Haaretz Service: Olmert: Israel must quit East Jerusalem and Golan
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Title: The Old City of Jerusalem, all of it, as well as the areas which Name: Avihu City: Jerusalem State: Israel
are part of Jewish heritage in the city and all the Jewish neighborhoods will always remain part of sovereign Israel. Israel may transfer to the future Arab authority in the territories, e.g. Jordan, Palestinian-Jordanian confederation, the Arab neighborhoods of the city as well as the Arab villages and camps presently part of it, in return for Jewish settled areas in the territories, e.g. Giv`at Zeev, Gush Etzion. But a more fundamental point that must be taken into consideration: The Arabs, any of them, are yet to recognize Israel`s right to exist - although they by now recognize the fact that it does - and accept the fact that Israel is the legitimate nation-state of a people, the Jewish people. So far they tend to negate both! When they finally come out with a clear statement - in Arabic, Hebrew and English - will we, Israelis, be willing to lower our guards, not before!