Our Friends, the Saudis

The Saudis are once again pushing the Arabist line against Israel, by proposing a resolution condemning Israel for the construction of housing in the West Bank.

When the Saudis initiated a recent meeting with Arab ambassadors and proposed a resolution denouncing an Israeli decision to build hundreds of new housing units in two Jerusalem neighborhoods, some diplomats here raised eyebrows.

The timing, for one, was inconvenient for the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, who is conducting direct negotiations with the Israelis, a Western diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. America traditionally has vetoed similar resolutions, saying they do not help such negotiations, the diplomat noted. "Maybe the Saudis, who are not council members, want to embarrass the Americans."

The US would veto any such resolution.

Never mind that settlements have never been an impediment to peace - you can always transfer housing from one group to another. It's the perceptions involved here, and the Saudis are going to make things more difficult for the Israelis and Americans, who will veto this latest nonsense.

Israel withdrew its settlements from the Sinai in a peace deal with Egypt, and similarly removed Israelis from kibbutzim in Gaza when Israel unilaterally disengaged from Gaza in 2005. The housing was turned over to the Egyptians without any difficulties, even though many Israelis were upset at the time.

Israelis are far more upset over the fact that the forcible removal of Israelis from their Gazan homes, especially since Israel's security situation is actually worse now that they're no longer in Gaza than before 2005. The terrorists now use Gaza as a rocket and mortar launching pad for their ongoing war against Israel. Many use the former Israeli homes and business locations as terror training camps and facilities.

The continued reliance on settlements as an impediment to a comprehensive peace between the Palestinians and Israelis ignores the central problem - the Palestinians do not want peace and a two-state solution. They want all of Israel for their own, and have never offered a credible alternative to any Israeli proposals.