Israeli settlements and Palestinians
Photo: AFP
Israeli PM Netanyahu argues that the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank is needed to accommodate the natural growth of population in Israel. This kind of argument is not expected from the head of a government! Because, this would mean allowing a country to attack and annex a portion of a neighbouring country if it is militarily possible. Therefore, this kind of argument must be condemned by all. We are happy to note that US president Barack Obama has strongly rejected such an Israeli idea. Now is the time for the Palestinians to seriously consider and decide whether they would continue with sporadic pin-pricks against Israel which actually do more damage to the Palestinians and achieve nothing for them but Israeli retribution. They should allow the present US govt. to do whatever it can to further the Palestinian dream of having an independent state which has eluded them for the last 60 years. President Obama appears to be sincere about his conviction of the two-state formula to resolve this conflict. The Palestinians must not spoil this opportunity by their futile actions which so far have brought only miseries to their people. Such an opportunity might not come again in the near future.
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