Opinions on Maskiot (in WB/Samaria)

[MGB8]

Maskiot is an Army outpost where 20 former Gaza families are slated to move to. It is slightly north of Nablus, on the Jordan Valley.

What are your opinions on Israel's creation of a settlement at this Army outpost? Is it counter productive at this time? Is it necessary for Jordan Valley Border security? It is certainly "west of the Fence" and would swallow more WB land if it is to be contiguous with Israel - although maybe it is already inside Olmert's convergence proposal which has 92% of the WB to the Pal Arabs. Does anyone know whether it is inside or not?

Is it unfair to move Gaza families to this far flung outpost as opposed to, say, Ma'ale Adumim, which we know will be kept?

Thoughts?

[zionistguy]

I cannot understand the logic of defing the US and creating a new settlement while at the same time proclaiming the convergence plan. Is the Israeli government coming or going? Do they really think anyone will agree (outside Israel) to "permanent borders" that include the Jordan Valley??

See http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000469.htm Maskiot Settlement tells us about realities of Israeli Policy (http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000469.htm) It is telling us something, but I don't know what.

And yes, it is unfair to dump evacuees in this place that is beyond the security fence, and from which they may have to be moved in the not too distant future.

"What were they thinking?"

Very strange that practically nobody on any side has protested.

[MGB8]

The Jordan valley is much more important than that article suggested. Jordan hates Israel, despite the peace treaty, and Iraq is not much better. In reality, there will always be an eastern threat. But Israeli sovereignty and settlement of the valley is not the only way to have the valley as a security buffer. There are things such as joint patrols, joint rights, etc.

While this settlement is fairly northern, it definately south/east of the barrier. I don't get it, either.

Either you are going to keep the WB, or you are going to go behind the barrier and then bargain about security cordons etc. This doesn't seem to fit, and its seems very unfair to the settlers.

[golani]

Retaining control of Jordan valley is a top concern for IDF
I do support the maskiot initiative
I think there are good relations between jordan government and Israel
For pali jordan /pali population,it is alway the same mixture of hate+envy thanks to their kuranic hadith trash

[rachamim18]

It is nothing more than a negotiating tool. The "West Bank Disengagement Plan" calls for an abandonment of 93% to 97% of the total area in the "West Bank." Anything over that percentage will require an exchange of territory. The jordan Valley would encompass too much of Israel Proper in exchange. Hence, it is nothing but a mere bargaining tool. In this respect I am all for it. However, the familes populating the post have already endured enough psychic trauma to have to be manipulated yet again.