A Good Faith Thought: Settlement Expansion Should End For Peace To Work

Israel needs to halt the expansion of settlements if they truly seek peace with Palestinians.  Hands down.  It has to stop.  I don’t know if Bibi doesn’t care if peace works or if he even wants peace to work because he is so obsessed with expanding settlement construction in the West Bank.  I am beginning to think that he wants to start an all out war with his Middle East neighbors or wants another intifada to start.  It seems to me that he either wants to attack Iran or have the relative (and yes, relative is, well, relative) peace with the Palestinians that has been happening for the past 8 or so years end due to his stubbornness and warmongering attitude. The Israeli people have a Prime Minister who negotiated the release of prisoners, many if not all were in prison for killing Israeli citizens, and now he continues to incite violence by pissing off Palestinians, including those murderers he had released.  Doing stuff that incites violence while peace talks are trying to solve disagreements and violence sounds quite counterproductive, don’t you think?  I am NOT saying that settlements should end expansion permanently, but maybe in good faith they could end until talks end, however they may end.  I’m not being out of line.  I know that people can agree with me (Although, probably not many people that frequent the blogs here at Times of Israel).

In the words of French president Hollande, “If you want peace, you need to have gestures toward peace.”

Ending settlement construction is a gesture toward peace.  I know that the Palestinians have done a lot to Israel, but Israel needs to show good faith that THEY are serious, if they truly are.  I’m pro-peace.  I’m pro Israel.  I don’t wish to be attacked for what I am saying here.

More of Ryan’s blogging, including blogs about his journey into Judaism can be found at his blog “Newb Jew“