ray
Trying to be objective on this issue for a moment: is it weird that Obama (and later today Kerry) are providing their policy guidelines on the Middle East now. Obama has been in office for 8 years
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The policy of a two state solution has been US policy since Lyndon Johnson.... US opposition to settlements has been consistent for 54 years.
The Reagan Plan states that ‘the United States will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements during the transition period (5 years after Palestinian election for a self-governing authority). Indeed, the immediate adoption of a settlements freeze by Israel, more than any other action, could create the confidence needed for wider participation in these talks. Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs that a final outcome can be free and fairly negotiated.”
Reagan Plan – September 1982
Our position on the settlements is very clear. We do not think they are legal.”
President Jimmy Carter – April 1980 interview
“Although we have expressed our views to the Foreign Ministry and are confident there can be little doubt among GOI leaders as to our continuing opposition to any Israeli settlements in the occupied areas, we believe it would be timely and useful for the Embassy to restate in strongest terms the US position on this question. You should refer to Prime Minister Eshkol's Knesset statement and our awareness of internal Israeli pressures for settling civilians in occupied areas. The GOI is aware of our continuing concern that nothing be done in the occupied areas which might prejudice the search for a peace settlement. By setting up civilian or quasi-civilian outposts in the occupied areas the GOI adds serious complications to the eventual task of drawing up a peace settlement. Further, the transfer of civilians to occupied areas, whether or not in settlements which are under military control, is contrary to Article 49 of the Geneva Convention, which states "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.’” "Airgram from the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel."
Smith, Louis J. (Ed.). Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, V. 20, Arab-Israeli Dispute 1967-1968. DC: GPO, 2001
http://www.cmep.org/content/us-statemen ... ort#ReaganThe UN security council vote was proposed by New Zealand and Malaysia and 14 nations supported the resolution. Including Spain, Great Britain, France Japan Uruguay and Ukraine...
This is not an Israel / US issue.
It is most of the world oppossing an illegal occupation, peacefully. Through an international body who's purpose is to try to peacefully settle international disputes....
Israel is isolated on this issue, because they deserve to be isolated on this issue.
Encroaching settlements do not increase the security of Israel. They do not increase the validity of Israelis claims to the land they are established upon. They only provoke the occupied people of Palestine.
If Trump listens to Mattis ....
He also warned that the United States urgently needed to press the Israelis and the Palestinians to advance to a two-state solution.
“Either it ceases to be a Jewish state or you say the Arabs don’t get to vote — apartheid. That didn’t work too well the last time I saw that practiced in a country,” Mattis said.