Israeli settlements a thorn

WHILE THE PALESTINIAN BID FOR FULL membership in the United Nations is being considered by the UN Security Council, Israel's latest plan to build settlements in east Jerusalem will cost that country more political and moral standing and embarrass its supporters on the world stage.

When Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas formally presented the application to the world body on Friday, disregarding the strong opposition from Israel and the United States, opponents predicted that the move would ignite a new round of violence in a region beset by decades of bloodshed.

In the past week, however, the Palestinian response has been largely restrained. But now that Israel has moved boldly on the settlement issue, there is every reason to believe it will cause more bloodshed because it has touched a nerve on a very sensitive issue for Palestinians.