"Palestinians contend"

From the L.A. Times:

Palestinians contend that a U.S.-backed 2003 peace plan obliges Israel to halt settlement growth.

From the 2003 peace plan (otherwise known as "A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict", or the Roadmap for short):

Settlements

• GOI immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001.
• Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements).

In other words, Palestinians contend that the U.S.-backed 2003 peace plan which obliges Israel to halt settlement growth obliges Israel to halt settlement growth.  And in a similar vein, Palestinians no doubt contend that water is damp, the sun rises on a daily basis, and fire burns.  What is the L.A. Times supposed to do—just report these Palestinian contentions as facts?

Comments

[windy]

Not only that, but Iranians 'assert' that USA, France and the UK have nuclear weapons. The nerve!

But he went on to assert, as per the current regime, that the countries seeking to freeze Iran's nuclear program themselves possess nuclear weapons, as does Israel;

Or maybe that's just bad writing.

[Save the Oocytes]

No, foreigners are inscrutable, and can't be trusted.

[japan rail pass]

Well said - let's add Palestinians also contend the earth is round! The double standards are frightening.

[acuvue oasys]

Well illegal settlements are an obstacle to peace so I think that's a valid position they hold.