|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.hudson-ny.org/1622/settlements-obstacle-to-peace
Are Settlements Really the Major Obstacle to Peace?
(Hudson Institute New York) Khaled Abu Toameh - For nearly two decades, the Palestinian Authority conducted peace talks with Israel while construction in the Jewish settlements was continuing. Until two years ago, Abbas was negotiating with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, while the settlements were being expanded. Some Palestinians say that the settlements became a major issue only when the U.S. and other Western governments started demanding a freeze of settlement construction. Palestinian leaders can't afford a situation where Presidents Obama and Sarkozy appear to be more Palestinian than the Palestinians. If the settlements were really the major obstacle to peace, how come peace did not prevail when Israel destroyed all the settlements in Gaza and evicted more than 8,000 Jews from there? The major obstacle to peace is Iran and radical Muslims who want to destroy Israel, and not make peace with it. They are also threatening to kill any moderate Arab or Muslim who seeks to make peace with Israel.