Reply #25: Unsurprisingly given their respective track records, Abrams is wrong and Carter is right. [View All]

Carter is right that a total freeze of settlement expansion is vital for a peace settlement - or, to be precise, that continuing to expand the settlements is a way for the Israeli government to send a message to the world that they are not interested in such a settlement.

A halt to terrorism will come as part of a peace settlement. Building of Palestinian institutions will not be possible until afterwards - the Israeli government has explicitly stated it won't allow it beforehand. The rule of law in the West Bank, while far from perfect, is better than in much of the world, and certainly not an obstacle to a settlement. The reason that peace is impossible is because Israel refuses to make an offer the Palestinians could accept, and continuing to expand - not merely not removing, but continuing to expand - the illegal settlements on Palestinian land makes it clear that it has no interest in doing so.