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What's the problem with "settlements"?

Reader comment on item: A Quiet Clash at the Swedish Foreign Ministry
in response to reader comment: Sweden knows the truth, they just can't openly admit it

Submitted by Julius O'Malley (Australia), Dec 6, 2014 at 22:32

There are two huge problems with the trenchant criticism of Israel for building houses in the West Bank for Jewish people.

Firstly, why can't Jews be permitted to live in the West Bank? And why is this phenomenon regarded as an impediment to a two-state solution? Over a million Arabs live in Israel. The clear subtext is that everybody understands that if there ever was a Palestinian state founded in the West Bank, Jews would not survive in it for a day. Secondly, given that everybody understands that no Jewish presence would be permitted in a future Palestinian state, the settlements that Israel will have to abandon will simply become Palestinian capital assets. That is, quality urban infrastructure to be inherited.

The eastern coast of the Sinai peninsula is now a world-renown tourist destination, towns like Nuweiba, Dahab were, prior to 1967, tiny, isolated hamlets with no proper water supply, no electricity and no roads linking them up and to the outside world. The Israeli occupation changed all that and Egypt received a windfall.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (32) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
If Israel is not for Israel, then who? [639 words]Michael SApr 4, 2015 13:18222643
Israel strikes back at Sweden's Failure [14 words]PezDispenserDec 8, 2014 16:36219685
2Swedes torturing children [166 words]Michael SDec 26, 2014 08:08219685
3Progressive Lutheran Anti-Semites [63 words]DaveNov 25, 2014 18:21219470
1How different is it here? [37 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JeffNov 19, 2014 12:58219388
Thank you [12 words]jeffNov 21, 2014 09:34219388
4Polish people in Cieszyn do not agree with Sweden [43 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
CzeslawNov 19, 2014 06:09219381
5Sweden and Islam. [95 words]Tom DundeeNov 18, 2014 15:45219374
2Folke Bernadotte [24 words]TimNov 15, 2014 16:59219323
Fumes of Fantasy [71 words]NickNov 15, 2014 09:08219319
7why does Sweden have a policy position toward Israel at all? [159 words]mythNov 15, 2014 07:47219318
5Sweden should look at what is going on inside the country [30 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Henry LawNov 15, 2014 06:40219317
1Oh, you really tickle me these days Dr. Pipes!! [30 words]kmanNov 14, 2014 23:48219315
3FEAR & GREED [29 words]Uncle VladdiNov 14, 2014 22:32219314
8Sweden knows the truth, they just can't openly admit it [153 words]BriannaNov 14, 2014 22:29219313
1What's the problem with "settlements"? [174 words]Julius O'MalleyDec 6, 2014 22:32219313
2Link to Swedish Domestic Politics? [76 words]AlexNov 14, 2014 16:47219311
2Let's Not Be Naive [27 words]Gary SackNov 14, 2014 16:34219310
5Reality is a touchstone which. . . [103 words]Doug MayfieldNov 14, 2014 15:14219309
1deliberate blindness [56 words]Mohammed Waza Khiddif Id'ullahNov 18, 2014 01:10219309
4Sweden Does Israel A Favor [86 words]DaveNov 14, 2014 14:56219308
1Agreed except...... [284 words]SoloviewNov 14, 2014 10:50219306
2Who is naive? [68 words]George KeselmanNov 14, 2014 10:18219303
11Lies and brainwashing take their toll [107 words]Michael Hanni MorcosNov 14, 2014 09:49219302
3The Root of the Disagreement [76 words]Brad BrzezinskiNov 14, 2014 09:47219301
7Swedish comments: Naive or Deceitful? [83 words]G MarcusNov 14, 2014 09:44219300
Or Vice Versa [66 words]The BaronNov 25, 2014 01:44219300
The reason for WWII [218 words]Michael SJan 2, 2015 18:54219300
3Jewish state [108 words]Jean GranvilleNov 14, 2014 09:16219299
The leftist mind (and brain) [185 words]Allen F MackenzieNov 14, 2014 09:14219298
A Map? [26 words]Wayne SchmittNov 14, 2014 08:16219297
Accepting reality [73 words]VijayNov 14, 2014 08:07219296

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