Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' move the goal line back, seek 'occupied Latrun'

The 'Palestinians' have responded to US Secretary of State John FN Kerry's pressure on Israel for concessions... by seeking even more concessions. The 'Palestinians' are now seeking two of Israel's biggest tourist attractions: Mini Israel and the Latrun tank museum. In fact, they're seeking the whole area around Latrun, which the main Jerusalem - Tel Aviv highway cuts right through.

“As a result of the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe),” the document read, “when two-thirds of the Palestinian population were forcibly exiled from their homes by Zionist militias prior to the creation of the State of Israel, almost half of the valley is now considered No Man’s Land (NML) an integral part of the Occupied State of Palestine.”

The Latrun Valley, the document continued, “is well known for its rich water resources and fertile land.”

According to the paper, Israel occupied the area during the Six Day War and “ethnically cleansed” three villages left standing after 1948, before completely wiping them off the map as well.

The paper said that following the forced displacement of the Palestinian inhabitants, the Jewish National Fund, in cooperation with Canada, built Canada Park “over the site of the villages.”

“Preventing Palestinians from making use of the Latrun area is part of Israel’s systematic attempt to turn the occupation of Palestinian land into annexation,” the document read.

“The Latrun Valley holds enormous potential for Palestinians, including its fertile lands, water resources, archeological sites and religious shrines. It is a vital and integral part of the State of Palestine as defined by the 1967 border.”

I actually know someone who is so pro-'Palestinian' that she won't set foot in Judea or Samaria. Even she uses the Jerusalem - Tel Aviv highway. And the Israeli response?

One Israeli official was stunned by the Palestinian campaign over Latrun, saying it was as if the Palestinians were moving the goal line backwards.

Referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s push to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the official said, “It’s almost as if every time we move forward, or every time there is a prospect of moving forward, the Palestinians bring up an issue which they know is a game breaker.”

The Palestinian decision to make this an issue, the official continued, “raises concerns as to their seriousness.”

He characterized as “very troubling” the Palestinian bid to bring this issue “out of deep freeze” now, and said it raised questions about “their attitude to the peace process.”

All peace plans have always put Latrun inside Israel, the official said.

“No Israeli government, no Israeli prime minister, can seriously entertain that this area would be going to the Palestinians.

Instead of dealing with the very issues that Kerry is asking the sides to deal with, it appears the Palestinians are playing games and regressing to hard-line positions that should have been left behind years ago,” he said.

But this sort of 'negotiating' needs to be met by officials on the record and not by anonymous officials who cannot be identified. Until Israel's government says loud and clear 'ad kan' (until here), this sort of negotiating through the media is going to continue, and the Arab demands will just increase. 

What could go wrong?

Labels: John Kerry, Latrun, Palestinians, Six Day War, two-state solution, War of Independence

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:36 AM