Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., September 11, 2008 Elul 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:27 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  110
Last update - 14:42 04/09/2008
Barak: Arab parts of Jerusalem could become Palestinian capital
By Haaretz Service and Reuters
Tags: Palestinians, Ehud Barak 

Some Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem could become the capital of a future Palestinian state as part of a final peace agreement, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday.

Barak did not say whether these neighborhoods would include all of Arab East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in a move not recognized internationally.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of the state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Advertisement
"We can find a formula under which certain neighborhoods, heavily-populated Arab neighborhoods, could become, in a peace agreement, part of the Palestinian capital that, of course, will include also the neighboring villages around Jerusalem," Barak told Al-Jazeera television.

U.S.-sponsored peace talks were launched last November by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with the goal of reaching an agreement in 2008.

But the negotiations have been marred by violence, as well as disputes over settlement building and Olmert's insistence that the fate of Jerusalem be decided later.

"I'm not sure whether the gaps are close enough," Barak said when asked if a deal was possible this year.

The talks have been thrown into further doubt by Olmert's announcement that he would step down as prime minister once his centrist Kadima party elects a new leader later this month.

Israel considers all of Jerusalem, including some surrounding areas in the occupied West Bank, to be its capital.

Israel wants to hold onto several major Jewish settlement blocs. Palestinians say these and other settlements will deny them a viable state.

Olmert and some of his closest advisers have hinted in the past that Israel would consider turning over outlying Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem in a future deal.

As prime minister in 2000, Barak presided over peace talks in Camp David that broke down amid violence. The then-premier first raised the issue of relinquishing Arab parts of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians near the outbreak of the Second Intifada.

"It will be Jerusalem and al-Quds, one next to the other, as two capitals," Barak said in 2000.

