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Israeli Settlement Construction Fallout
Expect little from world leaders to stop Israel.
by Stephen Lendman
Netanyahu's E1 Ma'aleh Adumin settlement construction announcement drew considerable flack. What it means remains to be seen. Palestinian rights have been spurned for decades. Expect little change now.
At issue is separating the West Bank from Jerusalem, Judaizing the entire city, surrounding Palestinian urban areas with encroaching Israeli settlements, and allegedly preventing a two-state solution no longer possible with or without E1 development.
Netanyahu and previous Israeli prime ministers promised none. Plans were drawn long ago. Now they're announced. Washington and major Western partners knew about them all along. They said nothing earlier.
If completed, Ma'ale Adumin settlement will be connected to Jerusalem. Doing so divides the West Bank into separate north/south areas.
Washington expressed weak opposition. National Security spokesman Tommy Vietor called the move "counterproductive." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was no better.
Through his spokesman he expressed "disappointment." UN Human Rights Council High Commissioner Navi Pillay said nothing. She fell from grace long ago. Like Ban, she's a reliable imperial partner. Both spurn what they claim to support.
On December 3, Haaretz headlined "UK, France may recall ambassadors to protest Israel's settlement construction," saying:
So far it's not announced. Haaretz quoted an unnamed "senior European diplomat" saying:
"This time it won't just be a condemnation. There will be real action taken against Israel. London is furious about the E1 decision."
Something may be announced this week. Recalling ambassadors would be a first. British and French bluster may stop short of doing it.
Instead, they "could invoke it (as a possibility) in case of further" Israeli escalation against Palestine. Something will be announced soon.
What follows may be moderate. Possibilities include "suspending strategic dialogue meetings," labeling Israeli settlement products, and/or perhaps imposing slap-on-the-wrist sanctions against them.
German and Dutch officials also warned about less Israeli diplomatic support.
