Israel angered by talk of US sanctions

The Israelis have reneged on every promise and treaty so far just about back to 1948 when they were illegally and arbitrarily given dominion over the lands of Palestine.

For them to say that the Palestinian people won't talk is like accusing a mute of silence. If Israel really wants peace in the region, then let Israel stop taking what doesn't belong to them, and give back what they have already taken, and take the walls down.

Take a look at how the Palestinians are forced to live today in the West Bank and Gaza, take a look at the amount of land Israel has snatched...one point is likely to be made, about the amount and extent of land promised by the British, which took in a pretty hefty chunk of the region, maybe Israel feels justified in taking what it can of land promised by people the land didn't belong to.

One thing is certain, if Israel are going to look for a solution, they are more likely to do it if their bankers pull the plug.

Good point stejeb. Since when does the world negotiate with thieves, other than to tell them to return the booty

Here we go again. The last time the Administration made such a threat, Clinton fired  the US Ambassador to Israel. I am not surprised to see Israel respond quickly and with derision on any threat. They know that Congress will never approve, and the Israeli Government is confident that the U.S. media and the majority of Americans will not approve of such a measure.

The White House must now respond to this from the Israeli Government. But that's not likely. US makes threats but doesn't follow through. 

And the last time Hugh posted such a comment it was respondede to with a list of 50 resolutions Israel has ignored, the majority of them 20 years or so older than resolution 181

What good are treaties when legal fictions are held up in the face of obvious realities whenever it's to the benefit of Israel? It's against the law for the US to provide aid to a country possessing nuclear weapons. This makes sense... any country that can afford a nuclear program doesn't need aid! Now it's common knowledge that Israel has over 120 nuclear weapons. Solution? Simply omit acknowledging this fact and so allow America to keep on supplying aid. This is blatantly illegal activity. If Iran has IAEA inspectors, why not Israel? Once again, they are "exceptional" to rules everyone else must follow.

'Bush Sold Arab States Arms in Violation of Deal With Israel'

They are both heirs of Abraham.  There needs to be a two state solution.  Certainly Israel has not lived up to the ideal that Abraham would have wanted, the religious state.  

I think that the modern state of Israel,  with its secularism,  has very little to do with Abraham.  It is simply European Jews forming a Democratic state, and something has to be worked out with their neighbors.  It is not a holy war.  It is a modern,  secular one.  I am thinking of the Israel with its huge "Sex and the City"  billboards,  with its gay bars,  etc.  This is the one we see and know.  With the rabbis protesting it all the time.  They have as much resistance from the orthodox rabbis as they do from the Palestinians.  A British man wrote a book, wondering if the right to the state had not been forfeited.  Something is all afoul there.  They seem at cross purposes even with themselves.  They need to decide what they are , and what it all entails.  

Yes, it is a psychological self-misunderstanding which has grown cruder with each step.  If Israel is based on the Old Testament principles,  then it is at war with itself,  because it has adopted all of the  secular post-modern values.  If it is based on post-modern liberal democratic values,  with all the sex and political correctness and gay pride and hi-technology and fast-food glitz capitalism  -  and we know it is in fact based on this  -  then it would seem that the Palestinians are "too Abraham"  for them.    No wonder the Palestinians are confused.  They have stuck with old classical values, and have been put in the dog house for it.  The orthodox rabbis have more in common with them, than with their secular post-modern Israeli family.  What an historical mess!  

SMK, as far as i know, Israel IS a secular state. I only used the history/Old Testament here, because Sput brought it up.

It would get a lot simpler in the Muddle East, were the Palestinians - and the other Arab, and Muslim, countries - would recognize Israel as a nation, AND abide by UN Resolution 181 - passed in November, 1947. See below for a very abridged portion.

The Security Council determine as a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression, in accordance with Article 39 of the Charter, any attempt to alter by force the settlement envisaged by this resolution;

The Trusteeship Council be informed of the responsibilities envisaged for it in this plan;

Calls upon the inhabitants of Palestine to take such steps as may be necessary on their part to put this plan into effect;

Appeals to all Governments and all peoples to refrain from taking any action which might hamper or delay the carrying out of these recommendations