Related articles:
  • Ramon calls for evacuation of settlers east of security fence
  • Border Control / Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed
  • ANALYSIS / Olmert racing against clock for deal with Palestinians
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    'I didn't kill Rose'
    Ronny Ron, grandfather of missing 4-year-old, recants his confession.
    Diplomatic incident
    Olympic medalist Shahar Zubari stirs controversy, calling Chinese 'shits'.
      1.   now that`s generosity! 18:56  |  fsf 03/09/08
      2.   So is there any progress 19:01  |  Dave Duncan 03/09/08
      3.   Good news coming forth from Jerusalem...! 19:02  |  Esther 03/09/08
      4.   This generosity was sponsored by your President, remember? 19:09  |  Israeli citizen 03/09/08
      5.   BOO to Barak, Olmert, and Kadima 19:09  |  Gregor 03/09/08
      6.   Thank you 19:09  |  anonymous 03/09/08
      7.   The Facts on the Ground 19:33  |  Binyamin 03/09/08
      8.   loosing sanity 19:35  |  ecr 03/09/08
      9.   The next step. . . . 19:45  |  MichaelF 03/09/08
      10.   Barak helps to Netaniahy. 19:52  |  Vital 03/09/08
      11.   Would be a great statement, if I would have been born today.... 19:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/09/08
      12.   The moment of truth is alway a bitter pill to swollow. 20:01  |  Akram Zekaria 03/09/08
      13.   you`re right, mr. citizen! 20:03  |  fsf 03/09/08
      14.   The only country in the world to give away its Capital to enemy, 20:13  |  Sal 03/09/08
      15.   Jeusalem should not be up for negotiation 20:13  |  Jean Van Daem 03/09/08
      16.   Barak is right / land swaps 20:15  |  DkS 03/09/08
      17.   Barak is right / land swaps 20:15  |  DkS 03/09/08
      18.   FINALLY: Voice of reason 20:17  |  Jerusalem Capital! 03/09/08
      19.   he`s out of his mind... 20:30  |  joey 03/09/08
      20.   This guy loves to give away JEWISH land!!! 20:30  |  Ben Yeppi 03/09/08
      21.   Israel and Palestine 20:45  |  James D. Stilwell 03/09/08
      22.   #7 Facts on the ground 20:52  |  Lou Medel 03/09/08
      23.   Barak on Jerusalem 20:52  |  Brod 03/09/08
      24.   #19 Jewish land? Only Jews lived there? 20:55  |  Lou Medel 03/09/08
      25.   Bye-Bye Barak ; Hit-the-Road Ramon 20:56  |  Wendy 03/09/08
      26.   The Barak trick! 20:58  |  Dutch Dirk 03/09/08
      27.   The Mad Olmert ! 21:00  |  Akram Zekaria 03/09/08
      28.   fsf on shiny weapons 21:16  |  zengeos 03/09/08
      29.   send barak back to army only thing he is good at or must go 21:24  |  ralph 03/09/08
      30.   The Only Division Is To Break Kadima Into Pieces 21:35  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      31.   The Only Evacuation Is To Oust Kadima w/ Peres From Parliament 21:37  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      32.   Don`t be more stupid than you have to, Barak 21:42  |  x-ray 03/09/08
      33.   Barak Statement Hurt The Asking Price of His Home 21:42  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      34.   this is a promise by barak 22:04  |  david 03/09/08
      35.   Al Quds is ours. Get out NOW 22:18  |  Raed Kami 03/09/08
      36.   Jerusalem division = Israel `Fitna` 22:22  |  Joseph.E 03/09/08
      37.   Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria are here to stay. Barak is not. 22:31  |  Chaim 03/09/08
      38.   #3 Esther. You`ve got to be nuts to see this as "good news". 22:34  |  Chaim 03/09/08
      39.   #15, Jean van Daem 22:53  |  Space 03/09/08
      40.   #24 Mr Medel 23:01  |  ballistic 03/09/08
      41.   Abbas` friend Kuntar for mayor of E Jerusalem? 23:14  |  Steve 03/09/08
      42.   Jean Van Daem 23:22  |  Me 03/09/08
      43.   Anything to help US Republican Candidate 23:28  |  isratinian 03/09/08
      44.   barak ensures 100 seats for likud and the right wingers 23:45  |  vhardman 03/09/08
      45.   Jerusalem 23:56  |  RepublicanStones 03/09/08
      46.   Barak bluffing and the leftist and naïves people will believe him 00:01  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 04/09/08
      47.   Incompetent leadership 00:06  |  Nathaniel 04/09/08
      48.   Barak statement 00:09  |  Darbacan 04/09/08
      49.   Mofaz Asked Livni To Clarify her Position About Jerusalem 00:10  |  Joseph.E 04/09/08
      50.   Give them East Jerusalem... 00:11  |  Richard S 04/09/08
      51.   Strategic points 00:35  |  Schtarker Yid 04/09/08
      52.   Corrupt DM not planning freeing Shalit but surrendering Jerusalem 00:41  |  Absolute Sweden 04/09/08
      53.   Good idea but it won`t be good enough for the Palestinians 00:42  |  Conroy 04/09/08
      54.   Barak wasnt democratocly elected & has no right to give away Jeru 00:54  |  zionist forever 04/09/08
      55.   READ MY LIPS BARAK 00:59  |  indrajaya 04/09/08
      56.   Watch out Gaza! 01:01  |  Maureen Ann 04/09/08
      57.   At the next election two parties will cease 01:03  |  Gee 04/09/08
      58.   Let him first make his home the PALS capital 01:20  |  right on left out 04/09/08
      59.   Nothing New 01:36  |  Observer 04/09/08
      60.   Barack - Give The Arabs Your Own Property If You Want 01:40  |  Billy the Jew 04/09/08
      61.   #3 Esther @TA right, keep the momentum towards peace... 02:28  |  Smadar 04/09/08
      62.   Raed 03:01  |  Thundercloud65 04/09/08
      63.   re 56 maureen admitted to the club 03:13  |  alan the real one 04/09/08
      64.   Barak bluffing and the leftist and naïves people will believe him 03:13  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 04/09/08
      65.   Jean Van Daem # 15 03:21  |  Philippe 04/09/08
      66.   Conroy on 8 yrs ago 04:15  |  zengeos 04/09/08
      67.   what works in theory doesnt nececarily work in reality 04:37  |  zionist forever 04/09/08
      68.   Translating Barak-speak into plain English 04:49  |  Johnboy 04/09/08
      69.   Raed Kami # 35 04:57  |  Philippe 04/09/08
      70.   #14 Sal, Barak is proposing no such thing 05:05  |  Johnboy 04/09/08
      71.   #56 Maureen Ann 05:24  |  Moshe 04/09/08
      72.   #53 Riiiight, Conroy, and what did Barak offer in 2000? 05:28  |  Johnboy 04/09/08
      73.   Ben Jabo Ben Tize`s approval is crucial to cede E Jerusal to pals 05:36  |  Aounist 04/09/08
      74.   Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem 06:11  |  Yehoshua 04/09/08
      75.   So it should be... for sake of peace... 07:02  |  Esther 04/09/08
      76.   They only want it because its ours 08:26  |  x-ray 04/09/08
      77.   Raed Kemi pick up a book!...turn off the al jazeera!! 08:40  |  Ben Yeppi 04/09/08
      78.   Hoping annexion of jerusalem to israel 09:11  |  B.Baker 04/09/08
      79.   Yes, Raed, al Quds is yours, now go! 09:20  |  utagawa 04/09/08
      80.   RepublicanStones in the head 09:43  |  x-ray 04/09/08
      81.   Smadar your fault is in believing the Arabs want peace 09:45  |  x-ray 04/09/08
      82.   BARAK MUST BE OUSTED FOR DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS 09:46  |  Harvey 04/09/08
      83.   ?Jerusalem?s political headache? remains 09:56  |  H.H.M. 04/09/08
      84.   to # 73 Aounist - I agree but I also nominate 10:09  |  Steve the Pls. 04/09/08
      85.   alquds (jerusalem) is stolen and raped 10:18  |  meshmesh 04/09/08
      86.   Parts of Jerusalem! 10:39  |  Roslyn 04/09/08
      87.   Barack acknowledges that without sharing Jlm, NO PEACE! 10:46  |  Ivar 04/09/08
      88.   Learn to read the information 10:55  |  Hastaroth 04/09/08
      89.   one state 11:03  |  ralph is back 04/09/08
      90.   Further proof of the urgent need for the Pals... 11:14  |  Esther 04/09/08
      91.   to joey #19 (2nd try) 11:39  |  zeev 04/09/08
      92.   to zionist forever #67 (2nd try) 11:41  |  zeev 04/09/08
      93.   to Chaim #38 (3rd try) 11:43  |  zeev 04/09/08
      94.   Its been on the table before Arafat knocked it back. 13:58  |  PETER SM 04/09/08
      95.   meshmesh history lesson 14:20  |  zengeos 04/09/08
      96.   Ivar on Saudi Initiative 14:25  |  zengeos 04/09/08
      97.   to PETER SM #94 16:00  |  zeev 04/09/08
      98.   Stupidity ! 17:21  |  Saija 04/09/08
      99.   Palestionian dream. 17:51  |  Saija 04/09/08
      100.   ZEELIM BEIT 19:33  |  magad mil 04/09/08
      101.   to Saija #98 19:47  |  zeev 04/09/08
      102.   #96 zengeos dons the hairshirt and the rose coloured glasses 02:43  |  Johnboy 05/09/08
      103.   #94 Yeah, but what was on the table back then, PETER SM? 02:46  |  Johnboy 05/09/08
      104.   to Saija #98 (2nd try) 07:53  |  zeev 05/09/08
      105.   to Saija #99 (2nd try) 07:54  |  zeev 05/09/08
      106.   Do u really want peace? 14:00  |  Steve 05/09/08
      107.   To Zeev 14:11  |  Steve 05/09/08
      108.   to Steve #107 - Thanks buddy 21:31  |  zeev 05/09/08
      109.   which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War 22:14  |  Yitzhak 05/09/08
      110.   to Yitzhak #109 03:08  |  zeev 06/09/08
     Read & React
    Israel asks U.S. for arms, air corridor to attack Iran
    Responses: 187
    Police believe to have found remains of missing 4-year-old girl
    Responses: 8
    Nasrallah: No peace in Middle East as long as Israel exists
    Responses: 36
    Rights group: West Bank settlers grab more Palestinian land
    Responses: 35
    Tom Segev: Seven years after 9/11, American dream shows signs of renewal
    Responses: 17


