A simple war of words. Netanyahu knows that Jerusalem is different than Paris, and Issa knows that buying / building an apartment in a neighborhood doesn't consitute ethinc cleansing. Both sides grossly manipulate facts through word choice. It's terribly dishonest and ignores the fundmental worries for each side.

I am surprised at MSNBC for writing such a one-sided article.  Where does anyone get the notion that the Israelis are engaging in ethnic cleansing.  Are they killing the people in East Jerusalem?  Are they sending them to extermination camps?  I think not and if not, this is not ethnic cleansing.  Unless you show more fairness, I will stop visiting your site and watching your station.

Keep in mind, Israel was attacked in 1948, beofr ethe war jews lived in jerusalem for thousand of years until the arabs kicked them out in 1948.  The partition was to leave jerusalem as in international city with parts of the west bank and other areas to be a palistinan state.  The arabs chose not to accept this and they attacked.   In 1967 Israel attacked Egypt only to avert an immenent attack.  After begging and pleading the King of Jordan NOT to join the fight, he did anyway.  Israel defended herself and took the rest of jerusalem.  It is now there's.  ANy land the Isreali's acquire in east jerusalem is through LEGAL purchases ONLY.  If the arabs dont wants Jews to live there, DONT SELL them the land.  But they do sell and the jews buy.  WHAT right does anyone have to tell them not to buy land in their OWN country, disputed or not! The world is nuts.  

Keep in mind, Israel was attacked in 1948, beofr ethe war jews lived in jerusalem for thousand of years until the arabs kicked them out in 1948.  The partition was to leave jerusalem as in international city with parts of the west bank and other areas to be a palistinan state.  The arabs chose not to accept this and they attacked.   In 1967 Israel attacked Egypt only to avert an immenent attack.  After begging and pleading the King of Jordan NOT to join the fight, he did anyway.  Israel defended herself and took the rest of jerusalem.  It is now there's.  ANy land the Isreali's acquire in east jerusalem is through LEGAL purchases ONLY.  If the arabs dont wants Jews to live there, DONT SELL them the land.  But they do sell and the jews buy.  WHAT right does anyone have to tell them not to buy land in their OWN country, disputed or not! The world is nuts.  

Benjamin Netanyahu is setting Israel on a path to self-distruction.  A very sad state of affairs.

Israel has become what it always hated N@zi Germany. it talks about peace but it does not want peace.  One day, they will gaz all palestenians. they already established concentration camp in Gaza and they are killing them slowly and steadily.  
 

Obame needs to hold Israel accountable!  Our support for Israel is the reason we were attacked on 9/11.  When you look at how Israel behaves, they say one thing with their fingers crossed behind their backs, and do another.  Its no wonder more and more people are questioning Isreal's legitimacy.
After what happened to them by the Nazi's, you would think they would have more compassion, but instead only have GREED.

Just waiting for the hate and venom of how Netanyahu is somehow right the the ENTIRE WORLD must be wrong.

President Obama is sweet and gentle with our mortal enemies, but rough on our friends.  A lot of time and energy has been spent on battering Israel into surrendering land.  But precious little of either is
spent on preventing the mullahs in Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in order to incinerate Israel and to threaten the West.
The Obama administration is saying that segregation is permissible when it's for denying Jews the right to build on land they own in their own country.  Make no mistake, all this noise is not about creating a 22nd Arab/ Moslem dominated country, but this is all about destroying the only Jewish state. The Obama administration has taken a page from Mein Kampf and
wants to make the Middle East, Judenrein.
Hopefully the decent people of America will stand up to the bigots in the Obama administration and say no to their plans for sacrificing our faithful, democratic ally, Israel.

I am not in favor of the Jerusalem land grab; however, the term ethnic cleansing is not very accurate.  Is anyone in East Jerusalem being killed for his/her land?

Since the Israeli government has blocked any attempts to evict Arab squatters who moved into  Jewish- owned properties after the 1948 war, after the Jews in the Jordanian held areas of Jerusalem had to flee, this article seems a bit one-sided.  
But then, when doesn't it?

The key words of distortion by Mrs.Issa that Jews TAKING land from Arabs, but the truth is they are BUYING land from Arabs. If somebody sold me property than I entitled to live there.

