I am worried about what appears to be a weakening of support for Israel by the British Government. As the JC reports due to the visit of Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas, the British Government seems to be increasingly critical of Israel and the building of homes in the West Bank, with the Deputy Prime Minister calling these buildings 'vandalism'.
Settlements are of course an issue in any peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, but definitely
not the crucial issue as previous negotiations which the Palestinians have rejected has shown before.
I certainly hope the negotiations which restarted a couple of weeks ago are eventually able to succeed.
The British Government should remember even current Government in Israel led by Benjamin Netanyahu
which was supported (and probably is still supported) by more than a majority of the population, froze
settlement building for more than 10 months, but still the Palestinians refused to negotiate..
The Israeli Government is only continuing the established policy of the past 40 years where the settlements (or
as I prefer to call them towns where ordinary people live) need to have further development as any town
across the world requires.
This majority supported position in Israel a democratic decision (isn't that what the world is calling for across
the Middle East) continues to support people living in and building their homes in existing towns, until the
Palestinians agree to stop trying to kill Jewish people and recognise our State as the Jewish homeland. When
that is achieved than peace will be possible. So the British Government should stop condemning house
building and pressure the Palestinians to recognise that Israel is a Jewish State which they should accept and
negotiate with.
Settlements are of course an issue in any peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, but definitely
not the crucial issue as previous negotiations which the Palestinians have rejected has shown before.
I certainly hope the negotiations which restarted a couple of weeks ago are eventually able to succeed.
The British Government should remember even current Government in Israel led by Benjamin Netanyahu
which was supported (and probably is still supported) by more than a majority of the population, froze
settlement building for more than 10 months, but still the Palestinians refused to negotiate..
The Israeli Government is only continuing the established policy of the past 40 years where the settlements (or
as I prefer to call them towns where ordinary people live) need to have further development as any town
across the world requires.
This majority supported position in Israel a democratic decision (isn't that what the world is calling for across
the Middle East) continues to support people living in and building their homes in existing towns, until the
Palestinians agree to stop trying to kill Jewish people and recognise our State as the Jewish homeland. When
that is achieved than peace will be possible. So the British Government should stop condemning house
building and pressure the Palestinians to recognise that Israel is a Jewish State which they should accept and
negotiate with.
