TEL AVIV, January 10, 2010 (WAFA)- Haaretz Israeli Daily editorial wondered today, “ how a country with leaders committed to a two-state solution continues to direct huge budgets toward building more settlements in territories it intends to vacate in the future.”

In its editorial written by Gideon Levy, Haaretz sought explanation for a 10-month halt to residential construction in the settlements, immediately followed by more construction.

The Daily also sought explanation for how the Israeli prosecutor can announce his intention to expropriate more privately-owned Palestinian land at the settlement of Ofra - the 'largest illegal settlement in the territories' (in the words of the Israeli Army minister's adviser on settlement issues) - when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his address at Bar-Ilan University last year, explicitly committed not to do so, and President Shimon Peres did more of the same in a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

They should explain what lies behind the decision to examine annexing Highway 443, which runs through the West Bank, as Israeli territory,” Levy added, - as a way of defeating the recent High ruling opening it to Palestinian motorists.

“How can a country that preaches the rule of law dare outfox the High Court through 'bypass' laws? And how have an insignificant minority - the settlers - sown fear and managed to extort the country for so many years?” he wrote.

So many questions were arose in Levy’s editorial, who concluded that, “it's a difficult case to figure out - all the more reason to recommend the country be sent for observation.”