Spion: "Tangent's Ha'aretz article was great because, amoong other things, it showed that Israel steals land and is confident because America guarantees that Israel will be able to annex the largest 'Settlements'.": the article , years old already, refers to an advisor and friend of an ex -PM who is now a vegetable. the man in question has NOTHING AT ALL to do with either the current govt. (despite the govt. being led by the political party the ex-PM created) OR its policies.
Even at that time, and in that article, the man conceeeds that Sharon NEVER meant for long term "Settlements." Ariel Sharon was a man who was an excellent tactician and as all are, he was very pragmatic. He realised long ago that there would be yet another Arab State ( to join the 24 now in existence) and that this new state would have to exist on some portion of land apart from Jordan, and Israel Proper.
Ergo, all that was left was Gaza, which geographically is absolutely tiny (albeit incredibly densely populated), and the heartland of the Jewish Homeland, the so called "WB."
The "WB" contains some of the holiest sites to the Jewish Religion as well as sites that are irrevocably tied to Jewish Culture and History. There are also some parts that are extremely valuable in terms of tactical value given the eternal warafe foisted upon Israel by the Arab World.
Yet, at the same time, "Palestine" must exist if Israel is to continue existing. To not conceed this would in the extreme short term lead to the absolute destruction of the Jewish State simply be a demographical shift. If Israel annexed either Gaza and/or the "WB" it would have to of course offer suffrage to the Arab residents. Immediately Israeli-Jews would border on minority status and this in turn, by the simple vote, would lead to the loss of its Zionist character.
The point, and of course I have said this many times, Israel must cede both Gaza and the vast majority of the so called "WB." As a result, your belief in annexing the homes of the nearly 230,000 people who live in the so called "WB" (I do not include the oft quoted statistic of 270,000 because that is based upon inclusion of E. Jerusalem in the data and E. Jerusalem is already annexed territory and thus considered by Israel, to be irrevocably part of any Final Settlement) is naive.
In order to cede viable land (viable in terms of providing contigous bordering land) Israel must make uncomfortable concessions it would otherwise resist making. This includes some of the heaviest Israeli-Jewish concentrations.
As I have stated elsewhere in this Forum, the Kadima Platform (platofrm of Israel's ruling party) calls for a retention of 4 to 6% in terms of the total "WB" land mass. In exchange Israel will cede 4 to 6% of its own land so that there is ZERO loss in overall land.
For full disclosure I have to let people know that when Israel entered current negotiations on this issue (it is being discussed currently) it attempted to retain almost 16% but this is a stock negotiating tactic. You ask for far more than you hope to retain and thus in the end the opposing side will be able to sell a "hard bargain won" to its own demographic. Currently, as of this past Thursday morning (no negotiations take place from Thursday morning until Monday because of reglious concerns. Friday is Juma for Muslims, Jewish Shabbat begins that evening and lasts until Satruday nightfall, Sunday is the Sabbath for Christian Arabs) , Israel was trying to negotiate for slightly more than 10% and offering land in the West Negev District , bordering Gaza but of course despite the newfound love between the PA and HAMAS the PA is still not crazy about having any land gaining Gaza and naturally so.
My own wish? Although it has a very rich Jewish History I would love, if it were ever possible, for the Israeli land offer to come from Galilee. Specifically from the Triangle (a part of Israel Proper almost entirely populated by Israeli-Arabs but very rich in terms of resources including arable land). The problem, other than the issues of contigious concessions, is that 85% of Israeli-Arabs state that they would never wish to live in any "Palestine," but wish to remain Israeli. Heck, even HAMAS Gazan PM Haniyeh has 2 sisters who live in Negev and refuse to even visit Gaza. Israeli-Arabs are VERY smart.
Finally, America does not dictate Israeli policy although it sure wishes it did. to hell with America and if you really want an inside peek, most people are totally unaware but when the US entered its Peace Keeping Deployment in Beirut, and I was there, our men engaged several US Marine Patrols. Noone died in the skirmishes but we did rack a percentage (only in wounds though) without incurring a single scratch.
The media tells you one thing, but the world is far different. America can allow its people, and obviously others, to think what they want them to think and that is fine with Israel as long as it does not conflict directly or indirectly with Israel's Hard Objectives.