Israel's real face is exposed to the world by its brazen defiance of international opinion on the issue of new settlements on the Palestinian lands, particularly in Al-Quds (east Jerusalem). Israel had occupied many Arab and Palestinian lands in 1967 war and there has been a tacit understanding that in any peace accord with Palestinians and Arab states it would have to vacate all territories occupied in 1967 war and withdraw to the pre-war borders. Al-Quds or east Jerusalem also falls under that category. It is the Palestinian part of the sacred city and the Palestinians are determined to make it the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The United States, the main supporter of Israel and also virtually the principal arbiter in the proposed negotiated settlement between Arab states and Israel, also supports the Arab demand with regards to the Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem. But in total disregard to all understanding and appeals of various countries and civil society organizations, Israel has been going ahead with construction of new settlements in east Jerusalem, at the same time declaring that the entire Jerusalem is its capital.

There could be no greater affront to the Palestinians and the Arabs, nay the entire Muslim world, than Israel's insistence to practically annex Al-Quds (east Jerusalem) by building settlement blocks one after the other without the slightest consideration for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. Only recently it announced construction of 1600 new apartments in the area. In an open reassertion of its claim to the entire city, Israel announced the new construction project when the US Vice President Joe Biden was visiting there, a deliberate act to tell the Americans in no uncertain terms that it does not care what anybody says, even including the US.

While the US had put the condition of stoppage of new constructions to create the right atmosphere for the talks, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on carrying on the construction of more apartments. In an open defiance of the world opinion Israel threatens to withdraw its commitment for talks if it is compelled to stop the construction. Israel is actually using this issue to blackmail the Quartet from forcing it to vacate the occupied Arab and Palestinian lands.

The very act of allowing new constructions indicates that it has no intention of vacating east Jerusalem or any part thereof. It may be mentioned that new constructions are also going on in Arab neighborhoods in a deliberate act of rejection of Arab claims to the city.

The role of the US is, unfortunately, of willful acquiescence to Israel in disregard to the rights and sentiments of the Arabs and Muslims. It has not gone beyond statements on the settlements issue. Had the US shown any real concern by stopping diplomatic support of Israel and cutting down even part of the huge economic and military aid it gives to Israel, the issue could have been solved long ago. But the US attitude has made Netanyahu so bold that he announced during his visit to Washington that construction of new settlements would not be stopped.

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