Israel

Israel’s Settlement Expansion

While Palestine’s application for statehood was sent to a committee for review, Israel approved its own plan for settlement expansion. Israel is planning to construct 1,100 new illegal homes in a neighborhood in East Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem). Many, including the United States, Egypt, Britain, and China, have condemned Israel for its plan.

With Palestine awaiting the results for its bid for statehood, Israel’s plan for settlement expansion appears as a slap in the face to Palestine’s efforts. Many are speaking out against Israel because of their construction plan being illegal and antagonistic towards Palestine, and many are calling Tel Aviv’s approval of the plans irresponsible. The United States, along with many other countries, has been pushing greatly for diplomacy in the Middle East. This new settlement plan seems to be counterproductive of that goal. Israel’s push for new settlement expansion is angering many in the Middle East, and squashing any hope there may have been for diplomatic relations and talks between Israel and Palestine. Although the United States vowed earlier to veto Palestine’s bid, perhaps this new information will influence them to approve the application in spite of Israel. It still seems clear that, for peaceful progress to begin in the Middle East, Israel needs to work towards diplomatic relations with its counterparts. If Israel does not, it not only has the Middle East against it, but also most of the western world, its major allies.

Liberal

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index.php/middle-east/3016-world-condemns-israel-for-new-settlement-plan-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15085308

September 29, 2011 at 10:00 pm