"GILO IS NOT A SETTLEMENT" (is it not?)

I am pleased and honored to host here a post from the blog of my dear second cousin, the distinguished Avi Galanti. Following is my (inevitable) response.





I was born in Gilo in 1973 and spent most of my childhood there. On weekends we would go to Bethlehem and shop at the main market. It was a relatively peaceful time and for the most part Jews and Arabs got along...

Gilo was taken back by Israel during the Six Day War in 1967. Prior to 1948 Jews were living in Gilo, today a beautiful mountain top neighborhood, located southwest of Jerusalem’s old city. During Israel’s Independence War in 1948 the Egyptians fought hard in that front trying to make advances towards capturing Jerusalem, and although ultimately defeated, Gilo remained under Arab control.

Since 1967 Israel developed Gilo and it is now home to over 60,000 people. Not settlers, just ordinary people, representing Israel’s entire political spectrum. Gilo, unlike the settlements, is home to Left-wing Labor Party and Shalom Achshav (Hebrew for: Peace Now) advocates, as well as right-wing supporters. Gilo is in Israel’s consensus as Kansas City is to Americans.

Gilo is connected to other Jerusalem neighborhoods and is an integral part of the city. The proposed addition of 900 units is on the north side of Gilo, towards other established Jerusalem neighborhoods. That is to say that the addition will not be to the south towards Har-Gilo or Beit-Jalah.

I think Barack Obama’s criticism is misplaced, misguided, and irresponsible. In his remarks Mr. Obama said the approved construction could prove "very dangerous" by fuelling Palestinian anger and harming prospects for peace; in essence fueling anger among Palestinians!!

Israel’s isolation in the world is growing deeper and any chance for reconciliation with the Arab world is quickly diminishing. Obama in his attempt to appease the Muslim world has turned a cold shoulder to Israel and demanded something that was never an issue before - a full stop to all settlement activities, without distinction, as a pre-condition for sitting down and negotiating a peace deal. The Palestinians seized the moment and immediately clenched to this demand. They clearly saw this, and openly declared it, as a momentum against Israel.

Settlements were one of the critical elements discussed during peace negotiations between Mr. Abbas and Mr. Olmert. However, construction for natural growth in the settlements and building in East Jerusalem, were never a reason for halting talks. Thanks to Mr. Obama’s infinite wisdom and worldly diplomatic gravitas, the peace process is all but dead, Mr. Abbas is threatening to leave office shuttering any vague hopes for renewing negotiations, and Palestinians are contemplating launching a third Intifada and declaring statehood unilaterally.

Rather than creating this deadlock by making unrealistic demands, Mr. Obama should have studied the comprehensive and far reaching peace deal Mr. Olmert had offered Mr. Abbas, and focus on having Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu sit and talk peace. Mahmoud Abbas by the way, was too foolish or too scared (or both) to accept the peace offer. He missed an incredible historic opportunity to bring peace to the two people and equally important, to take a brave stand against radicals in the Palestinian camp (Hamas and others) who have no interest in ending the conflict.

Other countries around the world were also quick to jump on the bandwagon and hold Israel’s actions responsible for failing to move the peace process forward. Israel is heavily criticized by its European allies, Russia and neighboring Arab countries like Egypt and Jordan, following the tone coming out of The White House and the U.S. State Department. The interesting thing is, the current Israeli government has done nothing more to aggravate the situation than previous governments (left and right) had done in the past.

Funny world we live in - Iran is deceiving the world and making progress in its pursue of nuclear arms, North Korea has been doing it for years, the world’s economy is still struggling to overcome a deep recession, the war in Afghanistan is a disaster where the most corrupt government on the planet is running the show, the war in Iraq is ongoing, Pakistan, a nuclear power, is fighting growing elements of Taliban forces inside its borders, Lebanon is all but taken over by Hezbollah, China continues to manipulate its currency and do nothing about human rights... and while all this is going on, Mr. Obama, followed by other world leaders, are quick to condemn Israel for approving the construction of a hotel in Jerusalem on land owned by Jews, or 900 units in a neighborhood that is as much Israeli as Tel Aviv is.

Quote of the Month

"I can't relate to Yom Yerushalaim. If it's Yom Yerushalaim in the sense of Occupation, Nationalism, then I'm not into it."

(Nahum Petchnik, a Hasid, a poet, and a settler from the illegal settlement of Sede Boaz, the West Bank)

Quote of the Month

"There is violence in the Zionist-religious community also. Part of this is based on the strong belief in Tzidkat Haderech (the Rightfulness of our Way). If I am right and you are wrong, then I can use violence against you.

The more we distant ourselves from the Exile, we gained self confidence that may lead us to Zeal and Violence."

(Yonatan Basi, an Orthodox Israeli, Director of the Disengagement from Gaza Program)

No more bets, please!...

Following this piece by Miron Benbenisti:
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArtPE.jhtml?itemNo=703242&contrassID=2&subContrassID=3&sbSubContrassID=0

I had a bet with my friend Amir Shahal:

(Amir:)
Here is a suggested bet:
At least 7,000 will be evacuated by Ulmert until 2010.
The loser will buy dinner for two.

so I took the challenge:

I will buy 1 dinner per every 10,000 of "our brothers" who are brought back home by 2010.
Plus, I will eat:
a Liberal-Orthodox yarmulke, for 7,000
a Kipa Sruga for 10,000
a Braslav yarmulka for 20,000
a baseball hat for 30,000
a ski helmet for 70,000.

As I said, I am an optimist. I think that by 2010, we will all eat SHIT.
(A pessimist is one who doesn't believe that there will be enough shit for everyone).