Take two large steps back and contemplate this idea for a few minutes:
'The nations' collectively ban together and tell another country (Israel) what they can and cannot do within their borders. Try to imagine 'the nations' telling America that no building can take place in San Diego (for whatever reasons). Or imagine 'the nations' telling Scotland that construction cannot take place in Edinburgh, due to historic considerations. It's unimaginable. Yet, 'the nations' freely feel that they can dictate to Israel what they can or cannot do. Oh well, this was foretold by God's prophets, so in that respect we shouldn't be surprised.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on Israel Sunday to halt all construction in the West Bank immediately, and said the building of settlements was detrimental to the ongoing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
“I was deeply concerned to hear the latest announcement by the Israeli authorities to advance settlement plans once more in the West Bank including East Jerusalem,” Ashton said in a statement.
The foreign policy chief stressed that the EU was willing to assist Israel and the Palestinians in achieving a peace accord, but warned that it would be unable to do so if both sides did not uphold their obligations toward advancing such a deal.
“The EU is ready to provide its full support to a peace agreement,” She said.
“At this delicate moment of the negotiation, I call on all the parties to act now to build trust – not undermine it – and to work together for a lasting, just and final settlement of the conflict.’’
The Ministry of Housing and Construction announced Friday that it had approved tenders for 1,400 new housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, Israeli diplomatic sources said Kerry was behind a recent wave of European threats to boycott settlement products, and intends to use these threats against Israel should the current series of peace talks fail.
Earthquakes:
'Wars and rumors of war':
Following Japan's proclamations that it will take over another 280 'disputed ownership' islands, it appears the increasingly dis-approved of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's path of militarism and provocation is working. As China Daily Mail reports, citing experts, China intends to take back Zhongye Island - 'illegally' occupied by the Philippines, according to the Chinese. The Chinese navy has drawn a detailed combat plan to seize the island and the battle will be restricted within the South China Sea. Philippines military is building up on the island and the Chinese see as 'intolerable' the "arrogance" relying on US support. It seems the Obama administration may have to 'not take sides' in another fight soon.
Known as Pag-asa in the Philippines and Zhongye island by both China and Taiwan, Thitu is the second largest in the Spratly island chain in the South China Sea and the largest of all Philippine-occupied Spratly islands.
Laude said that the air force troops were deployed to Thitu island by naval aircraft, which will give the residents of the island a chance to visit Kalayaan aboard the returning plane. He added that China's maritime expansion into the South China Sea continues to put pressure on the Philippines, and the Philippine Navy have also been stationed in the area to defend the islands.
And the Latest Tensions...
Via China Daily Mail (translated from Chinese media),
Relying on US support, the Philippines is so arrogant as to announce in the New Year that it will increase its navy and air force deployment at Zhongye Island, a Chinese island that it has illegally occupied for years.
It will be an intolerable insult to China
According to experts, the Chinese navy has drawn a detailed combat plan to seize the island and the battle will be restricted within the South China Sea.
The battle is aimed at recovery of the island stolen by the Philippines from China.
Top economic advisers are forecasting war and unrest.
They give the following reasons for their forecast:
- Countries start wars to distract their populations from lousy economies
- Currency and trade wars end up turning into shooting wars
- The U.S. is still seeking to secure oil supplies, and the U.S. doesn’t like any country to leave the dollar standard
Additionally, the American policy of using the military to contain China’s growing economic influence – and of considering economic rivalry to be a basis for war – is creating a tinderbox.
It seems like the U.S. and China are drifting towards war over the long-term, as proxy disputes with Japan, the Philippines and other countries cannot remain cool forever without accident or incident.
Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail on all sides …
Also see:
3 comments:
Scott, have you read this commentary from Abbas.
I wondered when the temple mount would come up?
This has got to tick Israel off to the max with this demand.
David P
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=16016
No - I'm just now getting to this; looks interesting, esp in concert with the thing about Jerusalem (just posted)
I could see the Palestinian's bargaining with the temple mount way more than I could envision Israel giving it up. This ought to be interesting to see how it goes.
David P
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