Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., October 26, 2009 Cheshvan 8, 5770 | | Israel Time: 19:22 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 00:00 20/10/2008
We must not give in on Jerusalem
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: Jerusalem, Shas, Akiva Eldar 

Click here for more articles by Akiva Eldar

In the process of forming her government, Tzipi Livni is being forced to swallow quite a few bitter pills. In coalition bargaining, as in diplomatic negotiations, concessions and compromises are the name of the game. When the only alternative is early elections that will bring Benjamin Netanyahu back to power, alongside Avigdor Lieberman and Effi Eitam, adjusting the budget is a necessary evil. In order to ensure that her already unstable party does not splinter, the prime minister-designate can be forgiven even for taking such a bizarre step as appointing Shaul Mofaz as foreign minister. But there is one demand that Livni must not accept, even at the cost of returning the mandate to the president: Shas' veto regarding negotiations over Jerusalem.

The demand by Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, as he told the media, to receive a public promise from Livni, preferably signed, that she "does not intend to bring up the subject of Jerusalem in negotiations with the Palestinians," is not even worth negotiating. Livni must inform Yishai publicly, preferably in writing, that he can forget about that demand. She must tell him that if he wants a promise that Jerusalem will not be a part of the negotiations for a final status agreement, he should look for it in the Likud. It can also be suggested to him that on his way there, he should order posters proclaiming: "Livni will divide Jerusalem."
Advertisement
The minister of industry, trade and labor, who also insists on the title "deputy prime minister," is in effect conditioning his participation in the Livni government on a declaration by the candidate for the premiership to the effect that she promises to refute a written public commitment by the Israeli government.

Livni - and Yishai himself - are still members of a government that less than a year ago gave its blessing to the joint declaration read by U.S. President George W. Bush at the Annapolis conference, which proclaimed there that "In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, as specified in previous agreements. We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations, and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008."

Yishai is asking Livni to mislead the Israeli public as well. The prime minister-designate, and Yishai himself, are signatories to the basic guidelines of the outgoing government, according to which "the government will aspire to bring about the shaping of permanent borders for the country, as a Jewish country with a Jewish majority and as a democratic state." The government promised to do so in negotiations with the Palestinians, to be conducted in relation to signed agreements, including the principles of the Road Map. The "map" specifically determined that the parties would conduct negotiations in order to reach an agreement that will lead to an end to the occupation that began in 1967, and include a consensual, fair and realistic solution to the refugee issue and a decision on the status of Jerusalem.

It is hard to believe that Yishai is deceiving himself. As a veteran member of the cabinet, he is intimately familiar with the core issues on the negotiating table. Yishai knows that there can be no peace treaty with the Palestinians without an arrangement regarding the borders of Jerusalem, the fate of the Jewish neighborhoods and arrangements for administering the holy places. He certainly knows that the 22 members of the Arab League are waiting for Israel's response to their proposal of March 2002 to replace the state of war with normal relations, in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state whose capital is (East) Jerusalem.

The initiative was designed, among other things, to establish a solid coalition in order to check the spread of radical Islam under the leadership of Iran and world Jihad. This coming March, the Arab summit will reexamine the proposal in light of progress in negotiations with the Palestinians (and Syria).

The bitter experience of the Camp David summit of July 2000 teaches that postponing the discussion of Jerusalem is an act that lacks diplomatic logic. In exchange for "concession" of sovereignty in an area that includes over a quarter of a million Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem, Israel can demand recognition of its sovereignty over most of the Jewish neighborhoods built in the city and its environs since June 1967. In exchange for special arrangements in the Old City that will satisfy members of the three religions, Jerusalem will for the first time receive international recognition as the capital of Israel.

