May 12, 2005
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GIVE BUT WHAT YOU GET:
Mofaz: Gaza plan 'to save W Bank' (BBC, 5/12/05)
Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has said the withdrawal of Jewish settlers from Gaza will allow Israel to extend its borders into the West Bank.He also said the pullout would enable Israel to maintain Jerusalem as the unified capital of a Jewish state. [...]
Mr Mofaz said the pullout would allow Israel to keep hold of its large West Bank settlements - which are viewed as illegal under international law - extending its future borders deep into Palestinian territory.
"In fact, the settlers of [the West Bank] and Gaza will be able to say in years to come that they helped establish the eastern frontiers of the state of Israel," he told the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot. [...]
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat strongly denounced the statements by Mr Mofaz, Voice of Palestine radio reported.
He said he "believed the statements were in line with the Israeli practices that seek to abolish negotiations and replace them with dictates", the radio reported.
Precisely. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 12, 2005 12:00 AM
Well, Duh! The Palestinians are getting a state, whether they want it or not. Only by acting like, well, Palestinians, the Israelis are going to tell them what the state will look like.
The Palestinians have no one to blame but themselves. (Oh, sure, they'll toss the blame by the bucket, but in the end it's still themselves.)
Posted by: Mikey at May 12, 2005 8:18 AM