tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668712602334003954.post7472367141486953143..comments2024-01-12T15:32:22.236-08:00Comments on The Episconixonian: Only Palestine Can Stop The SettlementsFr. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09974142521713230215noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668712602334003954.post-30916103276727331452012-02-16T08:48:49.865-08:002012-02-16T08:48:49.865-08:00Thanks for your comment. That would be a good tact...Thanks for your comment. That would be a good tactic for Palestinians if it had a good chance of success, but I don't think it does. No one in recent years has pushed Israel harder on settlements than Barack Obama, but Israel hasn't budged. I'm not arguing for what's fair and right. I'm arguing for what's possible, and the longer the PNA waits, the more settlements and the less an opportunity for a viable Palestine. The unity government will just make the problem worse.Fr. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09974142521713230215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668712602334003954.post-61920016126303724282012-02-16T08:08:39.948-08:002012-02-16T08:08:39.948-08:00his delesteI agree that Israel should stop buildin...his delesteI agree that Israel should stop building new settlements, but it is unfair and unrealistic to expect Palestinians to accept Israel's negotiating position on boundaries as a precondition. While "world opinion" will not change the Israel's position, U.S. pressure can and should. Our political leaders should make clear that we consider continuation of this policy (a a serious threat to U.S. long term security interests (it is, you know), (b) doomed to failure eventually, and (b) one which the U.S. will not support financially, diplomatically or militarily. I believe that this policy, if we had the political courage to announce it and stand by it, would quickly bring an end to the present Israeli government's settlements policy an, for that reason, be welcomed by a majority of the Israeli electorate which understands that their leaders' present policy is a dead end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com