The map above shows the illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank (Palestinian land), and more are being built all the time.
The myth here in the United States is that it is the Palestinians that have been the obstacle to peace in the Mid-East, by refusing to negotiate with Israel -- and that Israel is willing to negotiate a two-state solution that would create a Palestinian nation. That is simply not true.
It is Israel that has been blocking the negotiations by continuing to build settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank. They obviously have no intention of ever giving up these settlements and allowing the Palestinians to control their own land. Now, finally, an Israeli politician has been honest about Israel's intentions.
Prime Minister Netanyahu (who is running for re-election) has openly stated that when he is re-elected he will annex the West Bank -- making it an official part of the nation of Israel. This comes as no surprise to honest viewers of the situation in the Mid-East. This has long been the unspoken desire of the Israeli government. Why would they continue to build these settlements if they had any intention to one day give them up?
They wouldn't. They have never intended to allow the Palestinians to create a nation of their own (composed of the West Bank and Gaza). Netanyahu's desire to annex the West Bank is not different from the desires of other Israeli politicians -- he's just a bit more honest about Israeli intentions.
Here's what he said:
"A Palestinian state will endanger our existence and I withstood huge pressure over the past eight years, no prime minister has withstood such pressure. We must control our destiny."
"Will we move ahead to the next stage? Yes. I will extend sovereignty but I don't distinguish between the settlement blocs and the isolated ones, because each settlement is Israeli and I will not hand it over to Palestinian sovereignty."
"I will not divide Jerusalem, I will not evacuate any community and I will make sure we control the territory west of Jordan."