Throughout recorded history, Jerusalem has been the capital of only one nation--Israel.  It is beyond preposterous for our government to be telling Israelis that their people cannot build homes in parts of Jerusalem, because some other people may want to claim part of Jerusalem as their capital in the future.  Even if Israel made the tragic error of dividing the Holy City, which those of us who believe in the Bible believe was given by the Lord to the people of Israel, what would be wrong with having some Jews living in the part of the city that may at some point be handed over to the Palestinians.  The Jews currently allow Arab Palestinians with Israeli citizenship to live anywhere in Israel (including Jerusalem) that they want.  Why is it so crucial for the Arabs (and Mr. Obama) to keep Jews completely out of what might become Palestinian territory in the future? Sounds like racism to me.

Ethnic clensing my a**!! The Palestinians do not need any part of Jerusalem to be able to form a contiguous state.  I do believe the settlements throughout the West Bank are a major problem, but as to Jerusalem, never again shall it be divided!!

Buying property with legal currency and building homes is ethnic cleansing?  I don't doubt the newsworthiness of this article, but just repeating disgusting tropes like that is shameful.  Please try and present more to a story next time.

This all sounds very fair and correct for the oppressed. Where was this same dedication to humanity and provisions for human rights in 1939?when a whole cilvilization was torn apart in Europe.You give in equal value to what you have recieved.There must be some major bending on the part of the Arab world to accomodate the historical populace of the geography in contention.Move over and let us live.

Not sure I understand the argument here. If it's an issue that defeats any existing forced segregation of Israelis and Palestinians by geography, then I'm likely for it. I think Israelis should be allowed to live anywhere in Jerusalem. Recripocally, I also believe that Palestinians should be allowed to live anywhere in Jerusalem. Forced Segregation never works, US history proves that over and over again. I suspect the issue is basically that the Palestenians can't afford to argue the matter in terms of building housing or establishing representation in the Israeli government.  The issue is likely even more complex than that and this article simply fails to cover the relevant points.

The only problem I've with this Palistine arguement
is that once nationality becomes a justification,there
will be no settling of terms.Rock hard positions only
become more so!

Until Israel abides by UN Resolution 242, which is to withdraw from all territory occupied (including East Jerusalem)during the 1967 war, the United States should withold all financial aid.

Why does Netanyahu's position that Jews be able to live in East Jerusalem, complicate the peace process any more than the Palestinian's position that there can be no peace agreement unless it receives East Jerusalem devoid of Jews? Netanyahu did not rule out the possibility that the Palestinian's receive control of East Jerusalem in a peace accord, just that Jews should be able to live there -- on land legitimately purchased from the previous Arab owners, the same as tens of thousands of Palestinians live in West Jerusalem, and other parts of pre-67 Israel.

Sad no one cares about these people being slaughtered and displaced like a plague. It reminds us of what happens when you dont have science, money and power.

I like how she freely uses words like "attack", "ethic cleansing" and "settlers".   When I buy a house or land in America, I am not "settling" it.  The land of Israel belongs to the Jews (and, for that matter, much more than they currently have).  It is not the "West Bank", but rather the "East Bank".  I did like the quote about fighting the wind, since her "arguments" carry as much weight as the wind.  

Lastly, who is the "international community"?  Do you mean Arabic lands?  I'm a member of the international community and I don't see their houses as obstacles or settlements?  Also, if your "internation community" decides to try to take away my home, it won't make it more just in its cause.  

One more thing.  Why is this filed under Tel Aviv, Israel?  All the other "categories" have a country preceeded by its capital.  Tel Aviv is NOT the capital of Israel.  Jerusalem IS the capital of Israel.  For correctness, you should change the listing to "Filed Under: Jerusalem, Israel" (or "Yerushalayim, Eretz Yisrael").

A rather one sided view point and as expected on MSNBC one that back up the administration. How can the Pals make the claim to that land when Israel has rights there. It is the center of life and govt in the state. Would the US all of sudden allow Native Indians to divide DC or is NYC an illegal settlement that needs to be given back. The difference is even more stark when you consider that East Jlem was part of a greater war going on at the time. There never was a Palestine or a Palestininian people, they were from Jordan, Egypt and Syria.. They started a war and lost.. simple. If you told arabs, jews, blacks, asians etc that they couldnt build a building in NYC would that be acceptable?

