Had there been some sort of security reason, I would have supported it. But what will be the fruit of such a move? Well here is what this move has thus far wrought. From YWN:
In this current E1 crisis, the United States has expressed opposition, along with UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon, as well as the UK, Germany, Sweden, France and others
Leading the list perhaps is London, which has signaled it may recall its ambassador over the issue, already summoning Israeli Ambassador to London to the Foreign Office, where he heard of Downing Street’s objections to moving ahead in the E1 area.
What makes matters worse is that this construction will likely never happen unless there is a peace deal. As much as Maleh Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel praised the move, he is also a realist and admits that construction will probably never begin. So what was gained? Was anything gained at all?
I am a big fan of Netanyahu. But I disagree with what he did here. It serves no good purpose. It has only resulted in a negative backlash. Had the Prime Minster just left things alone he would have been one with the US.
In every move the Prime Minster has taken so far since the American Presidential election, he has had the complete support of the US. And the Palestinians have been in the dog house due to their pre-conditions for negotiating a peace treaty with Israel; the daily Hamas rocket attacks into Israel; and for what Abbas did at the UN. Now with this announcement – Israel has taken a step backward.
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