JERUSALEM (AP) — New Palestinian violence could erupt if peace talks collapse after this weekend’s expiration of an Israeli settlement slowdown, the Israeli military chief warned Tuesday.
With the Palestinians threatening to walk out on the talks if the slowdown isn’t extended, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi told lawmakers that the military was bracing for possible mass protests and clashes.
He said low expectations for a breakthrough in the talks, however, were likely to keep the level of violence from reaching that of the Palestinian uprising that erupted in 2000. Then, years of Israeli-Palestinian violence characterized by suicide bombings and Israeli army incursions into Palestinian towns followed the collapse of a previous round of negotiations.
“We must be prepared for every possibility,” he told parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, according to meeting participants who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with protocol. “If talks fail, there could be riots.”
Palestinian spokesman Ghassan Khatib agreed with Ashkenazi’s assessment, saying Israel’s occupation of the West Bank has generally been marked by either peace efforts or violence, with one often leading to the other.
The last round of talks broke down in late 2008 when Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza aimed at stopping militant rocket fire on southern Israel.
“I think the chances of violence will increase in the case of a breakdown of the peace talks,” Khatib said.
Under intense U.S. pressure, Israel agreed in November to a 10-month slowdown of West Bank settlement construction to bring Palestinians back to the negotiating table.
That helped pave the way for the resumption of talks earlier this month in Washington.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the slowdown was a one-time offer, and his coalition government, dominated by right-wing parties that champion settlement construction, would be fractured if the slowdown is extended.
The U.S. and other world powers have called on Israel to extend the freeze, and the Palestinians have repeatedly threatened to abandon the talks if settlement construction resumes. Israel is demanding the Palestinians drop their ultimatum, creating a showdown ahead of Sunday’s deadline.
Palestinian and Israeli officials are meeting with American leaders in the United States to seek a compromise. The U.S. has urged both sides to continue the talks, calling on Israel to extend the slowdown and on the Palestinians not to walk out.
Some 300,000 Jewish settlers live in West Bank territory claimed by the Palestinians.
The Palestinians say that further expansion of the more than 100 settlements makes it increasingly difficult to establish a viable state that would not be broken up by Israeli enclaves. A further 180,000 Israelis live in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope will become their future capital.
Israeli settlers are demanding that they be permitted to resume building in full force by next week.
Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau told Army Radio he would advance plans to build hundreds of millions of dollars in water and sewer projects for the settlements.
Pro-settler lawmakers plan to hold a celebration Sunday in the West Bank settlement of Revava, where, they say, bulldozers and cement mixers will begin work on a new neighborhood.
Ashkenazi added that tensions were rising among the settlers and they were likely to stage angry protests if the construction freeze continues.
Under the so-called moratorium, Israel refrained from starting new construction projects in the settlements, but several thousand units already being built were allowed to continue.
The measure did not apply to Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, but there has been a de facto halt to new construction there as well.
Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, a member of Netanyahu’s seven-member inner Cabinet, has proposed that Israel resume building in only those parts of the West Bank expected to remain in Israeli hands under a future deal — excluding, for example, most settlements deep inside the territory.
Palestinians reject this, saying it effectively allows Israel to decide which settlements it will keep if a deal is reached — something they say should be decided through negotiation.
The impending end to the construction curb has intensified tensions on the ground. Near the West Bank town of Nablus, settlers and Palestinians lobbed rocks at each other Tuesday after Palestinians accused settlers of trying to steal their olives. The olive harvest in the West Bank traditionally is a time of violence between the two sides.
The West Bank has remained relatively quiet in recent years, after long periods of deadly Palestinians attacks against soldiers and settlers and Israeli raids against Palestinian militants.
Ashkenazi also warned that Palestinian groups under Iranian influence will try to thwart the negotiations with a resumption of violent attacks — a thinly veiled reference to the Islamic militant groups Hamas, which rules Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
As peace talks were being launched earlier this month, Hamas militants killed four Israelis in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank.
___
Associated Press Writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report.
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Comments (40)
pilgrim2497
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 9:37pmI have not really trusted Netanyahu since, years ago, I heard him call Bill Clinton a “warrior for peace”. It seemed to me then that he was just an easily manipulated, weak politician who had built a career off the heroism of his brother—I hope I am wrong.