Who cares where the Jews build!  The problem is where the Isreali Arabs are NOT allowed to build.  They might as well be black in Alabama in 1950. They can't move where they want, they can't build on their own land or even visit their families 5 miles away in the territories.  Israel is doing a pretty effective job of making them miserable enough to immigrate, providing a solution to this problem of the "wrong" ethnic/religious group wanting rights in holy Israel.  Palestinians do yourself a favor and move to the US where you will be respected for the work you do instead of pigion-holed in a ghetto for lack of proper DNA.

The Muslims will never give up against the oppressive Zionist occupiers.

Its time for a regime change in israel, lets bomb the hell out of them as they have weapons of mass destruction and are a facist state with no control, in fact they should be tried for war crimes, they are the real terrorists and their elimination would improve the world situation. Its about time that their tentacles of oppression and control of the U.S should come to an end

1940s Germany, 1990s Yoguslavia..

Both examples of ethnic cleansing that ultimately were stopped.  The question is:  when will the US and the world overcome their fear of Israel and put a stop to its brutal racism?  Zionism is a very very dangerous concept when applied literally because it justifies horrific actions against an innocent race of people.

why is it even a question that Israelis can live in Israel?  Anti-Israel propoganda is stirring up a controversy from nothing.  Jews not living in Jerusalem?  Come on! Why was Israel made a nation in 1948?  Because it belonged to the Jews.  Now the ones who took it from the Jews are tryingto take it again.

It seems ironic that the more the Israelis are determined to absorb territory that could be used for a Palestinian state, the more likely they make it that the creation of a single arab-jewish state will be the only way to resolve the conflict in the long term.  

I think it's discusting what Isreal is doing to these helpless and poor people of Philistine. But God is very just and he will punish these Isrealies just like he has done through out the history for their sins greed and manipulation.And now for over half a century killing innocent civilians.

I don't believe the right wing Israeli's are any better than the right wing Americans.  They don't really want peace, they just want to war monger!

I am a supporter of Israel and absolutley support it's right to live peacefully in the 1967 borders al beit with some minor changes to enhance Israel's security.
But when Israel wants to annex whole of Jerusalem; I am saddened becuase Israelies should know better than any other people that now they have become oppressors. The most persecuted people in the history of mankind have now become oppressors and the history is replete with oprression which never lasts.
I pray and hope that the Israeli people will see the justice and knowing how strong they are will do the right thing.
May peace prevail in the land of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Present Government in Israel is very wrong in thinking they can subjugate Palestenians through their intrangient and arrogant policies. They are sitting on a smoldering volcano of Palestenian anger. Earlier they come to their senses better it is to the region & to the world.

Someone bought an old hotel and wants to build new housing.  That happens everywhere in the world.  The article didn't mention Netanyahu's comments that Arabs can buy homes in Jerusalem as well.  What's the problem?  This is a non-issue.  Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.  If the Palestinians really wanted a state instead of an excuse for failure they would have had one.   Building of 20 housing units on land that was bought by a private individual is not an obstacle to peace.  Is Obama suggesting that you have to show your ethnicity go get a building permit or to purchase property?  If so, then he should say so.

Last I checked Jerusalem was capital of Israel, and USA (i.e Obama) feels the need to dictate how another country should use their land. That is rediculous

I recently returned from an extensive political tour of the Middle East sponsored by the Council for the National Interest.  We traveled extensively throughout the occupied areas of the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza and met with numerous parties on both sides of the issue, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
What Israel is doing is disgraceful and disgusting.  It is the antithesis of every American value I have ever been taught (yes, including "democracy.") It is unconscionable for the US to be sending that country $3 billion in foreign aid every year with no questions asked; in fact it is unconscionable to be sending them the money at all.

I also spent over one year of my life in South Africa during the height of apartheid.  I can tell you beyond any doubt that "Israel gives apartheid a bad name."  In discussing Israel, Americans should get used to such terms as ethnic cleansing, racism bogotry, genocide and apartheid - they all apply.  We should get equally familiar with sanctions, boycotts, and international condemnation because that is the only way this will be solved.  After meeting with Knesset officials, I can assure you beyond any doubt if left solely to its own devices, Israel will never stop building settlements.  In fact, we were told by the same government folks that during the last 40 years there has not been a single day when settlement activity did not occur.

