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On the cusp of things exploding?

It can't go on much longer. The ongoing stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians, the effective siege of Gaza, the so-called talks which get nowhere and those check points and ceaseless expansion of settlements. Now, with an Israeli election not until February next and uncertainty whether the US will even involve itself in the foreseeable future in any peace process it is not difficult to expect things to explode between the ongoing warring parties.

Jason Koutsoukis, writing for the Fairfax Press, places things into context. It's neither a pretty or happy picture!

"How much longer will Palestinians be prepared to wait for an end to Israel's four-decade occupation of the West Bank before a return to open violence is considered?

"I don't think it can be for long," says Hagit Ofran, a senior member of Israel's oldest peace movement, Peace Now. "Unless we move quickly towards the two-state solution, we face disaster. We have no choice."

A year since the US-backed Middle East Peace Conference at Annapolis promised Palestinians a sovereign state, Israel is still no closer to an actual withdrawal from the West Bank territory it has occupied since the Six Day War of 1967. If anything, Israel's occupation of the West Bank has grown stronger.

Commitments at Annapolis to reduce the number of roadblocks and military checkpoints maintained by the Israel Defence Forces across the West Bank, which severely impede the movement of Palestinians, have been ignored.

The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs says there are now about 610 checkpoints and roadblocks across the West Bank, compared to around 580 last year.

Israeli settlement growth in the West Bank has also continued unabated, despite promises to freeze, or at least reduce, new settlements."

Comments

Anonymous said…
i haven't been by for a read for a while. you've got a bunch of terrific posts up, and i thank you.

my personal bet with myself is that if obama is the man i think he is, at the end of ten years there will be a secure and independent palestine.


happy election eve.
November 04, 2008 8:54 am
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