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A Halt......Not a Suspension

Perhaps, just perhaps, Israeli PM Olmert and his countrymen have woken up to some of the realities of their actions in relation to securing some sort of peace with their Palestinian neighbours. On his return to Israel post the photo-op Annapolis meeting Olmert has said that a two-State solution is an imperative if Israel is to survive.

Of course, Israel has continued unabated in its development and building of settlements in the West Bank. Those actions have, openly, contradicted all the platitudes about seeking peace with the Palestinians.

A Haaretz editorial hits the mark and the realities in where Israel now sits in the scheme of things:

"When Ehud Olmert warns that the world could impose a "South African solution" on Israel if two states are not created, side by side, he is tacitly admitting that expansion of the settlements is making Israel look increasingly like an apartheid regime.

The agreement to withdraw, or to make "painful concessions," as it is sanctimoniously called, is therefore less painful than any other alternative. The only question is whether another Yitzhak Rabin can be found, who is capable of really halting, not just suspending, the construction of settlements, to leave the Palestinians some territory in which to establish Palestine."

It is interesting to consider that anyone, including people like former President Jimmy Carter, have been slammed and accused of everything diabolical, in speaking of Israel's actions being akin to the former South African apartheid regime.

The editorial concludes:

"Some 10,000 babies are born in the settlements every year. Israel has no moral or other obligation to make sure they have housing in the West Bank. In April 2004 the government promised the Americans that there would be no more construction "beyond the outside line" of each settlement. That outside line has never been set. Annapolis will not lead Israel to any solution with the Palestinians unless Israel stops cheating and learns to restrain its expansion eastward."

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