Israel names 26 Palestinian prisoners for release

cenydd
Reporter

Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

Israel names 26 Palestinian prisoners for release Aug 12, 2013 9:07:15 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Aug 12, 2013 9:07:15 GMT

Israel's government has given details of 26 long-term Palestinian prisoners to be freed as part of a deal which will see peace talks resume next week.

A list of names chosen by a ministerial committee was published overnight.

The prisoners will be freed on Tuesday. The delay allows time for last-minute legal challenges by victims' families.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23662160

That seems like a positive step in demonstrating a willingness to proceed positively, however (from the same article):

The announcement came after Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to sabotage the peace talks by approving nearly 1,200 new settlement homes.

An Israeli government spokesman dismissed the criticism, saying every peace initiative so far had proposed that the settlements in question become Israeli territory.

The Palestinians have previously agreed in principle to minor land swaps.

Perhaps not showing such a positive attitude - even if these are on lands that are to be swapped, that will form part of a wider deal that hasn't yet been done, so it would seem like jumping the gun to approve them now (not to mention being somewhat provocative at just the time when that is the last thing anybody should be trying to be).

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

ShivaTD
Essayist

Posts: 2,969

Politics: Libertarian

Israel names 26 Palestinian prisoners for release Aug 12, 2013 12:37:09 GMT

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Post by ShivaTD on Aug 12, 2013 12:37:09 GMT

This is countered by the fact that Israel just authorized 1,200 new apartment units in the territories it's illegally occupying in Palestine.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's housing minister on Sunday gave final approval for building nearly 1,200 new settlement apartments on lands the Palestinians want for their state, just three days before U.S.-sponsored talks on the borders of such a state are to begin in Jerusalem.

news.yahoo.com/israel-approves-nearly-1-200-settlement-homes-101832662.html

The Israeli settlement of the territories in occupied in 1967 is in direct violation of international law as established by Article 49 of the Geneva Conventions.

The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.

israelipalestinian.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=933

You give a pothead marijuana with nothing to smoke out of and suddenly they become engineers.

JP5
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Posts: 713

Israel names 26 Palestinian prisoners for release Aug 19, 2013 22:31:25 GMT

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Post by JP5 on Aug 19, 2013 22:31:25 GMT

The Palestinians "want" for their state?

How many decades have we been hearing that? And yet, they never make a move towards building anything positive or building any kind of a state. All they want to do is to get as close to Israel as possible so they can shell them continually from a much closer distance. How is it that Israel can build a wonderful state, with universities, cultural places, a good strong government, and a place that tourists want to visit..... and the Palestinians cannot seem to do it?

"If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health-care plan, you'll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what." Pres. Barack Obama 2009

ShivaTD
Essayist

Posts: 2,969

Politics: Libertarian

Israel names 26 Palestinian prisoners for release Aug 28, 2013 12:45:45 GMT

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Post by ShivaTD on Aug 28, 2013 12:45:45 GMT

Aug 19, 2013 22:31:25 GMT JP5 said:

The Palestinians "want" for their state?

How many decades have we been hearing that? And yet, they never make a move towards building anything positive or building any kind of a state. All they want to do is to get as close to Israel as possible so they can shell them continually from a much closer distance. How is it that Israel can build a wonderful state, with universities, cultural places, a good strong government, and a place that tourists want to visit..... and the Palestinians cannot seem to do it?

How is it that Israel can disregard UN Security Council Resolutions and International Law with impunity?

You give a pothead marijuana with nothing to smoke out of and suddenly they become engineers.