JERUSALEM — Officials involved in the fraught Israeli-Palestinian peace talks said on Tuesday that an agreement was near on extending the negotiations through 2015 in exchange for the release of Jonathan J. Pollard, an American serving a life sentence for spying for Israel. The agreement would also include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including citizens of Israel, and a partial freeze on construction in West Bank settlements.
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What exactly is a partial freeze on settlements? How does one partially stop stealing what does not belong to them?
3 comments:
Israel's continual advocacy for Pollard infuriates me to no end. He is a traitor and a spy and should've had the same fate as John Andre. He should count his blessings that he may get out of prison next year. If it were up to me, we would suspend all foreign aid to Israel and abstain from every UN vote concerning them if any Israeli official so much as mentioned his name in public.
Spy trades are pretty common, and spying, even on your allies is certainly common. Can't we say that it's entirely proper for the U.S. to imprison Pollard and for Israel to negotiate for his release?
On the question of Israeli "stealing" of land, one could certainly argue that Israel conquered the West Bank fair and square. It's subsequent actions need to be evaluated on the grounds of justice, not formal law. There's enough to criticise without relying on the very questionable theories of international law that pro-Palestinian writers ceaselessly argue.
Can't we say that it's entirely proper for the U.S. to imprison Pollard and for Israel to negotiate for his release?
Sure. They can give us a rent-free naval base. Or a container ship full of SAMS and free artillery. Something. But we release Pollard and they agree to take less of the West Bank from Palestine? What?
We are being played in this conflict that nobody will ever actually end. The Arabs need to keep it going to deflect from their loser culture and corrupt elites. The Israelis need it to keep the wagons circled and donations flowing. The US government needs it to keep bureaucrats employed.
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