I guess it’s technically true, if by “traditionally” you mean “the 19 years in all of recorded history when the Jordanians managed to temporarily cleanse Jews from the Old City.” By any other definition, though, this is vulgar anti-Jewish propaganda:
To help restart peace talks, the U.S. has been pressing Israel to halt all construction in settlements built on captured land claimed by the Palestinians. Some 280,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements, in addition to 180,000 residents living in Jewish neighborhoods built in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek to establish an independent state that includes the West Bank, with east Jerusalem as their capital… A growing number of Israeli officials have expressed surprise and dissatisfaction over the American pressure. At a meeting with Israel’s defense minister, Mitchell tried to soothe the concerns. “Our governments are friends and allies,” he said. “These are discussions among friends.”
And that’s before we even get to the part where “land claimed by the Palestinians” still includes all of Israel as a matter of the black letter doctrine that Fatah leaders intend to enforce via unending warfare.
I’m also a little worried about Mitchell’s new “these are discussions among friends” formulation. I hope it doesn’t signal the end of the administration’s oh-so-delicate “tough love” rhetoric. Then I might never get to use my line about how only abusive husbands and fathers talk about slapping around people for their own good.
References:
* Netanyahu To Obama: Actually, We’re Going To Keep Letting Jews Build Homes In Jerusalem [MR]
* Envoy: US favors overall Mideast peace accord [AP]
* Obama’s Anti-Israel Posture Undermining The Peace Process, Hardening Palestinian Demands [MR]
* “Moderate” Palestinians Hold Conference, Demand Endless Warfare Against Israel [MR]
Previously:
* Palestinian Witnesses: Of Course Hamas Fired Mortars From UN School
* AP Caption Of The Day: "Israel Will Not Heed Obama’s Powerful Appeal"
* AP: British Diplomat Who Screamed For Israel To Be Wiped Out Was "Criticizing Israel’s Conduct" (Plus: British Anti-Semitism Now Kind Of An Everyday Thing)
