The current condemnations of Israel’s planned additions to the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood demonstrate an appalling ignorance – feigned or real - regarding the accepted status of Jerusalem since Camp David through two American administrations; the context of American criticism in light of similar treatment recently meted out to democratic allies like Poland and the Czech Republic by the Obama administration; and the domestic political infighting in Israel that led to the unfortunate timing of the announcement and Netanyahu’s apology. Though I am by no means supportive of the entire settlement policy, too many politicians and commentators fail to point out the carnage Israel has suffered since its unilateral pullout from Gaza that put the lie to the “land as an obstacle to peace” argument. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan once wrote, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No one is entitled to their own facts.”