Netanyahu needs to understand that Obama was born to betray Israel.
Report Post »Red Blooded
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 4:27pmDon’t give them a single inch, Israel. They all are hellbent on your destruction…you have the support of the American people, go get em!
Report Post »BRAVEHEART
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 12:32pmWe’re supposed to believe that these Devout Muslim men were somehow extreme, Your statement however reaveals that Islam is by its very nature extreme. Also Islam is completely Intolerant of All other religions and belief systems. Anyone unwilling to acknowledge this is dilibertly rejecting the Truth ! Anyone sworn to uphold the constitution snd to defend this Nation against all enemies both foriegn and domestic should dmand the removal of all involved with Islam!!!
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 3:25pmSpeaking of protecting the Constitution of the United States, here is what is inserted on the signature of the voter registration in my state. Is this on every state in the union?
Oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that
I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the
State of Florida, and that all information provided in this application is true.
Some of our elected officials are trampling the Constitution of the United States. Are their votes legitimate? Just wondering.
Report Post »AsianForTeaPartyConservative
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 11:14amAdapted from Dr. Peter Hammond’s book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat.
Islam is not a religion, nor is it a cult. In its fullest form, it is a complete, total, 100% system of life.
Islam has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. The religious component is a beard for all of the other components.
Islamization begins when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their religious privileges.
When politically correct, tolerant, and culturally diverse societies agree to Muslim demands for their religious privileges, some of the other components tend to creep in as well.
Here’s how it works:
As long as the Muslim population remains around or under 2% in any given country, they will be for the most part be regarded as a peace-loving minority, and not as a threat to other citizens. This is the case in:
United States — Muslim 0.6%
Australia — Muslim 1.5%
Canada — Muslim 1.9%
China — Muslim 1.8%
Italy — Muslim 1.5%
Norway — Muslim 1.8%
At 2% to 5%, they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups, often with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs. This is happening in:
Denmark — Muslim 2.0%
Germany — Muslim 3.7%
United Kingdom — Muslim 2.7%
Spain — Muslim 4.0%
Thailand — Muslim 4.6%
From 5% on, they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. For example, they will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature halal on their shelves — along with threats for failure to comply. This is occurring in:
France — Muslim 8.0%
Philippines — Muslim 5.0%
Sweden — Muslim 5.0%
Switzerland — Muslim 4.3%
The Netherlands — Muslim 5.5%
Trinidad & Tobago — Muslim 5.8%
At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves (within their ghettos) under Sharia, the Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islamists is to establish Sharia law over the entire world.
When Muslims approach 10% of the population, they tend to increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions. In Paris, we are already seeing car-burnings. Any non-Muslim action offends Islam and results in uprisings and threats, such as in Amsterdam, with opposition to Mohammed cartoons and films about Islam. Such tensions are seen daily, particularly in Muslim sections in:
Guyana — Muslim 10.0%
India — Muslim 13.4%
Israel — Muslim 16.0%
Kenya — Muslim 10.0%
Russia — Muslim 15.0%
After reaching 20%, nations can expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings, and the burnings of Christian churches and Jewish synagogues, such as in:
Ethiopia — Muslim 32.8%
At 40%, nations experience widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks, and ongoing militia warfare, such as in:
Bosnia — Muslim 40.0%
Chad — Muslim 53.1%
Lebanon — Muslim 59.7%
From 60%, nations experience unfettered persecution of non-believers of all other religions (including non-conforming Muslims), sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon, and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels, such as in:
Albania — Muslim 70.0%
Malaysia — Muslim 60.4%
Qatar — Muslim 77.5%
Sudan — Muslim 70.0%
After 80%, expect daily intimidation and violent jihad, some State-run ethnic cleansing, and even some genocide, as these nations drive out the infidels, and move toward 100% Muslim, such as has been experienced and in some ways is on-going in:
Bangladesh — Muslim 83.0%
Egypt — Muslim 90.0%
Gaza — Muslim 98.7%
Indonesia — Muslim 86.1%
Iran — Muslim 98.0%
Iraq — Muslim 97.0%
Jordan — Muslim 92.0%
Morocco — Muslim 98.7%
Pakistan — Muslim 97.0%
Palestine — Muslim 99.0%
Syria — Muslim 90.0%
Tajikistan — Muslim 90.0%
Turkey — Muslim 99.8%
United Arab Emirates — Muslim 96.0%
100% will usher in the peace of ‘Dar-es-Salaam’ — the Islamic House of Peace. Here there’s supposed to be peace, because everybody is a Muslim, the Madrasses are the only schools, and the Koran is the only word, such as in:
Afghanistan — Muslim 100%
Saudi Arabia — Muslim 100%
Somalia — Muslim 100%
Yemen — Muslim 100%
Unfortunately, peace is never achieved, as in these 100% states the most radical Muslims intimidate and spew hatred, and satisfy their blood lust by killing less radical Muslims, for a variety of reasons.