Livni can adopt Ehud Olmert's manipulative methods; she can promise Yishai that Jerusalem will not be on the negotiating table and conduct the negotiations under the table. But she was not elected in order to carry on the Olmert legacy.
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Hamas war call
Hamas political leader: War will settle Jerusalem dispute, not talks
J Street's challenge
J Street convenes in Washington, but can it take on AIPAC?
  1.   A Promise That Could Cost Everything 05:20  |  Joel A. Levitt 20/10/08
  2.   Eldar absolutely right: standing firm against fanatics decisive! 13:17  |  Ivar 20/10/08
  3.   Guess Eldar doesn`t live in Ramat Eshkol 13:25  |  Ilan 20/10/08
  4.   What does eldar suggest doing about Qassams in Jlem 13:35  |  Herbert Kaine 20/10/08
  5.   What does eldar suggest doing about Qassams in Jlem 13:35  |  Herbert Kaine 20/10/08
  6.   What would Shas contribute to health-and-well-being... 13:48  |  Esther 20/10/08
  7.   Elections now!! If you are so sure that this is what the people 13:50  |  lily 20/10/08
  8.   Jerusalem 13:57  |  Ralph 20/10/08
  9.   Maybe there should really be elections now in Israel..... 13:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/10/08
  10.   Jerusalem 14:07  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
  11.   And then Eldar`d say:"We must agree to pal "right of return"" 14:08  |  Absolute Sweden 20/10/08
  12.   Judah and Jerusalem 14:10  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
  13.   lady #12 etc etc 14:27  |  Esther 20/10/08
  14.   At what point in in the future 14:30  |  Avi Yerushalmi 20/10/08
  15.   There is no need to give Jerusalem 14:40  |  Tomas 20/10/08
  16.   Really, "lady from USA"? 14:43  |  Murray 20/10/08
  17.   Jerusalem is already divided 14:43  |  Progressive Zionist 20/10/08
  18.   Yishai Has No Interest In Peace 15:06  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/10/08
  19.   Lady from US 15:28  |  Ernst 20/10/08
  20.   Ernst re-Judah 15:44  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
  21.   Ernst 15:51  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
  22.   Sullivan, you are too optimistic 15:52  |  Ernst 20/10/08
  23.   Yes, Katusha bases 2km from the Knesset, Please 15:56  |  Leftist Israeli 20/10/08
  24.   Ernst again 15:58  |  lady from USA 20/10/08
  25.   What about hebron?? 16:26  |  dr eric 20/10/08
  26.   Sanctimonious vs. doing what would be right.... 16:41  |  Smadar 20/10/08
  27.   dr. eric on Hebron 16:54  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/10/08
  28.   ariel and Ramopt Eshkol and fairness 16:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/10/08
  29.   The last sentence says it all 17:04  |  Arie 20/10/08
  30.   figures, Dr. Eric 17:10  |  Murray 20/10/08
  31.   Oh and by the way, eric 17:12  |  Murray 20/10/08
  32.   Truth need not apply I guess... 18:09  |  Rose 20/10/08
  33.   When was she elected PM 18:11  |  Jackie 20/10/08
  34.   more on my comment #32 18:44  |  Rose 20/10/08
  35.   Its transparent 19:16  |  R`fael Moshe 20/10/08
  36.   Solution for Jerusalem 19:26  |  Marie Devine 20/10/08
  37.   #25 dj eric: Falsifying demographics confirms how wrong you are 19:27  |  Udi 20/10/08
  38.   Akiva, It`s all or nothing now.... 19:36  |  Dutch 20/10/08
  39.   To No.10, lady from USA 19:53  |  Joel A. Levitt 20/10/08
  40.   Mr Y Sullivan #18 20:13  |  Big Sur 20/10/08
  41.   #38 dumb doris on kissing the Muddle East goodbye 20:26  |  Joe Moer 20/10/08
