In historic first, Israel legalizes West Bank outposts with sweeping new legislation

[geek tragedy]

The annexation of the West Bank just got turbocharged.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-historic-first-israel-legalizes-west-bank-outposts-with-sweeping-new-legislation/

Following months of coalition wrangling, damning criticism from internal and international opposition, and bleak warnings from legal experts, Israel on Monday legalized all West Bank outposts with sweeping legislation that aims to prevent future demolitions of settler homes built on private Palestinian land.

In a late-night session, the Knesset passed the final readings of the controversial so-called Regulation Bill, which paves the way for Israel to recognize some 4,000 illegally built settler homes.

Barack Obama is the last US President to support a two-state solution. The debate going forward will be between apartheid and a bi-national state.

History has shown us how that debate ends.

[geek tragedy]

2. The mindset is that their god promised the land

to their tribe.

Not much to negotiate when people with that mindset have all the power and their counterparts have none. The laws of humankind are of no consequence in this dispute.

[oberliner]

3. A den of thieves?

Interesting choice of wording.

[Israeli]

4. You don't think the settlers are ...

...thieves ?

https://972mag.com/israels-land-theft-law-is-just-the-tip-of-the-settlement-iceberg/125071/

What's the problem with the wording ???

"den" ???.....I don't get it 😡

[oberliner]

5. Have you ever read the New Testament?

Maybe you aren't familiar with the reference and the context.

Check out Matthew 21.

[Israeli]

6. No ...I have not

.....and as an Israeli aetheist at age 66 I'm not about to start now on your say so .
Why don't you explain in your own words ??
BTW ..you did not answer my question .
With or without the word "den" do you consider the settlers to be thieves or not ???

[oberliner]

7. That makes sense

It is a pretty famous quote from the NT. It's a phrase that anyone familiar with the NT would be familiar with. Maybe just read a summary of Matthew to get the context.

Do I consider the settlers to be thieves? I would say some of them are.

Do you consider Americans to be thieves?

[Israeli]

9. I consider America's ancestors to be thieves ...

......just as I considers my ancestors to be thieves ...the land I sit on today was stolen from the Palestinians just as you stole it from the indegenious population way back when .
Does it make all Americans /Israelies living today responsible for the sins of their forefathers ???
I say no ...but .."some settlers " ...!!!
Which settlers are you passing on ?those that crossed the Green Line for economic reasons ???
Those the gov gives incentives to ?
Or those that are as familiar with the NT as you are ?

[oberliner]

10. Do you make a distinction among the settlers?

What I mean is, do you distinguish in any way between:

1. Those who form their own outposts

2. Those who move into existing settlements deep inside the West Bank

3. Those who live in East Jerusalem

Also, do you distinguish at all between those who harass Palestinians and those who have a more harmonious relationship with them?

[Israeli]

15. Sure I do .....

.....but the definition of "settler" to us on the Left is anyone who lives over The Green Line .

Ref : http://www.haaretz.com/st/c/prod/eng/2015/greenLine/

[oberliner]

16. Do you consider Jews living inside the Green Line to be thieves?

After all, that was once Palestinian land too, wasn't it?

[Israeli]

17. My post #9 ....

.....wasn't enough for you ???

I consider all of us living within The Green Line as Israelis ......you forget that I am a post Zionist oberliner.
I don't differentiate between religion or race ....your either an Israeli or not .
That's the problem with you American Jews ...you see us as a reflection of yourselves ...we are nothing like you .

[oberliner]

18. It was just a question

No need to get personal.

[Israeli]

19. Wasnt being personal .....

.....I see right thru your questions oberliner......and the insinuations behind them

[LanternWaste]

20. More accurately, it was just a question which consistently moved the goalposts on its own.

" It was just a question..."

More accurately, it was just a question which consistently moved the goalposts on its own.

[oberliner]

21. Maybe so

I honestly just meant to get clarity on who the thieves are - is it just the settlers or is it Israelis in general?

[oberliner]

11. Really?

Where had you come across that phrase before?

[oberliner]

13. I guess I sometimes forget how unfamiliar people are with the Bible

And that not everyone recognizes how many common phrases originated there.

When discussing Israel, Biblical allusions are used quite frequently (and deliberately) by people on all sides.