MrSmashy

No. It was just built on land that was taken after 1967...it was annexed...not stolen. Oops. Big difference.

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If you need 2 states, then I suppose some would have to be removed to make the state viable and all, what what is so explosive about the settlements themselves?

To connect them with Israel, either more land will be annexed (which is a hot topic given that every inch of land in that overcrowded hole is worth an incrdible amoutn) or the roads to them will cut up a Palestinian state in a way that no sovereign state would normally be expected to tolerate.

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They aren't being built on "palestinian land". The land was occupied by Jordan before Israel got it, and the area is actually the heartland of ancient Israel.

Semantics. The palestinians were 'jordanians' if you want to consider tha land 'jordanian' at that time. Also, heartland of ancient Israel means fuck all. I have plenty of ancient homeland all over Europe and the middle east that is owed to me by right of my genetic code, but i don't go about claiming it. Seriously, all this bullshit about people who think they get a chunk of dirty because someone in the past owned it is the stupidest arguement I've heard and if i have to explain why it is so to you, I don't see a reason continuing this arguement. Understand, however, I am the same way towards the Palestinian right of return (despite the fact that some of the original owners are alive and there has been less time since they were kicked off the land).

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Also, the settlements exists to give Israel territorial depth- it's a tiny country, about the size of delaware.

So? Are we supposed to justify the settlements are part of Israel strategic needs. I am sure that the Palestinians or Jordan could use a nice seaport like Tel Aviv, but I wouldn't say "go and conquor it."

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In the end, the israelis have at least as much right to live there as anyone else.

No they don't. And yes, you failed to prove that they do.

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And in fact there are far, far more illegal arab settlements that no one ever speaks about.

Evidence please.

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Why do you think the settlements are so bad? It's one thing to talk about removing some to create the state, but despite the rhetoric I don't really understand what the actual problem is, except that the Palestinians hate seeing the jews gain control of more land. This has been the case since the mid 1800s!

Right...its because the Palestinians hate the jews, not because the jews keep taking land and building settlements that will result in Isreal gobbling up more territory to make them part of Israel.

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There aren't really any new settlements being built, what is being protested now is the "natural growth", like when babies are born and new homes are built as the population grows.

Ok. We are obviously getting different impressions of the situation here, but regardless of whether or not it is natural growth, it doesn't matter...they shouldn't be there.

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By the way, even if you don't like Sharon, it is really wrong to equate him with Arafat. Arafat is a lifelong murderer and terrorist thug. Sharon was a general, and has spent his life defending his people from the enemies that they are surrounded by. He was also heavily involved in the peace with Egypt.

So having recognition as a state from the US is the difference between terrorist acts and the acts of a stateman concerned for his people?


also: So the arabs can't remove the Isreali settlements to make a viable state, but the Isrealis can. Nice double standard. Thanks for making all jews around the world just a little closer to standing with our backs to the wall and guns to our faces.