Yet he chides Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for not extending the settlement freeze, an act that would have likely threatened his government's stability and would not have been supported by the majority of Israelis.
Beyond that, if I were advising the Alliance, I'd tell them to shut up about extending the settlement to all comers.
The United States has asked him to extend the settlement freeze for 60 days in return for security incentives.
He refused to extend the settlement moratorium, or negotiate the "core issues" of borders, Jerusalem, and refugees with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas – who jumped at the opportunity and boycotted talks until Israel halts the settlements.
Mr. Netanyahu is still mulling an offer from the United States to extend the settlement freeze for two to three months in exchange for American security guarantees and military hardware.
But yesterday, after New York State rejected a final chance to extend the settlement talks for two months during a special hearing in Fort Myers, Fla., Judge Neal McCurn of Federal District Court in Syracuse declared an impasse.
The legislation proposed by Mr. Netanyahu on the loyalty pledge appeared to be intended to win the backing of Mr. Lieberman's party and other pro-settler partners in the coalition to extend the settlement freeze, which expired on Sept. 26.
Netanyahu is unlikely to extend the settlement moratorium and some limited construction in Jewish West Bank settlements will happen.
On the other side of the table, reports of an Israeli readiness to extend the settlement construction freeze seems premature.
"Outpost dwellers often live without mains electricity and water on the frontiers for months," Emmet adds, "all to extend the settlement and land-grab.
And on the Middle East, do you believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamid -- Benjamin -- (chuckles) -- Benjamin Netanyahu should extend the settlement moratorium as a gesture to peace?