    More Headlines
    14:34 Israel asks U.S. for arms, air corridor to attack Iran
    13:25 Police find suitcase believed to hold remains of missing 4-year-old girl
    13:25 Rose's mother was under lover's 'guru-like influence,' says best friend
    15:26 Report: U.S. envoy says Israel, PA discussed future of J'lem
    14:23 Nasrallah: No peace in Middle East as long as Israel exists
    10:18 IAF grounds Cobras after crash kills two pilots
    17:20 Right-wing activists attack, set dog on IDF soldiers in W. Bank
    08:24 Sarkozy's son and Jewish heiress tie the knot
    16:10 Netanya man suspected of raping disabled patients, giving them AIDS
    07:34 ANALYSIS / Circumstances surrounding Cobra crash
    11:31 Libya's Gaddafi to pay historic visit to London in December
    10:26 Rights group: W. Bank settlers grab more Palestinian land
    11:52 Ahead of Sept. 11 anniversary, British policeman dresses up as bin Laden
    12:12 Israeli scientist: 'Big Bang' experiment going better than expected
    05:10 Shaziri scoops third silver for Israel at Paralympics
    05:30 VIDEO / Barak: We've foiled 2 attacks against Israelis abroad
    07:39 Microsoft Israel unveils keyboard-free touch technology
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved