Living Up to Commitments

December 4, 2008
"I don't understand why there can be natural growth in Arab neighborhoods, but not in Jewish neighborhoods. ... There is no reason why there shouldn't be development of existing [Jewish] neighborhoods."
—Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, interview with the Walla Web, September 28, 2008
  • "The recklessness of the Israeli government in dealing with illegal outposts demonstrates how unaware its ministers are of the severity of the problem Israel is facing with respect to settlements in the West Bank, and to what extent the issue can get Israel into trouble with the international community that in turn may damage its other interests. … Under the Road Map plan Israel reiterated its commitment to halt all settlement activity in the West Bank and to dismantle illegal outposts. Since then the government has indeed avoided founding new settlements but illegal outposts have been added and construction in existing settlements has not stopped even for a moment.”
    —Dov Weissglas, former Prime Minister's Bureau director under Ariel Sharon, op-ed, "America against the Settlements," Yedioth Ahronoth, November 26, 2008 (translated by Middle East Bulletin)


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    “We knew at the outset that the task would be difficult. We acknowledged that publicly and privately. We knew this would be a road with many bumps— and there have been many bumps—and that continues to this day. But we are not deterred. We are, to the contrary, determined more than ever to proceed to realize the common objective, which we all share, of a Middle East that is at peace with security and prosperity for the people of Israel, for Palestinians, and for all the people in the region. We will continue our efforts in that regard, undeterred and undaunted by the difficulties, the complexities or the bumps in the road.”—George Mitchell, special envoy for Middle East peace, remarks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, September 29, 2010

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