U.S. asks Israel for one-year settlement freeze

HaAretz ^ | 8/5/09 | Barak Ravid

[Nachum]

American Middle East envoy George Mitchell has asked Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for a "deposit," an advance commitment of a one-year freeze on construction in West Bank settlements.

Mitchell raised the idea in his talks with Netanyahu and Barak in Israel last week. He argued that the Arab states will not make gestures toward normalization with Israel without a guarantee of an end to building in the settlements. Mitchell said an Israeli agreement to temporarily freeze construction would facilitate concessions from the Arab states.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[joejm65]

Bibi...don’t do it. Israel has made concessions over the years, and she’s been bitten every time. It’s the other side’s turn to show they’re serious. Israel has done enough.

[Will88]

Hey, Mitchell, tit for tat! Stop asking Israel for concessions without asking equal concessions from the Arabs.

And Israel shouldn’t be talking to you or any other clown of a negotiator until the Arabs recognize Israel’s right to exist.

[Will88]

Hey, Mitchell, tit for tat! Stop asking Israel for concessions without asking equal concessions from the Arabs.

And Israel shouldn’t be talking to you or any other clown of a negotiator until the Arabs recognize Israel’s right to exist.

[April Lexington]

Ah HA! The ol' One Year settlment freeze trick...

"How about we clean out Jerusalem, tear down the abomination that causes desolation and THEN sit down to discuss anything you'd like, Obama..."

[kingpins10]

Here we go again...

[freebilly]

Bibi, tell Obama to f*** himself..., hard....

[Hammer Tym]

Did Obama ask Hamas for a “freeze” on their terrorist activities?

[allmost]

On Monday Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, was summoned to the State Department for a reprimand, for the second time in two weeks.

I don't think Israel has many good options here. They've done their research and know obama cannot be trusted I'm sure. All concessions are against them as well. That's an awfully small parcel of land to be surrounded by safely.

[April Lexington]

Now that Stalinist tactics are all the Vogue in the USA, just roll the tanks into Jerusalem and clean it up. Make it a real nice JEWISH place... Who will stop us? Nobody cares in the USA so just do it...

[musicman]

"U.S. asks Israel for one-year settlement freeze"

[doc1019]

I hope Netanyahu tells Obama to stick it his more then ample ears.

[Enterprise]

Netanyahu: Mr. Miller, tell Obama to produce proof that he is the legally elected President of the United States first. Second, since you want to meddle in our affairs, tell Obama to declare a one year moratorium on any further action on health care or immigration reform. Otherwise, F... OFF!

[Bosco]

Bibi to 0bama:

Nuts.

[rahbert]

what kind of sand do you wish to pound?

[HardStarboard]

Psssst....Mitchell. Your needed back in the States to try and figure out how to control the unruly mob that 52% of the American Public has become in fighting against the ObamaDemoCareMachine.

Israel is doing a fine job of running itself and beating back the the murderous, unruly Arabs without your help.

[Cheburashka]

One-year freeze. That won't be good enough for the Palestinians so then Israel will be asked for two, three, four, five years. At the end of five years no progress will be made, but the Obamanation Administration (they hope to be here five years from now - we'll see) will complain if the Israelis restart construction. “It's not helpful for negotiations.” This is how a one-year freeze becomes permanent, and the Palestinians do nothing in exchange.

Remember Nancy Reagan, Israel. “Just Say No.”

[EternalVigilance]

I am among the millions of Americans whose message to Israel is this:

Do whatever you need to do to protect your country and your people.

And, as we all must do in these troubling times:

Trust not in men, but only in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.