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Last update - 09:47 26/03/2008 We heard you, Mr. Boim By Kadura Fares Tags: Israel, PA, West Bank  Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim explained away the construction of 750 new housing units in the settlement of Givat Ze'ev by saying that the permits had been issued in 1999, but that construction had stopped due to, as he put it, the "outbreak of violence." That is, the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising. According to Boim, the contractors went to court, and as a result of their petition, the government ordered the construction's approval. Boim was talking, it seems to me, to Israelis and overseas leaders critical of the renewed construction. He did not notice that Palestinians were also listening to him. I am one of those who listened, and I understood from his statements that Boim is inviting us - the Palestinians - to start another intifada. Boim's statements reminded me how, at the end of the last decade, at the height of the peace talks, when we were closer to the finish line than ever before, the Israelis continued unremittingly to build settlements. That is the case today: After Annapolis, the Paris conference, and the renewal of talks on the highest level, Israel is once more expanding its settlement construction. The conclusion: Only when we launch an uprising does construction in the settlements cease; under the umbrella of negotiations, the settlement enterprise is revived. This, despite the fact that every Palestinian and every Israeli knows that the settlements are the main obstacle to a peace treaty. Advertisement Fortunately, the present Palestinian leadership consists of people like me who continue to believe, despite all the difficulties, in a peaceful solution to the conflict, through dialogue and negotiation. We are on the verge of despair, but we still hope that the Palestinian people will get what they deserve through diplomatic means. We have a bitter dispute with those who believe that only violence will bring independence and freedom. Do the members of the Israeli government hear our voices as well, or do they listen only to those calling for armed struggle? I know that such a struggle will not lead to surrender on either side, but rather only to suffering, mourning and loss. Does the Israeli government also understand this? I listened closely to the Israeli housing minister's statements. They have one clear meaning: Do you want to stop construction in the settlements? Violence is the only way. Dialogue with the Israeli government will not help. Explanations about the damage settlement construction causes to the peace process will not help. Neither will stressing the despair this construction sows among the Palestinians - who see how Israel determines facts on the ground although the reality should be determined in negotiation. Attempts at reminders that the Palestinians have a right to their land and that settlement construction is a breach of international law are of no avail. All of this will not stop the construction, which is a disaster for Palestinians and a disaster for Israelis, since all of our lives depend on attaining an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. What will help? A violent uprising. That is the only thing, according to the Israeli housing minister, that will bring about the cessation of construction in the settlements and protect the Palestinian interest. Mr. Boim, we got the message. Will anyone in Israel yet accuse you of incitement to rebellion and resistance? The writer is a senior member of the Fatah movement, and a member of the Palestinian peace coalition Bookmark to del.icio.us   A few good celebs Some of Hollywood's top guns congratulate Israel in a clip played in Times Square. Chosen, shmosen 'Religion is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions,' wrote Albert Einstein.   1.   Intifada = Naqba 09:48  |  Yishai Kohen 26/03/08   2.   Settlement. 10:03  |  cfs 26/03/08   3.   IN WAR ! BROTHERS DONT RAPE EACH OTHER 10:23  |  ... 26/03/08   4.   AS LONG AS PALESTINIANS DONT WISH BE IN UNITY ! peace is tale 10:25  |  ... 26/03/08   5.   I DONT RESPECT YOUR WAY OF FIGHT, DEAR PALESTINIANS 10:33  |  I realy dont 26/03/08   6.   LOOK AT ISRAELIS ! THEY DONT KILL EACH OTHER 10:41  |  ... 26/03/08   7.   suicide note from kadura !keep it up 11:00  |  v hardman 26/03/08   8.   Remember Gaza? 11:02  |  Joe 26/03/08   9.   84% 11:15  |  Serge 26/03/08   10.   I do accpet that YOU GOT GREAT ENEMY AS ISRAEL 11:35  |  But ! 26/03/08   11.   YOU GUYS SOLD MY PEOPLE MANY TIMES ! 11:36  |  ... 26/03/08   12.   NEIGHTER ISRAEL NOE PALESTINE CANT FINISH EACH OTHER 11:39  |  DONT PLAY GOD 26/03/08   13.   LIBERTY FIGHT BECOME TO MAKE OTHERS DISAPPEAR FROM EARTH 11:40  |  WE NO GOD 26/03/08   14.   Gaza girls hate to be like Afganistan girls ...THE TV REPORT 11:51  |  ... 26/03/08   15.   to disconnect ourself from reality ! THE BORDER LINE 12:31  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 26/03/08   16.   