'There is no damned freeze!'

Now that statement is not what Netanyahu would ever say publicly, lest he give away the ruse behind his settlement freeze. But it is likely just what he would like to tell the disgruntled West Bank settlers now protesting on his doorstep.

When this BBC article appeared today, Jewish settlers in West Bank building curb protest, it was astonishing to learn that Israel's biggest non-secret is not even known by its own people, at least not the settlers colonizing the West Bank.

In Jerusalem today, thousands of Jewish settlers and their supporters staged a rally in protest of the alleged curb on settlement building in the West Bank. It was reported that demonstrators gathered outside the residence of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in response to his announcement of a 10-month pause in permits for new settlement homes in the West Bank. This pause did not apply to East Jerusalem.

When one reads into the article, however, one wonders just what purpose this demonstration could possibly achieve, as there is no settlement freeze. But for some reason the settlers don't get it.

Quoting parts of the same BBC article:

...Israeli anti-settlement movement Peace Now says more homes are under construction per inhabitant in the West Bank than inside Israel despite the recent curbs.

The group said 1,167 homes were being built for every 100,000 West Bank settlers, compared to just 836 for the same number of Israeli residents.

....on the basis of the official figures, Peace Now said "the settler's claims of discrimination and attempts to 'dry out' the settlements have no basis in reality. Even during the freeze a larger number of housing units than the national average will be built in the occupied territories," it said.

Israeli politicians and media have been referring to the restrictions as a "freeze", although Palestinians say they are far from the total building halt, including in East Jerusalem, that they have demanded.

Well, it seems that Netayahu's strategy to have it both ways is failing, and it is failing because the lie is so believable even Israelis have been taken in.

Settler folks, there is no freeze.

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