little gun shy about moving into new housing in the West Bank after Sharon pulled the rug out from those in Gaza.
Although on second reading it is more clear that these are not "new" settlements. However, the "Palestinians" and their supporters won't see it that way.
Israel's future is tied to our own. More so even than the border with Mexico.
Building the wall isn't a matter of money. It's a matter of political will, which is lacking. It would be a symbolically unpopular decision. I can understand that, though I think it's necessary to stem illegal immigration.
But the U.S. pressured and convined Israel to disengage and said they'd pick up part of the tab in thanks. This is them keeping their word. Also, this will hopefully move people towards peace in the middle east.
I think that I did misunderstand your comment...we're on the same side of this issue.
I have conceoled myself with the thought that Sharon is creating defensible lines because he knows that a full scale war is in the offing.
Sharon has been so wrong on this issue, it's difficult to know where to start. He should have given the Palestinians a week to get the hell out of Greater Israel - including Gaza and the West Bank - and that's that.
Regards, Ivan
Did you ever look at a map of the areas in question?
Arik, you are nothing but a lying weasel. You are out.
I opposed the Gaza expulsion vociferously. But in the larger picture, Gaza means nothing; Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria mean everything. The West Bank is the home territory of the Jewish People.
If Sharon is not just blowing smoke here, he can start to win the Israeli people (and me) back to his side.
I thought the Gaza expulsion would just lead to an immediate evacuation of settlements on the West Bank. Is this not true?
I've been wondering, what are the benchmarks that show that the Palesites have kept up their end of the bargain? Whenever I hear anyone talk of these things, I always hear very concrete terms for the Israelis -- be out of this settlement by this date, etc... But for the palesite, it is "dismantle terrorist infrastructure", "establish civilian control", things like that that can't be measured.
I don't like it. Not one bit.
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