  42.   Ms. T. Livni. On promises,.....! Part 1. 20:28  |  Stephen. 20/10/08
  43.   Mr. Big Sur on your position 20:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/10/08
  44.   Ms. T. Livni. On promises,.....! Part 2.. 20:43  |  Stephen. 20/10/08
  45.   Typical distortion of leftist`s thinking 20:57  |  Victor 20/10/08
  46.   "Standing firm" against 90% of Israelis is called tyranny. 21:42  |  Chaim 20/10/08
  47.   Eldar is saying we should Hamas 21:46  |  Meir Weinstein 20/10/08
  48.   mR yAAKOV #43 21:53  |  BIG SUR 20/10/08
  49.   #38 DORIS THE dutchman 22:02  |  BIG SUR 20/10/08
  50.   Mr Big Sur on Zionism 22:22  |  Yaakov Sullivan 20/10/08
  51.   big sur -do you have anything new to add 22:32  |  Labhras 20/10/08
  52.   Dutch 22:33  |  Jane 20/10/08
  53.   Chaim et al. 99% of the World 100% of Pals See Jerusalem Occupied 22:49  |  Monitor 20/10/08
  54.   Lady from USA 23:48  |  wibism 20/10/08
  55.   Tomas in Haifa: One democratic state 23:51  |  wibism 20/10/08
  56.   lady from USA - God doesn`t want his land parted 23:54  |  wibism 20/10/08
  57.   Sovereignty 01:19  |  Jim 21/10/08
  58.   #54 wibism 01:36  |  Jim 21/10/08
  59.   #6 Esther 02:20  |  Jim 21/10/08
  60.   amazing article 02:53  |  Faris 21/10/08
  61.   #53 Monitor. Do you enjoy making up "statistics"? 04:58  |  Chaim 21/10/08
  62.   Lady, Lady 08:05  |  Bandar Michaels 21/10/08
  63.   Esther - all numbers 09:14  |  S 21/10/08
  64.   #62 bandar bandar did you know palestine was not there at that ti 09:18  |  victor hardman 21/10/08
  65.   Swiss #9 09:40  |  Esther 21/10/08
  66.   Celebrating Labhras 10:14  |  Labhras`s admirer 21/10/08
  67.   ISRAEL IS NO LONGER IN A FULL CONTROL OF SITUATION 15:26  |  indrajaya 21/10/08
  68.   There should be no division of anything 15:29  |  Edith 21/10/08
  69.   Why is Jerusalem called `the City of David` AND NOT 16:05  |  Dagma 21/10/08
  70.   Crude abuse 16:13  |  Murray 21/10/08
  71.   #62, Bandar 16:14  |  Gary 21/10/08
  72.   Mr. Akiva Eldar, U. R right the ARABS will NEVER 16:20  |  Harrison. Joe 21/10/08
  73.   Labhras (#51) Well here is your answer 17:17  |  Gil 21/10/08
  74.   "But she was not elected in order to carry on the Olmert legacy" 17:32  |  MR 21/10/08
  75.   67 borders 18:02  |  Dr Noam 21/10/08
  76.   #50 Mr Yaakov on being a zionist, by what definition? 18:52  |  Big Sur 21/10/08
  77.   Hey Lahbrasserie #51 I will post it thousands of times 18:54  |  Big Sur 21/10/08
  78.   # 65 Esther 19:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/10/08
  79.   #67, 67 Borders Unacceptable 19:07  |  Gary 21/10/08
  80.   No division of the Jewish capital Jerusalem... 19:09  |  Jordan 21/10/08
  81.   Not even 1 percent of the people want what Livni is selling. 19:11  |  Jordan 21/10/08
  82.   Elections must be called, Livni acting like Dictator 19:11  |  Sam 21/10/08
  83.   The only people scared to call elections..... 19:12  |  Tzipi 21/10/08
  84.   There never was a nation called "palestine" 19:13  |  Jordan 21/10/08
  85.   If I come squatt in your backyard for a couple of years... 19:15  |  Joe 21/10/08
  86.   68, the Temple Mount is NOT an issue for Jews 19:19  |  Ivar 21/10/08
  87.   We must not give in on Jerusalem 20:07  |  Ralph 21/10/08
  88.   #86 iVAR, on your next trip to the temple mount look underneath 20:41  |  Big Sur 21/10/08
  89.   To quote Akiva Eldar ... 20:48  |  Miriam Ashkelon 21/10/08
  90.   Indrayaja and Jerusalem 20:48  |  BIG sUR 21/10/08
  91.   #80 No Jewish city 21:02  |  Edith 21/10/08
