The more things change...

... the more they don't. Yeah, it's a little twist on the other familiar phrase, because I didn't feel like being SO cliche.

Anyway... the point of that phrase in general is that really, some stuff just doesn't change.

So for anyone out there who somehow thought that getting a new president in the US or a new prime minister in Israel was going to mean some substantial change in Israeli policy, Israeli public opinion, etc., or some miraculous change on behalf of the Arab world... um, you can stop holding your breath now.

Yeah, I'm being a little extra obnoxious. I am sicker and tireder than ever of this whole "Israel needs to make concessions, give up part of its Biblical and historical homeland, let a whole bunch of fake refugees move in (or pay them off), have open borders with people who clearly verbalize their hatred for us and intent to kill us, etc. and then there will be some sort of peace" baloney.

Now the world is trying to tell us that not *only* do we "have" to give up any "unauthorized" communities, but we're not allowed to build in the ones we have? What? Including ones that in almost any supposed peace agreement would stay within Israel?

And people keep focusing on how the world is telling us we cannot even build within our own communities to account for "natural growth," but what, exactly, is that? Yeah, the idea comes from the fact that people are raising their children in these communities, and now the kids are growing up and can't find homes inside their own communities.

But what about me? What about anyone else who wants to go live in peace somewhere within Israel?

Yeah, maybe people who grew up there should have some sort of priority on getting housing there... but there's no legitimate reason why I shouldn't be able to also get housing there.

And I have to say... as much as I love Jerusalem, the minute my life will allow me to move into one of those communities, then G-d willing, that's where I'll be.