Palestine’s Bid for U.N. Membership is Dangerous and Wrong

The settlements are a red herring. The amount of territory they sit on is miniscule—only 1.9 percent of the West Bank. If you’re talking about 1.9 percent, and then somebody adds a few houses, you’re not undercutting the negotiations; you’re just addressing the needs of the people. Meanwhile, the Palestinians want to build a whole new city, called Rawabi, near Ramallah. Why not? They have needs; let them do it! Is that called a settlement?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/intelligence_squared/2012/01/palestine_in_u_n_why_dore_gold_will_argue_against_its_recognition_as_a_state_at_the_slate_intelligence_squared_debate_on_jan_10.single.html