“Before I was nine I had learned the basic canon of Arab life. It was me against my brother; me and my brother against our father; my family against my cousins and the clan; the clan against the tribe; the tribe against the world, and all of us against the infidel.” — Leon Uris, ‘The Haj’
It is important to understand that in some countries, with well under 100% Muslim populations, such as France, the minority Muslim populations live in ghettos, within which they are 100% Muslim, and within which they live by Sharia Law. The national police do not even enter these ghettos. There are no national courts, nor schools, nor non-Muslim religious facilities. In such situations, Muslims do not integrate into the community at large. The children attend madrasses. They learn only the Koran. To even associate with an infidel is a crime punishable with death. Therefore, in some areas of certain nations, Muslim Imams and extremists exercise more power than the national average would indicate.
Today’s 1.5 billion Muslims make up 22% of the world’s population. But their birth rates dwarf the birth rates of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and all other believers. Muslims will exceed 50% of the world’s population by the end of this century.
Adapted from Dr. Peter Hammond’s book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat.
Well, boys and girls, today we are letting the fox guard the henhouse. The wolves will be herding the sheep!
Obama appoints two devout Muslims to Homeland Security posts. Doesn’t this make you feel safer already?
Obama and Janet Napolitano appoint Arif Alikhan, a devout Muslim, as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano swore in Kareem Shora, a devout Muslim who was born in Damascus, Syria, as ADC National Executive Director as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC).
NOTE: Has anyone ever heard a new government official being identified as a devout Catholic, a devout Jew or a devout Protestant…? Just wondering.
Devout Muslims being appointed to critical Homeland Security positions? Doesn’t this make you feel safer already??
Was it not “Devout Muslim men” who flew planes into U.S. buildings 10 years ago?
Report Post »Was it not a Devout Muslim who killed 13 at Fort Hood?
hempstead1944
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 9:06amTalks never had a chance…..just another political stunt Clinton wanted to conduct. A muslim’s word is less than worthless.
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 7:51amFolks…
If Mexico holds to it’s claim that Texas, California, etc. was taken from them by the American
pioneers… and was bombing El Paso…sending mortors into Dallas… rioting in San Diego…and for more than 35 years teaching hatred and death to American… swearing to kill all the invaders, and continue pushing them back across the Mississippi…
what would YOU do?
As it is… the Mexican invasion started years ago…trespassing is a crime and calling them illegal
IMMIGRANTS doesn’t de-criminalize the action of crossing the border without permission.
Isreal is now… for the first time ready to take the LAST step. It will not be pretty.
Report Post »swkimbl
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 7:10amWhen are the leaders of the free world going to realize that the palastinians do not want peace? Why can’t thay see that not one peace treaty with them have been successful, there whole plan is to kill as many jews as possible and erase Isreal, the real truth here is to think the U.N. has any real relevance it’s just a neutered organization and usless, and Obama want’s us to be like them! God help us.
Report Post »P.S read your bible palastine is isreal, and was not muslim.
patton55
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 4:21amisrael must move on it’s enemies now! the window of opportunity is closing! w/iran nukeing up, syria next, obama’s anti-semetic attitude. Gen. Patton was ask – what would he do? his reply – kill the hell out of them until they throw up the white flag, then you will have someone to make peace with..
