Settlements in the westbank

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38421026

The bill was passed by 14 to 0 with oddly the USA abstaining from the vote who as the bbc put it "has traditionally sheltered Israel from condemnatory resolutions."

Did Russia vote against Israel?

yes the entire security council bar the USA did

The first motion was proposed by Egypt but Trump had a word with Obama and it was withdrawn. So then Malaysia proposed the motion and that is what was voted on. No explanation for why america sat on their hands other than Obama wanting to screw things up for an incoming Trump. It kind of gives the lie to Obama's claim that he would do all he could to effect a smooth transition

So it did not pass then.

it did pass

the US abstained rather than use their veto

in reality it means very little.

Maybe read what i typed.

This was a final payback by Obama against Netanyahu and the Republicans for them allowing Netanyahu to speak in Congress against Obama's Iran deal I feel.

You expect me to read every line of every post including the blue bits

In any case Israel do not regard them as illegal settlements

It really doesn't matter.

There will be no Middle East in 50 years' time, once they run out of oil and turn on each other with the nukes.

What we see at the moment is just playing games before the main event.

I think this is basically the truth of it. Obama's had to put up with a lot of shit from Netanyahu down the years and I think this was a final, exasperated metaphorical 'screw you' as he walks out the door. Ultimately it will be pretty meaningless, especially with the fiercely pro-Likud Republicans about to take control in Washington, but it'll cheer up all those who are sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians.

No they don't, but they are pretty universally regarded as being illegal by almost everyone else.

Possession is nine tenths of the law

They only took possession of the West Bank after an act of self defence

There will need to some compromise on both sides.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not really an area of my expertise, so I'm not going to engage too heavily in this, but I would say you're right that compromises will need to be made on both sides. But Israel constantly expanding what are effectively becoming cities on land that almost everyone agrees doesn't belong to them, makes the chances of a compromise and a lasting peace deal more difficult to achieve with every passing day. And this is a peace deal the Israelis need more than anyone. If a two-state solution can't be found then a one-state solution could ultimately lead to the end of Israel as a Jewish state.

Now, there are plenty of other reasons why a peace deal is becoming almost impossible to envisage, many of which can be blamed on the Palestinians, but the settlements are a major stumbling block.

Except international law post WW2 clearly and specifically states you can't claim new land via invasion or conquest.

Yes, and it's Christmas
They should give the land back to its rightful owners
For Jesus sake.

All the lefties and righties who think the sun shines out of Putin's arse are agreeing with this vote?

A one-state solution arguably makes more sense, but will probably need a generation or two to overcome the divisions.


It's not just the settlements themselves, but general appropriation of land, water rights and the creation of 'security buffers' & fences. Especially when they're combined with Jewish-only roads. The fragmentation of the occupied territories makes it harder to define any workable Palestine.. which is the point behind the settlement expansion.

Guess which way the UK voted? Gove won't be amused, especially after volunteering the Queen to go open a new British embassy in Jerusalem.

A largely symbolic move that will do little to hault Israel's crimes. If anything I expect Israel to throw their toys out of the pram in response, and increase their illegal expansion.

Shame Obama/The US seemingly only abstained to spite Trump instead of doing something that would actually have an impact.

There will never be a two state solution though because neither sides puppet masters want one.

Tell that to what was North Vietnam

This sounds suspiciously like what in Northern Ireland they used to call 'what-about-ery'.

Be careful, haven't you heard that speaking out against Israel is a sure fire way of being accused of anti Semitism?
In the same way that speaking out against Robert Mugabe means you hate all black people.

It's like continually pissing on someone and expecting them to be your friend