Suleiman: Israel's Approval of New Settlements Reveals its Rejection of Peace Efforts
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman slammed on Friday Israel's decision to construct 2,600 new settlements in the West Bank.
He said: “The decision reveals the enemy's rejection of international efforts to reach peace in the region.”
He called on the international community, particularly influential countries starting with the United States, to pressure Israel to retract its decision, which has garnered international condemnation.
“Israel should be persuaded to return to the peace process based on the 1991 Madrid conference and the 2002 Beirut peace plan,” stressed Suleiman.
Israel approved on Thursday plans to build 523 homes in the West Bank in the first step towards a new settlement "city" that drew furious Palestinian condemnation.
The new plans emerged during a week in which Israel has advanced the building of thousands of new settlement homes in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, sparking widespread condemnation.
On Thursday, an Interior Ministry committee met to consider an application to build around 1,000 new units in the southern east Jerusalem settlement neighborhood of Gilo.
Critics say that planned Israeli building north, south and east of Jerusalem is meant to drive a wedge into Palestinian territory and stifle the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
On Wednesday, Israel moved forward plans for 3,658 new settler homes, mostly in annexed east Jerusalem.
The announcements came just two days after the approval of another 1,500 homes in east Jerusalem prompted Washington to denounce Israel for its "pattern of provocative action."
The United Nations and all the Security Council members except the United States on Wednesday condemned the settlement moves, with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warning that Israel was on a "dangerous path."
21 December 2012, 16:03
23
Israel is a cancer for the region, Hezbollah is a cancer for th Lebanese society. I'm more concerned about my neighbour (literally) than the neighbour on the southern border.
21 December 2012, 16:04
00
Who would have thought? Thank you Mr. President for bringing this revelation to our attention. Why can't we all be such geniuses?
21 December 2012, 16:43
13
Mr President, We would prefer if you focused on Lebanon, and not get distracted by other agendas. We are more scared from Hezb and their extremist agendas than from Israel.
Lebanon isn't going to solve the Palestinian problem, nor are they going to make a dent into Israel's security. This is an imaginary problem exploited by Hezb. Ok, Hezb fought in the South, now they have been shoving this down our throats for the past 15 years, and recently in 2006, just to justify their existence. Israel has no beef in Lebanon and will never invade Lebanon, as long as we leave them alone.
WE DON'T CARE WHAT ISRAEL DOES. WE CARE MORE ABOUT WHAT HEZB IS BECOMING.
21 December 2012, 18:12
11
LebDinosaur, maybe in dinosaur time we didn't care what Israel does, but in this century, the whole world is affect with what Israel does.
23 December 2012, 06:41
00
You have to know how to deal with them instead of saying things that don't make sense.
21 December 2012, 18:51
00
"Israel's Approval of New Settlements Reveals its Rejection of Peace Efforts"
When exactly did President Suleiman make a peace approach to Israel ?
Don't blame others if you are not willing to do the thing yourself.
22 December 2012, 08:34
00
So if Lebanon doesn't want peace with Israel, why is he sticking his nose into other people's affairs.
As the leader of a respected Arab State, he should show an example and thereafter say, "take my example and you do the same".
21 December 2012, 23:06
10
Good discovery Mr President ,how did it take you to figure this one out.The Jews dont want peace at all .
22 December 2012, 12:30
10
Yes ofcourse now it seems that whatever Israel does can effect the whole world, especially the middle east. And yes Israel is a great cancer for the middle east as HB is a cancer for lebanon.Together they are an explosive mix that can ignite another confrontation like in 2006, and thats the last thing that lebanon needs.If there's anyone to stop them and put pressure on the Israelis it has to be the USA to do it in a diplomatic way but I can't see them doing that as most support the Israeli cause...and we're running out of ideas and solutions.....
