Charlie Rose

Christopher  06/03/2009 05:58 AM Report

I agree workingmom, there is "out of touch" point of view with those very few people about the illegitimacy of the settlements in the West Bank. I am amazed that such normally reasoned and intelligent people feel that the US is "betraying" Israel. Listening to this small minority, you’d swear the US does not give Israel billions of dollars for defence (which is necessary for its defence) or priceless diplomatic support. The problem in the West Bank is the Israeli settlements. Period. No serious pundit outside the US and a lot of Jews living in Israel (just look at the Haaretz online and the multiple left wing parties in Israel) think that settlement expansion is legitimate. And this talk that “why should the Israeli government give an inch to the Palestinians because Hamas (and most Muslim Arabs by the way) doesn’t want to recognize Israel”; hey, the Israeli government is not a terrorist organization; it should behave like a democratic government, not do tit for tat with all of the Palestinians because of Hamas. Like how about giving Abbas a break, the people in the West Bank have been behaving pretty well despite their pathetic situation. I mean could someone please throw these people a bone. I am amazed at how peaceful the West Bank populations are despite their crappy treatment.

And understandably, some may argue that there are more pressing matters in the region like Iran but the West Bank has been going on forever, it is good for the administration to press this issue as it is the right thing to do. And the Obama administration seems to be really keen on Right and Wrong.

workingm0m  06/02/2009 08:58 PM Report

"Natural growth" as it relates to the expansion of Israeli settlements beyond the agreed upon borders is politically and strategically counter-productive for the Israeli government. If the Israeli government was truely interested in a two-state solution, why would you build settlements in the areas that you have agreed to give to the palestinians? By allowing Israeli's to live on land granted to palestinians provides the opposition a valid argument in which to use against you and risks upsetting the Israeli's who have built their livelihoods in areas that don't belong to them. If the peace process had worked, no Israeli settlements would have been built so obviously other methods of "natural growth" would have occured elsewhere, so any increase in population now beyond the designated border areas was done so by choice and not necessity.

President Obama has still to deal with Hamas and Hezbollah and MANY other issues but, this settlement issue is an issue only because Israeli's choose it to be one, not because palestinians forced them too nor for national security reasons.

I hope the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be resolved but, the odds are slim to none. Perhaps it will happen some time during my child's lifetime. Maybe.

tartufe  06/01/2009 03:23 PM Report

Straw-man argument. We don't have the grit to stand up to Israel. The pols know where their butter is.

If Netanyahu wants us to nuke Iran? Hell why not?

I agree, procreation's the only answer for the area. Hope ALL parties hump-it-up like rabbits. Shalom in the bedrooms. We'll worry about the streets later.

ShalomFreedman  06/01/2009 02:56 PM Report

I was surprised by Tapper's take on the Obama Administration's demand that Israel halt building for natural growth within settlements. He shows no understanding whatsoever of the Israeli position, and does not indicate that anyone in the Administration has any understanding of their position. The Israelis believe that the Obama Administration has cast aside understandings with the Israeli government made by the previous American administration on 'natural growth'. Is the Obama Administration making the demand that Israelis not have children in Maale Adumim , and Efrat, places which it is understood by everyone in Israel will remain a part of Israel in any future peace agreement?

Tapper is totally wrong in thinking that Israelis will accept and understand Obama's position because it is being championed by Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emanuel. This is a matter of principle and policy not of personalities. I might add there is another sinister possibility behind the American demand . It is 'picking a fight' with Israel so as to lead to a rift, and a drift away from support of Israel. If this is the tack then it is cynical and wrong. Betraying one's one real friend in the middle East to curry favor with petty totalitarians will not get the U.S. much in the end.

Netanyahu is right on this one. And the Obama Administration is wrong. Tapper is also wrong in thinking the U.S. will be able to twist Israel's arm on this. Israel will stand on principle on this even if it must go it completely alone.