Israel Matzav

Netanyahu demands Beit El bloc

A report indicates that Prime Minister Netanyahu has demanded that Israel retain the Beit El bloc (including Shilo, pictured above) in any 'peace agreement' with the 'Palestinians.' It goes without saying that the 'Palestinians' have rejected the demand.

In most discussions of the blocs, there are three that are generally mentioned – the Ariel bloc, which includes most of the towns of central Samaria; Maale Adumim bloc, encompassing eastern suburbs of Jerusalem; and the Gush Etzion bloc. But a report on Army Radio Thursday said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was demanding that Israel retain a fourth bloc – the area around Beit El, north of Jerusalem.

According to the report, Netanyahu told Kerry that Israel could not give up these areas, which played a major role in Jewish history. Shilo, for example, was the home of the temporary Sanctuary (mishkan) before the building of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Nabi Samuel is the burial place of the Prophet Samuel, and Beit El itself was the site of the famous dream of the Biblical Jacob, in which he saw angels ascending and descending from heaven.

If that's the case, how does he plan to give up Hebron or Bethlehem? Or does he include them as part of the Gush Etzion bloc?

Netanyahu also has another demand, which is rational, but which is unlikely to get a fair hearing.

In addition to demanding the fourth bloc, the report said, Netanyahu has nixed the idea of a “centimeter for centimeter” land swap, as the PA has demanded. At least part of the swap would come in the form of cash, or in the value of the land, cities, and industrial base that Israel would be surrendering to make the plan work.

Of course, the 'Palestinians' have rejected both demands.  I wish our government had the courage, the conviction and the unity to just dig in and keep to our positions like the 'Palestinians' do. We're constantly running around looking for concessions we can make, while they just keep saying no.

Labels: agreed land swaps, Beit El, Binyamin Netanyahu, settlement blocs

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:57 PM