Netanyahu defies Obama call for settlement freeze

[TimesSquareCowboy]

http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSL1157889

Netanyahu defies Obama call for settlement freeze
Mon Jun 1, 2009 2:22pm EDT

* Netanyahu sounds defiant note before Obama speech

* Jewish settlers torch West Bank fields

* Israel weighs easing Gaza blockade



By Jeffrey Heller and Adam Entous

JERUSALEM, June 1 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defying U.S. President Barack Obama's call for a settlement freeze, said on Monday Israel would continue to build in existing Jewish enclaves in occupied territory.

"Freezing life would not be reasonable," he told lawmakers.

But in an apparent gesture to Obama, who has sought to revive stalled peace talks and plans to address Muslims from Egypt on Thursday, Israeli officials said Netanyahu might ease Israel's crippling blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

-snip-

"You can't freeze life" in the settlements, an official quoted Netanyahu as saying, defending his view that existing settlements must expand to accommodate growing families.

The right-wing coalition government has said it will remove unauthorised "outposts", mostly small hilltop camps, that Israel itself has not approved. The World Court has deemed all settlements, large and small, illegal.

In the West Bank, settlers set fire to Palestinian fields and scuffled with Israeli security forces who removed three caravans at one outpost near Nablus on Monday. Half a million Jews live in settlement blocs built in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem -- areas where, with the Gaza Strip, Palestinians want to establish a state.

-snip-

[TimesSquareCowboy]

1. Liebesraum.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Fine. Then we cut off the aid for Israel. We can use the cash here at home. nt

[NJmaverick]

3. I think there should be financial penalties for defying our President

[jody]

4. Not surprising, Obama talks the talk and Netanyahu walks the walk. n/t

[NC_Nurse]

5. I guess they don't need our money anymore. Fine.

edited for my usual shitty typing...

[frog92969]

6. Do we get a refund?

The Israel we bought is defective.

[safeinOhio]

7. Stop funding and

Netanyahu, Israel's version of Dick Cheney on steroids, would be kicked out of office in a NY minute. Israel will no longer have a Palestinian problem because they are about to have a civil war with the settlers.