When did the infantifada ever end? 12:31  |  Murray of Montreal 26/03/08   17.   Can I also publish my threats in a Palestinian newspaper? 12:32  |  MR 26/03/08   18.   Anything Israel does 12:34  |  ChanahS 26/03/08   19.   Boim and Fares are both threatening the same thing. 12:56  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/03/08   20.   # 18 ChanahS 13:08  |  Joseph . E 26/03/08   21.   WHAT A THIEF 13:29  |  indrajaya 26/03/08   22.   Pal hypocracy 13:59  |  Sam 26/03/08   23.   You`re all nuts 14:10  |  jon 26/03/08   24.   #23 jon and the unusual ignorance of ireland 14:18  |  v hardman 26/03/08   25.   Jon 23 15:08  |  ChanahS 26/03/08   26.   We heard you, mr. Kaduri 15:15  |  Xaxam 26/03/08   27.   HAARETZ NOW OFFICIAL CHANNEL FOR ARAB THREATS 15:24  |  Freethinker 26/03/08   28.   FACTS CANNOT BE CHANGED WITH FALSE PROPAGANDA, HATRED & IGNORANCE 15:34  |  READ THE FACTS 26/03/08   29.   2 points 15:42  |  Avrum 26/03/08   30.   No, the settlements are not the main obstacle 16:02  |  bobby 26/03/08   31.   # 17 MR 16:14  |  Axel 26/03/08   32.   TO # 3, 4, 6, 11 IS IS GOOD TO LEARN 16:15  |  PLS READ 26/03/08   33.   Plan to Occupy All of Palestine 16:15  |  El-Birawi 26/03/08   34.   El Birawi - stop spweing the tired old nonsense 17:28  |  ChanahS 26/03/08   35.   Terrorists Kill; Settlements Don`t 17:32  |  JP 26/03/08   36.   You got it right Birawi 17:43  |  Genuine Tosefta 26/03/08   37.   Mr. Fares 18:36  |  Confused completely 26/03/08   38.   ChannahS are those the only conditions 18:46  |  Ibrahim 26/03/08   39.   33# El Birawi. One expect you to be much more 18:57  |  Akram Zekaria 26/03/08   40.   El-Birawi you`re 100% right 19:13  |  Freethinker 26/03/08   41.   If theres a 3rd Intifada, therel be a fullscale no-hands-tied war 19:43  |  Hal 26/03/08   42.   # 36 tosefta 20:17  |  Axel 26/03/08   43.   "Palestinian" fantasies fuel violence 20:46  |  Scharker Yid 26/03/08   44.   All hands on deck! 20:48  |  Dutch 26/03/08   45.   I agree 21:50  |  Israeli 26/03/08   46.   Comment on # 23 22:19  |  Joseph 26/03/08   47.   #26 XaXam 23:08  |  Bob 26/03/08   48.   settlement solution 23:16  |  tim 26/03/08   49.   re:channahS 23:29  |  tim 26/03/08   50.   #40 doris cadigan sails with hornblower 23:35  |  v hardman 26/03/08   51.   The Palestinians Will Find Any Reason To Kill Israeli Citizens 23:52  |  Jane 26/03/08   52.   Well said. 23:54  |  peacelover 26/03/08   53.   PLS READ. Please try harder. #32 00:56  |  Roo 27/03/08   54.   #19 Just to point out, Fortuna 01:19  |  Johnboy 27/03/08   55.   #35 JP compares apples with oranges 01:31  |  Johnboy 27/03/08   56.   #44 Just to point out, tim.... 01:40  |  Johnboy 27/03/08   57.   Atila, we never sold out the Turks, we believed in freedom 02:35  |  Palestinian Prince 27/03/08   58.   33# El Birawai. You must have some insie friends in Haaretz* 03:23  |  Akram Zekaria 27/03/08   59.   RATTLE THE IMAGINARY SABRE 04:18  |  Ilya 27/03/08   60.   Whats the sense of violence? 04:19  |  marilyn 27/03/08   61.   INDRA...#21 04:21  |  Ilya 27/03/08   62.   Mixed messages 05:00  |  Mark Lincoln 27/03/08   63.   About the armed struggle. 06:09  |  Mark 27/03/08   64.   #53 What`s the sense of violence, marilyn? 06:50  |  Johnboy 27/03/08   65.   #39 Well, I certainly see a fantasist, Scharker 07:02  |  Johnboy 27/03/08   66.   His conclusion! 09:32  |  Murray of Montreal 27/03/08   67.   "Palestinians have a right to their land".... 09:53  |  Dolly 27/03/08   68.   #59 No, Murray, he isn`t. 10:49  |  Johnboy 27/03/08   69.   OBSTACLE TO PEACE? 09:25  |  1 14/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: We owe the Palestinians a state Responses: 41 Editorial: Israel should go along with Egyptian efforts for Gaza calm Send response Akiva Eldar: Plan puts synagogue in heart of Arab East J'lem Send response Clip shows IDF officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range Responses: 13 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is trying to change the world, for the good Send response More Headlines 08:36 Two militants killed, two hurt in IAF strikes in Gaza 07:35 Israel to transfer security in Jenin area to Palestinians 07:37 Defense officials: Egypt to open Rafah, cease-fire or not 07:32 Police quiz U.S. tycoon Sheldon Adelson as part of Olmert probe 09:07 Clip shows IDF officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range 08:53 Shas official says gov't to okay hundreds of homes in W. Bank 08:43 Two Israelis found in China; 3 still missing since Mon. quake 06:15 Mazuz asked to explain plan for synagogue in East J`lem 03:15 MK Orlev wants to end former MK Bishara's retirement payments 05:17 Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer slam Bush's Mideast policy 06:27 Israeli, Jordanian architects plan peace park in Naharayim 03:00 Welfare Min. launches plan for savings accounts for every Israeli kid Previous Editions Select Day 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr

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