Israel Matzav

The 'real threat to peace'

Somehow the 'international community' is managing to pretend that Hamas is not a member of the Hamas-Fatah unity government. And therefore, it has convinced itself that said 'government' does not constitute a threat to peace. The 'real threat to peace' according to the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, is building homes for Jews. This is from the first link.

The US envoy told Army Radio Thursday, "We oppose construction in the settlements and this type of announcement about building. This would happen with or without the disagreement on the new Palestinian transitional government."

Shapiro responded to Israeli criticism of Washington's decision to work with the new Palestinian government. "We have no illusions about Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization. We have no relations with Hamas, we will not work with them , we will not give them aid, we will not work with a government in which Hamas sits."

To say that Hamas is not sitting in the new 'technocratic' government is an act of verbal acrobatics that is worthy of a Cirque de Soleil show. Given that Hamas signed off on every minister in this government, to say that Hamas is not part of it is an optical delusion.

Then there are the Euroweenies, who are not and never have been friends of Israel. This is from the second link.

"We are deeply disappointed that the Israeli Land Administration has published new tenders
for 1,466 housing units in settlements in east Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank," the statement read. "This move is unhelpful to peace efforts."

Which peace efforts might those be? Surely not any with which the 'Palestinians' are cooperating.

"We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision and to direct all their efforts towards an early resumption of the peace talks," it continued.

Here's Israel's response. Let's go to the videotape.



The Euroweenies added an additional threat:

The EU has been working to clarify its legal economic guidelines regarding West Bank settlement products, and included what could be seen as a veiled threat of sanctions in their statement. 

"We recall that the EU Foreign Affairs Council has also reaffirmed its commitment to fully and effectively implement existing legislation in relation to settlements," it said.

And Israel's response?

Plans for an additional 1,800 new buildings were announced on Thursday. 

And of course the United Nations had to pile on. This is from the third link.

While the European Union (EU) stated that it was "deeply disappointed" by the move and called for Israel to "reverse" the construction announcements, Ban was "deeply concerned" according to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, reports AFP.

"As the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions, the building of settlements on occupied territory is illegal under international law," said Dujarric on behalf of Ban. It is worth noting that the 2012 Levy Report found that Judea and Samaria are not "occupied territory" under international law.

Ban called on both parties "to avoid taking unilateral actions on the ground that would further diminish the chances of reaching a negotiated final peace agreement."

Hey Monkey Moon - is forming a government with a designated terror organization unilateral enough for you?

"The secretary general calls on Israel to heed the calls of the international community to freeze settlement activity and abide by its commitments under international law and the roadmap," Ban added.

When is the 'international community' going to ask the 'Palestinians' to abide by their commitments under the road map?

But a special place in the Hall of Shame goes to State Department mouthpiece Marie Harf:

From Foggy Bottom, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf reinforced Shapiro's interview, endorsing his characterization of the tense exchange between anonymous US and Israeli officials.

"We have been clear that we will judge this new technocratic government by its actions," Harf said. "Again, their primary goal is to set up elections."

She declined to call the Israeli response hypocritical, given Israel's transfer of aid the day of the unity government's formation. But Harf reserved harsher words for a rebuke of Israel's settlement announcement on Thursday, calling the development "unhelpful and counterproductive," and their ultimate construction "illegitimate."

"We are deeply disappointed," Harf said. Asked whether the US would go further, and possibly ask the Israeli government to reverse the decision, Harf declined to comment.

Hey - you know what? We're 'deeply disappointed' too. Deeply disappointed that the 'most pro-Israel government evah' (or so they claim) would not immediately disavow a junta in which one of the partners is a designated terror organization that's dedicated to murdering all of us.

What could go wrong? 

Labels: Ban Ki-Moon, Barack Hussein Obama, Dan Shapiro, European Union, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, John Kerry, United Nations, US State Department

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:49 PM