Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: RichardE
You said you would get back to me in regards to it being unconstitutional to put US citizens under ICC authority. You never did, I was looking forward to that, ah well.
No, I said I might, because I had some interest in it, but it didn't seem the discussion was very productive then or soon after, and I haven't bothered.
I'm told that I am very patient, but my patience has not been holding up that well lately for the discussions that are not going anywhere.
I do appreciate your interest in my response though, and usually would respond when that's the case, as I'd initially had some interest in - I did not 'say I would' - doing.
To answer your question I do not support the expansion of the colonies. I do support the removal of them (which is obviously hard to do when building permits are being given out.) I don't support to economic sanctions imposed on the Palestinians. If Israel wants they can search every cargo going in for weapons, but they should not block goods from going in. I also do not support "splitting up" Palestinian communities as they are currently doing.
Some very reasonable statements; but isn't there a logistical problem that it's not practical to 'search every container'?
I've stated this before. I think the removal of the economic sanctions along with bringing Palestinians together and the vacating of settlements (though not the return until peace) would go a long way into achieving peace.
We're in agreement on that.
I'd think that perhaps some fresh and neutral advising would be useful - but I see little interest in that from anyone.
I've heard some opinion - I don't know how accurate it is - that there's a sense in Israel that 'time is on their side' as long as they continue the measures of settlements etc. The Palastenians, squeezed by land, by water, by necessities, by freedom - the situation is headed toward even more intolerable than it is, and whenever it boils into crisis and confrontation, there's a one-sided military response available to further Israel's interests.
So, it seems important to me that the US not let things get worse, but standing up to Israel is not very politically tenable now. It's a lot easier to stick with the easy answers.