How Many Homes, Mr. Toner?

An excerpt from the Press Statement of Mark C. Toner, spokesperson of the US State Department, October 5, 2016: -

We strongly condemn the Israeli government's recent decision to advance a plan that would create a significant new settlement deep in the West Bank.

Proceeding with this new settlement, which could include up to 300 units, would further damage the prospects for a two state solution. The retroactive authorization of nearby illegal outposts, or redrawing of local settlement boundaries, does not change the fact that this approval contradicts previous public statements by the Government of Israel that it had no intention of creating new settlements. And this settlement's location deep in the West Bank, far closer to Jordan than Israel, would link a string of outposts that effectively divide the West Bank and make the possibility of a viable Palestinian state more remote.

300 units?

Hmm.

These 300?

Israel gave final approval on Wednesday for plans to build 300 new homes in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, announcing the move as it carried out a court demolition order against two vacant apartment blocks in the same enclave.

Oh, sorry, that was in late July 2015 at Bet El.

These 300?

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz...gave approval for the construction of 300 new homes for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. The construction was planned for Maale Adumim, the largest Israeli settlement in the West Bank, and further expansion was anticipated for the smaller settlements of Nokdim and Bracha. 

No.  That was back in December 2005. Eleven years ago.

These 300?

Moves jeopardise any hope of peace talks, say Palestinians.  Israel to build 300 new settlement homes in West Bank

Nope. That was in May 2013.

These 450 perhaps?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the marketing of land for the construction of 454 homes in two settlements

No.  That was last November in Jerusalem.

Maybe it was this announcement of "hundreds" in early July 2016?

The Israeli government has approved the construction of hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements and neighborhoods in the eastern part of Jerusalem, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed to CNN.Of those settlements, 560 will be built in Ma'ale Adumim, which is already one of the largest settlements in the West Bank.Another 240 will be built in Jerusalem in neighborhoods that Israel says are Jewish but Palestinians claim as the future capital of a Palestinian state in the eastern part of the city.

These 300?

Israel has authorised construction of 300 new homes at a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank,

No, that was at Talmon in June 2009.

Oh, by the way, did you know there's this address in Lafayette, Louisiana

300 Old Settlement Rd,

Lafayette, LA 

Is the State Department being wagged by Peace Now, who claims it is all near me?

Or maybe Netanyahu is making the same announcement of approval year-in, year-out?


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Caught this twitter tweeting:

But it's not settlements. It is an idea about moving a settlement that the people in question have rejected.

Worse: Not homes. Possible plans about homes likely to not be realized, for years if ever.

But here there is condemnation of building that has high chance of never happening, and not about new settlers, but moving old ones.

And also this:

missing #Obama renouncing #Bush-#Sharon 2004 deal.

And now, this:

'We're not building a new settlement'
The Foreign Ministry responded to the American attacks on building in Judea and Samaria earlier.

 "98 units in Shilo do not constitute 'a new settlement.' The units will be built on state land within the confines of the existing community of Shilo. They are meant to solve a housing problem for the residents of Amona who were forced to leave their homes in accordance with a demolition order by the Supreme Court," the Ministry said.
The Ministry also emphasized: "Israel is still obligated to the Two-State solution, in which a proclaimed Palestinian State recognizes Israel as the Jewish State. The real obstacle to peace is not the settlements, but the continual Palestinian rejection of Israel's existence."

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Today's comeback:

Verbal clashes between Israel and the U.S. over resettlement plans of the illegal outpost of Amona escalated Wednesday evening, after a Foreign Ministry statement rejected American criticism and claimed that the construction plans approved last week do not constitute the creation of a new settlement."The settlements are not the obstacle to peace," said the Foreign Ministry statement.The Prime Minister's Office did not issue an official response, but Haaretz has learned that the Foreign Ministry statement was worded and approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers alongside Foreign Ministry staff.The 98 housing units approved in Shilo do not constitute a "new settlement," read the statement. "This housing will be built on state land in the existing settlement of Shilo and will not change its municipal boundary or geographic footprint. The units are intended to provide a housing solution for the residents of Amona who must leave their homes in accordance with the demolition order issued by Israel's High Court of Justice."The Israeli Foreign Ministry statement added that Israel remains committed to the two-state solution, "in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes the Jewish state of Israel.""The real obstacle to peace is not the settlements – a final status issue that can and must be resolved in negotiations between the parties - but the persistent Palestinian rejection of a Jewish state in any boundaries," said the statement.

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