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Last update - 04:21 28/07/2008 A story of neglect By Moshe Arens Tags: Jerusalem, East Jerusalem  Over 41 years have passed since, in the wake of the Six-Day War, the Israeli government extended the municipal borders of Jerusalem to the east, north and south. This expansion led to the inclusion of a large Arab population within the city's boundaries. Jerusalem was officially enlarged and united, but has in large measure remained divided to this day. Successive governments have wanted to see Jerusalem united on the map without understanding that this must also involve integrating the Arab population residing in the new, expanded areas into the city - which in effect means its integration into Israel. Almost nothing was done over the years to bring this about. Most of the Israeli left only thought of ridding Israel of this territory, while most of the right preferred to look at the amount of land that was annexed while ignoring the Arab population residing there. The first mayor of Jerusalem to inherit the new borders, Teddy Kollek, made some effort to approach the local Arab population and to encourage it to vote in the municipal elections. His successors, Ehud Olmert and Uri Lupolianski, preferred neglect to attention. Indeed, the policy of neglect is reflected in the gallery of portraits of former mayors that decorate the Jerusalem Municipality: Kollek, Olmert, Mordechai Ish-Shalom, Gershon Agron, Yitzhak Kariv, Zalman Shragai, Daniel Auster. As if their Arab predecessors had not existed. But the latter - and, for that matter, the entire Arab population of Jerusalem - cannot be wished away. Advertisement The challenge of integrating Jerusalem's Arab residents into the city cannot be overestimated, and the directions that need to be taken are obvious: equalizing the municipal services provided to Arab and Jewish neighborhoods, as well as welfare, health-care and educational services. Also, there is a need for instituting the Israeli curriculum and the supervision of the Ministry of Education in the Arab schools, for encouraging the participation of the Arab population in municipal elections, and for urging the Arab population to take out Israeli citizenship. All this could probably have been done only gradually, but in fact almost nothing was done during the past four decades. This is a story of utter neglect, based on the wishful thinking that the city could be united without all its residents being integrated into its fabric. Possibly the most blatant example of this is the Shuafat refugee camp, which was included in Jerusalem's municipal boundaries. Here was an opportunity for Israel to set an example of how the Palestinian refugee problem should be dealt with. The whole area should have been rebuilt and proper housing should have been provided so as to obviate the need for UN services. But to Israel's shame the camp is still there after 41 years - a part of Israel. Like the Arab population in Jerusalem, it cannot be wished away. These reflections have been provoked by the three recent acts of terror committed by Arab residents of Jerusalem. Nobody could argue that had Israeli governments dedicated themselves to doing all the things mentioned above in improving the conditions of this population, these acts of terror would not have been committed. Under the influence of the Islamic Movement even some Arabs, citizens of Israel, living within the pre-Six-Day-War borders, have participated over the years in acts of terrorism against Israel's Jewish citizens. It is well known that the equivalent of the Islamic Movement, Hamas, is at this time active and popular among the Jerusalem Arab population, and no doubt encourages them to violence against Israel. But it is equally clear that had progress been made over the years in properly absorbing the Jerusalem Arab population into Israel, the task facing the Palestinian extremists would have been more difficult. The fence that is being built around Jerusalem does not in any way alleviate the problem. It only exacerbates it. Jerusalem's Arab population - rightfully feeling that the policy of the Israeli government and the Jerusalem Municipality discriminates against it - is being fenced in. Nothing good can come of that. And the destruction of the homes of the families of the perpetrators of recent acts of terror will only breed bitterness and resentment. Those who believe that Jerusalem should not be divided, and mean by that that the Arab neighborhoods should not be separated from the city, should be the first to insist that an active policy be adopted by the government and the municipality to improve the lot of local Arab residents. Barring that, Jerusalem will continue to remain a divided city. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   Kudos to Arens 10:29  |  Esther 28/07/08   2.   Fences and more fences.... 10:37  |  Esther 28/07/08   3.   Mr. Arens was an important Israeli government minister 11:42  |  Shalom Freedman 28/07/08   4.   Esther 11:58  |  S 28/07/08   5.   Nobel Peace Prize for Population Transfer 12:03  |  Menachem Ben Yakov 28/07/08   6.   they`ll be away with fortune in their land-to-come 12:11  |  king of Israel 28/07/08   7.   JERUSALEM, O, JERUSALEM 12:20  |  indrajaya 28/07/08   8.   Yes, Hashem is not what he used to be. 12:26  |  Andreas 28/07/08   9.   Menachem - a question 12:42  |  Sylvie 28/07/08   10.   Re Shalom #3:...The point that eludes him... 13:07  |  Esther 28/07/08   11.   WHO needs Pals who pay for jobs with terror? 13:14  |  PETER SM 28/07/08   12.   Re S #4 13:19  |  Esther 28/07/08   13.   Either East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine or 13:27  |  lakshmi 28/07/08   14.   LAKSHMI Forget it. The Arabs sidelined the UN on day one 13:41  |  PETER SM 28/07/08   15.   INDRAJAYA O Jerusalem! where Moslems turn their backsides to pray 13:54  |  PETER SM 28/07/08   16.   The Entire Israeli Arab Population Neglected 14:08  |  Jane 28/07/08   17.   YET ANOTHER OLDMERDE LEGACY 14:36  |  dav zee 28/07/08   18.   14 Peter SM,181 is still there in the books and will be 14:47  |  lakshmi 28/07/08   19.   #16 Jane in Palm Beach. 15:12  |  John Allen 28/07/08   20.   Ethnic separation is not ethnic cleansing. 15:29  |  Menachem Ben Yakov 28/07/08   21.   Russian proverb 15:32  |  Boris 28/07/08   22.   To Indrajaya and Laskshmi - about your noses 15:49  |  Mike 28/07/08   23.   OK Menachem 16:30  |  Sylvie 28/07/08   24.   Jerusalem 17:02  |  Dani 28/07/08   25.   Arabs welcome 17:35  |  Jeff 28/07/08   26.   # 13 lakshmi - Donna e mobile 17:53  |  17 28/07/08   27.   Thoughtful article 18:00  |  Nathaniel 28/07/08   28.   #26 translation wayward is womankind wayward as a straw in wind 18:01  |  victor hardman 28/07/08   29.   I thought the Aarbs had equality--- 18:38  |  Labhras 28/07/08   30.   israel finally realises....?!!!! 18:48  |  ravi 28/07/08   31.   #26 Victor hardman is really Paul Harris in TA 18:51  |  Labhras 28/07/08   32.   #22 Mike Lakshmi and Indrajaya 19:01  |  Labhras 28/07/08   33.   Seven hundred thousand Jews fled Arabia in `48. 19:33  |  Menachem Ben Yakov 28/07/08   34.   Ah-so Menachem 19:47  |  Sylvie 28/07/08   35.   Esther, how does this square w/Arab responsibility? 20:43  |  ivo 28/07/08   36.   Jews give Arabs jobs and money, what do Arabs give Jews but hell? 21:08  |  arab wishes 28/07/08   37.   Labhras #29: compare w/France - 23:34  |  ivo 28/07/08   38.   Arens and east Jerusalem 00:34  |  yuval 29/07/08   39.   IESHUALAYIN 00:54  |  cristian 29/07/08   40.   it is the IDF and not Hamas that encourages them to violence 01:55  |  American in NY 29/07/08   41.   Buy out all the Arab properties and relocate them 06:54  |  Gregor 29/07/08   42.   #18 lakshmi, 181 is still there in the books 09:24  |  zee 30/07/08

Read & React Abbas vows to dismantle PA if Israel frees Hamas prisoners for Shalit Responses: 39 Palestinian boy, 9, killed during protest at West Bank fence Responses: 128 Haaretz TV: Hamas summer camp teaches Gaza kids to hate and kill Responses: 4 Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike Responses: 10 More Headlines 09:24 Abbas vows to dismantle PA if Israel frees Hamas prisoners for Shalit 07:11 Mofaz: No talks on core issues while coalition is on verge of collapse 09:08 Barak: U.S. to provide Israel with defense systems against Iran strike 23:14 Olmert: Syria must choose between peace and isolation 07:14 ANALYSIS: Israeli security forces losing control in the West Bank 05:47 Maccabi Haifa signs the 'Jewish Jordan' for next season 08:56 U.S. says settlements are 'problem' as Israel-PA talks shift to Washington 07:39 Spat between Olmert and Barak keeps ratcheting up 06:21 Huge blast rocks Hamas training base wounding at least five 21:33 Palestinian boy, 9, killed during protest at West Bank fence 21:18 Jewish World / Parents get the Birthright experience 07:41 Fayyad appeals for World Bank aid to pay PA public sector wages 03:43 IDF launches new probe of officer who ordered bound Palestinian shot 04:41 Police pressure shooting suspect to incriminate crime boss Previous Editions Select Day 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul

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