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 8:08amSee now, that would be a mistake. That’s the same kind of mistake Abraham made that produced Ishmael and his descendants in the first place. Abraham jumped out ahead of God and decided to impregnate Hagar, resulting in Ishmael’s birth. That mistake has come back to haunt the Davidic Jews (Israel) to this very day. I say to exhibit restraint and diplomacy. What Israel’s enemies plot to do to them, God will do it to them, whether it be bless or destroy. Those that choose to poke their finger in God‘s eye are not going to like Him when He’s angry.
Report Post »BRAVEHEART
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 12:49amThe muslims refer to US as INFIDELS they also refer to Isreal as INFIDELS maybe Mr. Obama doesn’t get the connection here or maybe he does . This may be why he is systematically dismantaling our historical support of Isreal and our foundaional support of real christian values. Hopefully He will bear the consequences of such cowardly infidelity.!!!!!
Report Post »grnhrn
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 12:11amIsrael needs to be on full alert. I stand with israel. I will pray for their survival. I hope they realise that obummer will be of no help if anything he will be a thorn in their side and that shames me. They should destroy iran and wipe out palestine. Muslims only understand and respect strength I wish the fool progressives would learn this.
Report Post »alshere
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:54pmWhat happens if the Arabs get thier butt kicked again? I can see it now, Obumma asking congress to go after Ireal. I hope this time the Isrealies keep what they conquer. Where they are now they made fruitful. They would make the desert bloom. Has anybody seen anymore about the mall that was built in the Gaza in the Palistinian sector?
Report Post »tothestars2
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:49pmwhat is, has been. what will be done, has been done. there is nothing new under the sun.
Report Post »Man From Maine
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:39pmRight on. Obama will jump on Isreal’s band wagon if they win but will not help in any way.
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:38pmSee that picture of Benjamin, Gods servant, at the top of the page? Know what he’s probably thinking about? Ezekiel 39:1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
Report Post »2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: 3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand…….Bring it on ye nations that plot Israel’s destruction. Woe to you!
rocktruth
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:29pmThe land was promised to Abraham and his descendants. This promise was believed by Abraham, carried through to Isaac and his son Jacob, to Moses who led them out of Egypt to the promise land. But Isaac had a older half brother named Ishmael who was also a descendant of Abraham. So really this is a family dispute over their Father’s promise They could at least come together under their Father Abraham.
But Jesus Said “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” So without Christ, the true Messiah, expect nothing.
Report Post »BRAVEHEART
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 12:19amAbraham’s God is called Jehova ,Ishmael god is called alla , sombody here is confused and it ain’t Isreal.
Report Post »rocktruth
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 11:51amBraveheart – You mean Islam’s God is named Allah.
Report Post »Ishmael only knew the God from his father Abraham at that time.
In Genesis 17 Ishmael was circumcised by his father Abraham in a covenant with Jehovah God.
It’s my understanding that Muslims are still traditionally circumcised today because of the covenant made with Abraham.
NoMore
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:24pmI believe Israel has not taken a stronger stance against Palestine and Iran because they are cowed by Obama’s implied lack of support for Israel. We don‘t know what’s said privately between Obama and Netanyahu but it is not lost on most Americans that Obama doesn’t really consider Israel an ally worthy of defending.
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:47pmThe reason WW ll was such an out right victory was because it was a war of full attrition. Israel needs to be as a post says, “cut loose”. If not, one shouldn’t call it a war and then you end up with a place like North Korea. Instead of calling it the Korean war it was called a policing action. If you aren’t going to fight it to win, then get out. No more fighting with one arm tied behind our soldier’s backs.
Report Post »usualsuspect
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:46pmDear Lord, Please let Israel and it’s people know that I as one American will stand with my Brothers and will never turn my back, or forsake Israel
Report Post »diesel71dan
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:50pmMake that two of us. I feel bad that our government is a bunch of muslim sympathisers. We either need to back Israel or get the heck out of their way!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:38pmHave muslims of any persuasion ever promised to be peaceful ?
Report Post »Its always –do this or we will kill some more.
There is no record of koranists in any part of the world saying–do this and we will STHU and stop killing .
Know islam
No peace
flamedone1968
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:19pmI say cut Israel loose. Let them defend their country as they see fit and tell them make it count, by that I mean leave your enemies to sue for peace with no fight left in them. Israel has bent over enough. As we all know it’s going to come to war, and I have seen no reason to doubt this, get it over with once and for all instead of giving their enemies time to come up with more and more powerful weapons.
Report Post »I feel we need to do likewise here at home with those who would undermine our constitution and way of life. If they want to live by different laws then let them move to a country where people share their ideals ,and there live in peace.
REVEL
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:32pmI respect Israel for standing up for its people. I respect the fact that they won’t let anyone step all over them. I just wish our White House would support them like we used to. I say, “Israel, protect yourself because our country is broken right now and we can’t help you till 2012″. So sorry!! We’ve been scammed…We’re trying to fix it.. Please be patient with us.
Chris G
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 11:09pmThis may sound extreme (& have a fatwa issued against me), but I think Israel should take out Tehran. Vaporize it.
If the Muslims try to do anything about it, threaten the existence of Mecca.
Report Post »Chris G
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 12:24amI’m sorry REVEL, but IMHO, Israel has been letting Hezbollah, Hamas, Fatah, etc. “step all over them” for decades. FLAMEDONE1968 is correct: we should “cut Israel loose” & let them do what they have to do to protect their People. They don’t need US, & we have our own border problems to worry about.
Report Post »Chad79
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 5:51amIsreal Knows that when this war starts that it will be the end of us all. Ever read about the Battle of Armageddon in the Bible? This will be the last great war before the return of Christ and the eradication of all sin on earth.
Report Post »Chris G
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 1:08pmChad, the war has already started, & the Israelis have been too squeamish to fight back. Bibi can talk a good game, but I think his actions have proven that he is a total wus.
KILL THE ENEMY, Bibi!
Report Post »Chris G
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:18pmWhat’s it gonna take to get Bibi & the US to understand that the Muslim world simply cannot — & WILL not — accept the existence of a Jewish State in their part of the world, & that they will do everything threy can to destroy it?
I thought the Israelis promised before Christmas of LAST year that they were going to take out the Iranian nuclear sites.
Report Post »larryperlman
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:06pmG-d gave Israel to the Jews as an eternal covenant.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:55pmReally, the “Palestinians” might react violently if they don’t succeed in “driving Israel into the sea”? Since when?
Report Post »megansmom
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:07pmI know it shocked me too. Those poor peaceful people who never cause any trouble for anybody . when will the bullying quit?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:54pmMahmoud Ahmadinejad warns of violence everyday he wakes up.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 10:16pmIf the Islamic militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah with the support of Iran are such extraordinary people, why don’t they take in the Palestinians? Plenty of desert to go around. Moses stood a top of Mount Sinai and had an argument with God, who, wanted to wipeout the those Palestinians. Moses saved the Palestinians. The Jews are the only people to have a contract with God, which explains why Islam is hell bent on wiping them out and Obama sits idly.
Report Post »jblazak
Posted on September 22, 2010 at 9:49amThe house of Judah (Jews) is only ONE house of the 12 tribes of Israel read Genesis 48 and 49 to understand who and where the other 11 tribes of Israel are and where they are today, then you will understand that the Jews (Judah) are not the only peoples to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Jacob who was renamed Israel). Understand who “received” the blessings of Abraham (Gen. 22: 15-18) Ephraim, (Britain, a company of nations) and Manasseh, (America, one nation under God). What other countries in this civilization have received the blessings of Abraham? Moses was not a Jew (from the House of Judah), he was a Hebrew. The House of Judah came long after Moses had died.
Report Post »Recon
Posted on September 21, 2010 at 9:41pmmmm, The bigger cheese is likely also upset at the Godless turn of events in God’s country.
- “I am the Lord your God . . . You shall have no other God’s before me.”
- Boy, have you screwed that one up……..I imagine that is a big one with the man upstairs.
You see, God works his will through the faithful,
and not those like yourself who pray to false Gods
.. bear false witness on a daily basis -
- you don’t even know what the truth is anymore.
“They even got you thinking you fight “terrorists” by slaying
.. one side of the same Dirham coin.
Whose the fool Barry, you, or me? ……..Don’t answer that, we know the answer.
Report Post »