Not settled

Middle East: Obama wants a halt to Jewish building that Israel is in no position to grant | Jill Nelson

Associated Press/Photo by Sebastian Scheiner

The Obama administration has a new plan for peace between Palestinians and Israelis: put the full-court press on Israel to freeze all settlement growth while hinting at diplomacy with Hamas, which currently controls Gaza. Longtime observers—and one-time U.S. negotiators—are befuddled by this policy shift, given that Hamas is on Washington's list of terrorist organizations, is funded by Iran, and refuses to recognize Israel's existence. And they are puzzled because at this juncture Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not in a position to comply with a total freeze of settlement activity. Netanyahu's fragile coalition government is largely comprised of religious orthodox parties committed to keeping the West Bank (a territory they refer to as Judea and Samaria). Stopping growth there may be next to impossible.

Find out how to get instant access to this article and one month of WORLD for only $5.00! If you are already a subscriber, please log in below.

The complete article is ~695 words long

Current Subscribers

Magazine
Subscriber

Online Only
Subscriber

>> Click here to see other purchase options for this article

New Subscribers

Secure form

Receive instant access to this article and the WORLDMag.com Archives
Plus, enjoy 2 issues of WORLD Magazine for only $5.00*

Want a different type of subscription? Click here for Online-Only Subscription options. Or here for Print Subscription options (which include online subscription access).

Payment Information

Name	State	Card Type

Address	Zip	Card Number

City	Email	Expiration Date
		/
	Phone Number

Offer Terms

Subscribers Advantage Automatic Renewal Program You authorize WORLD Magazine to charge your credit/debit card at the price listed above and in time to renew your subscription to WORLD Magazine, without interruption, before the start of the first 6-month term (for $24.95) and then thereafter at 6-month terms at the regular rate then in effect unless you tell us to stop. You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. If your credit/debit card cannot be charged, we will bill you directly instead.

*Offer good in the U.S. only for new subscribers.
I agree to the terms above

Outside the US, click here.
Renewing subscribers, click here.
Gift subscriptions, click here.

MORE PREVIOUS ISSUES

2009 Books Issue Jul. 4, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Is Christianity in the U.S. doomed? Jun. 20, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Tiananmen massacre Jun. 6, 2009 View WORLD E-zine
Playing with capitalism May. 23, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	On the road again May. 9, 2009 View WORLD E-zine	Geo-gizmos Apr. 25, 2009 View WORLD E-zine