I have traveled to a more than 50 countries in my life time and there have been occasions when I was embarrassed to be an American.  But, I was never a shamed until this trip. It is time for a detailed to stop wagging the dog.  Why does the US spend countless billions on defense only to subjugate its foreign policy in one third of the world to Israel.  Again, there will be no peace unless the world community forces it on Israel.  It's time to get tough. Let's get over the AIPAC perpetuated myth that Israel is a saintly little democracy stuck in a bad neighborhood.  It is a tyrant and should be treated as such.

James McLoughlin, New York

I can't believe Israel is allowed to totally disregard any orders from the United Nations, when other countries are put under strict sanctions or invaded. Why?

This is the idea of Israel thumbing the realities of a peace  that will never be achieved unless something drastic happens to the state of Israel like a world boycott of its harbours no goods going out or coming in then they will find out is happening to the Palistinians.Control their life lines.

Well done, Mr. Netanyahu! Ethnic cleansing of Jews seems to have been accepted as a fact of life in most Arab countries. Just try getting a visa for a visit to Saudi Arabia with a last name like Cohen or with an Israeli passport, let alone buying a home there. It is high time that an Israeli government defends the right of Jews to live in their own land. The world seems more worried about Jews building homes than about Iranians building atomic bombs. This insanity must stop!

The God of Abraham, Issac, and Joseph gave Jerusalem (and Israel) to Isrealites FOREVER.  They do not have to "share" it any more than the USA has to share New York City!

I feel so bad for the Palestinians in Jerusalem. At least those in the West Bank stand a chance, but it has been clear for a while that the Zionist regime isn't going to let go of East Jerusalem unless someone pries it from their cold, dead hands. America should evacuate those poor people before Israel murders them.

I'm not in favor of limiting Jewish rights anywhere, let alone in their own homeland.

Sure, divide Jerusalem as soon as we divide Washington DC and give half to the native Americans.

I'm not in favor of limiting Jewish rights anywhere, especiallly in their own homeland!

The only reason that Israelis continue to take more and more land from the Arabs is that we, the Americans, support them.  Just as the founders of this country, the early "settlers" in North America, simply took land from the natives and then expanded their holdings, even today we as a nation feel sympathy for the taker and not the victim.  

There are all kinds of reasons that are relied on for us to refuse to interfere with this massive land theft by the Jews from the Arabs.  Examples:  (1) If the Arabs in the neigboring countries really cared for the Palestinians they would take them in and the problem would vanish.  (2) The Palestinians brought it on themselves, by not negotiating with the Israelis pursuant to various U.N. resolutions (never mind that Israel has never respected any U.N. resolutions).  (3) We are a Judeo-Christian nation, and the Bible tells us that Christ will come back to save true believers after Armageddon, so we have to back the Jews no matter what the equities are else we will piss off God.  (4) We owe it to the Jews because we did not do right by them when Hitler was on his rampage - we have to let them alone now that they finally have their promised land.  

I am not  saying that these are the reasons we officially admit to, but this kind of pathetic bias (without love) in favor of the Jews has contaminated the way we Americans have looked at the Middle East and in how we have always unthinkingly favored Israel.  

Just look at how Resident Dumbush took us along on his excellent adventure in Iraq by persuading even John Kerry to go along because we were willing to believe that Saddam Hussein had "weapons of mass destruction".  So now even Bobama keeps on talking about how dangerous the Irani nuclear weapons threst is to us here in the U.S.  Meanwhile, everybody "knows" that the Israelis have nuclear weapons that they built with help from their American sympathizers.  Hey, but that is our friends we are talking about.  They don't wear rags on their heads.  Yarmukles are totally different, don't you know.

Come on people, lets us try to be fair.  Stop demanding that Hamas lay down its arms before the Israelis agree to talk about how little land they will let the Palestinians have.  After all, isn't it ehough that we cheated the native Americans out or their continent?  Oops, I forgot, we did give them reservations in far away places.  

    Unless Jews in American unite to stop Israel's ethnic cleansing it may be the nation of Israel that will end up being cleansed.

why does some leaders think that they have the right to tell israel what to do.that is israels land,so to the world,button up your lip.it,s none of your business what israel, does,,,,,ok...

Jerusalem belongs to Israel and that will always be the case.

I'm not getting this.  Are Netanyahu and others supporting a new project where non-Jews need not apply?  No Christians, Muslims, Agnostics allowed?  And to do this they take homes and land from native Palestinians?  Cannot imagine anyone defending this practice, on any level!  

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