from Detroit Free Press Oct. 13, 2010
Before even reading this article, I didn't believe that Israel and Palestine could keep peace quite yet, they've been fighting for decades. It is unfortunate really, the amount of torturing each side does to the other, from poisoning animals, to neglecting a birthing mother's access to get emergency childcare she needs, children throwing rocks and getting shot by military men, in any case, someone or something dies or gets injured because of their religion, pride, and possession. I became more familiar with the war between the 2 countries after I received a book from a Jewish American Woman who wrote of the struggles in the bordering countries. Anna Baltzer, titled her book, "A Witness in Palestine". Check out: Anna Baltzer: A Witness In Palestine. Between 2000-2003 I was a part of the Peace Coalition for Hillsdale County Michigan, and Anna Baltzer came to speak in our town.
So when I saw this article it brought me back to reality once again and I agree with what Mike Thompson had to say. Apparently, President Obama has intersected the issue at hand regarding gaining rights for land territories between Palestine and Israel, and there are hopes that we will increase military aid. According to the editorial from Detroit Free Press, it highlights, "Israel's refusal to extend a freeze on settlements in the West Bank, while not without reason, will jeopardize not only fledgling peace talks but also prospects for a viable permanent settlement with the Palestinians." Detroit Free Press Newspaper National Editorial
The author's intended audience is American Citizens, and even some readers quite possibly being Palestinian and Israeli Immigrants that may have settled to the United States since the revolt began. There was a 10 month freeze on new construction on the West Bank as the permit expired September 26, 2010. The author states that President Obama must get involved and stay involved on this pressing issue in order to prevent negotiations from ending. The two-state side solution was a temporary fix for a long term problem, the editorial states, "that a two-state solution is the only just answer for the Palestinians and the best way to ensure Israel's security interests and future as a Jewish state. Israel has said it will recognize a Palestinian state as legitimate and permanent, with the right to self-determination. But the two-state solution presupposes a viable Palestinian state, which expanded settlements threaten to undermine."
Furthermore the West Bank is occupied by, "roughly 500,000 Israelis live in more than 120 settlements" and
Furthermore the West Bank is occupied by, "roughly 500,000 Israelis live in more than 120 settlements" and
"These settlements are served by a network of roads open only to Israelis. Palestinians fear that the West Bank is becoming so carved up by connected settlements that it can never be anything but a dependent colony that will continue to embroil the region and world. Israel has argued that any freeze must exclude "natural growth" in the settlements, a loophole that could be used to legitimize almost any activity. Despite U.S. protests, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in July that a building project in East Jerusalem would proceed, and Israel evicted Palestinian families from their homes. Netanyahu, facing pressure from his right-wing coalition and understandably frustrated by a lack of progress in negotiations, says the future of the settlements should be negotiated, not made a precondition for talks." It is uncertain "whether the prime minister's latest initiative, an offer to extend the settlement freeze in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish State is intended to buy time to rescue the talks or simply shift the onus for failure to the other side. But the Palestinians long ago recognized Israel, and requiring negotiators to specifically sanction its religious or ethnic character seems an odd precondition for negotiations."
As it seems Mike Thompson maybe favoring one side he sums up the article by stating that the Palestinians are going to have to be flexible, and that this issue is a hard one to uphold in order to keep the countries from maintaining peace.Source: Thompson, Mike. (2010, October 13). Extended freeze on settlement work essential to peace hopes. Freep.com. Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://www.freep.com/article/20101013/OPINION01/10130319/1322/Extended-freeze-on-settlement-work-essential-to-peace-hopes
As it seems Mike Thompson maybe favoring one side he sums up the article by stating that the Palestinians are going to have to be flexible, and that this issue is a hard one to uphold in order to keep the countries from maintaining peace.
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