  92.   Lahbraqs some new Epstein Zionist good guys for u 21:18  |  Big Sur 21/10/08
  93.   Bandar #62 22:48  |  Avi Yerushalmi 21/10/08
  94.   to Gary #79 02:56  |  zeev 22/10/08
  95.   88, the Dome of the Rock sits on a rock, not a Jewish Cemetery 05:30  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  96.   she was NOT elected.... 05:36  |  Jewish State 22/10/08
  97.   88, Jerusalem`s original churches memorialized sites of Jesus 06:23  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  98.   LIVNI Doesn`t Need "Nopt to PROMISE" the ARABS can bring it up... 06:44  |  EGW 22/10/08
  99.   Entire "Temple Mount" structure filled with ancient rubble 07:09  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  100.   Akiva and his APPEASE NOW CROWD!!! 07:34  |  Ben Yeppi 22/10/08
  101.   If current Temple Mount speculations correct, WALL IS TOO HIGH! 08:25  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  102.   Avi Yerushalimi 08:38  |  Bandar Michaels 22/10/08
  103.   To Dr Noam # 75 - The PHILISTINES of AEGEAN ORIGIN. 09:00  |  Dagma 22/10/08
  104.   Topographical challenge to presumed Temple Mt. location 09:47  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  105.   The hydraulic challenge to Temple location in Ezekiel 10:07  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  106.   Ivar - have you ever been visited the tunnels? 10:13  |  Elihu 22/10/08
  107.   Why is Jerusalem `City of David the Answer. 12:35  |  Missknowall 22/10/08
  108.   WHY were the Gates of Jerusalem closed to the Prophet 12:40  |  Dagma 22/10/08
  109.   Numerous ancient eyewitnesses attest to SOUTHERN Temple location 13:37  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  110.   Eleazer Masada captain attests Dome of Rock site Roman Praetorium 13:59  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  111.   With the End of the Presidency of George W. Bush 14:01  |  Dolly 22/10/08
  112.   Dome of Rock known as Roman Praetorium until Saladin 14:57  |  Ivar 22/10/08
  113.   6th century Temple Mount at the Praetorium perfects the scenario 12:56  |  Ivar 23/10/08
  114.   My argument proves TM dates from Justinian, not Herod Great 15:34  |  Ivar 23/10/08
  115.   WE, the JEWS, must not give in on Jerusalem 09:14  |  Yaakov K. 24/10/08
  116.   Isaiah VII-VIII versus Psalm 137 18:54  |  ofmelabes 26/10/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
18:41 Egypt boycott of Lieberman pushes off Med Union summit
15:59 Iran FM plays down threat of pre-emptive IDF strike
15:01 Iran hints at acceptance of nuclear deal with West
15:39 Peres: Unlike Hamas, Israel protects its children
19:04 Barak: Obama envoy Mitchell due in Israel this week
16:40 Report: Turkey PM says Lieberman threatened to nuke Gaza
13:47 Arab MK brands Lieberman's party 'fascist' over Nakba bill
16:57 What Netanyahu can give himself, and Israel, for his 60th birthday
18:08 Peace Now director barred from Knesset after Borat-style video
23:34 TV ROUND-UP: Temple Mount riots reignite; Bar Refaeli conquers Istanbul
19:18 Israel Unposed / Peres and peers 'Facing Tomorrow'
09:42 Soupy Sales, Rod Serling: Prophets who raised a generation
17:54 Fox takes down provocative Bar Refaeli billboard
13:41 PA negotiator: Israel to blame for stalled peace talks
10:35 Gadhafi: Let the Palestinians develop nuclear weapons
11:12 Settlers: Shin Bet trying to slander us ahead of Rabin memorial
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on 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