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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Heading to December By Tom Segev Haim Ramon has been going around for some time with a proposal for power sharing in Jerusalem, and the sky has not fallen. Ostensibly this is quite an amazing phenomenon; there was a time when the vice premier's idea was heard only among the radical left, somewhere between Yesh Gvul and Gush Shalom. This seems to be a turning point of historic proportions. The great debate over the future of the territories occupied in the Six-Day War always has been based on agreement that Jerusalem should not be divided. "The city that is compact together" has served the religious-national myth considered to be one of the foundation stones of Zionist existence. Ehud Barak broke the sacred taboo when he secretly agreed to power sharing in Jerusalem, but at the last minute lost his nerve and did not dare give the Palestinians sovereignty over the Temple Mount. A vice premier calling openly for the division of the city - this has never happened. And it was as if he had not spoken. No one quit the cabinet, the coalition did not even crack, no one went out to demonstrate, nary a bumper sticker was printed. That phenomenon requires an explanation. Advertisement Israeli rule in East Jerusalem is visible mainly in a wave of construction for Jews, not in the granting of equal rights to the Arab inhabitants, not in providing equal services to the two parts of the city. Former mayor Ehud Olmert initiated the physical division of the city using a giant concrete wall that leaves some 50,000 Arabs on the other side. Ramon is quite the cynic. But in the saga of Israelis' attitude on Jerusalem, he deserves at least a footnote: It is not important what political calculation he is making - speaking as vice premier he legitimizes the fact that recognition of the fiction called "the unification of Jerusalem" is not worth it and should disappear into the history books, just like apartheid in South Africa, the bloody conflict in Ireland and the Berlin Wall. The indifference that greeted Ramon's proposal may stem from the fact that in the 30 years he has been in politics, he has not attained the reputation of a statesman leaving his stamp on Jewish history. He will not be the one to determine Jerusalem's future. Of course, Ramon could be doing for Olmert what Olmert did for Ariel Sharon when he spoke about the withdrawal from Gaza as if it were his idea. Either way, how nice it would be if it were possible to know for certain that the Israeli public had learned to relate to East Jerusalem as it related to the settlements in the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, the vice premier's proposal most likely passed without a scandal because most Israelis do not believe the Olmert government can make history. Summer passed, then the holidays, and Ramon spoke. So what. There may be nothing that illustrates more the public's disengagement from the government than the apathy with which his proposal was greeted. This is also the case regarding the apathy surrounding the talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Partition Plan they are theoretically working on the end of the conflict; this is a great thing. But the president of the Palestinians appears to be only a courteous collaborator. Everyone knows that the agreement must be made with Hamas in Gaza. The current move seems like a false display by three lame ducks: George W. Bush, Abbas and Olmert. Olmert needs the November summit because after November comes December. According to a report not officially confirmed, the Winograd Committee has overcome all legal obstacles and is getting ready to publish its report in December. Real life will begin again, and we will recall what a wonderful summer we had. Bookmark to del.icio.us Group goals Hapoel T.A. could be given either death or a dream in the UEFA Cup group stage draw. Bandits on wheels The new vehicles most often stolen in September were Sanyung motorbikes.   1.   Get Rid of East Jerusalem, Keep the Old City 09:45  |  Slibovitz 09/10/07   2.   ALL J`LEM TO PALESTINE 10:10  |  Indrajaya 09/10/07   3.   Should Israel claim jurisdiction over the Al-Aqsa Mosque? 10:11  |  Natallie Durson 09/10/07   4.   And what does Haim Ramon say about E1? 10:15  |  Esther 09/10/07   5.   get rid of the ol` city 10:48  |  teacake 09/10/07   6.   I agree with #1 totally 11:15  |  ruth egdi 09/10/07   7.   JERUSALEM ETERNAL UNDIVIDED CAPITAL OF ERETZ YISRAEL ?? 11:21  |  Bill 09/10/07   8.   No Jerusalem=No Israel 11:37  |  dyinglikeflies 09/10/07   9.   remove all vestiges of observant judaism 11:46  |  henry 09/10/07   10.   to writer #1 11:49  |  Kevin Holt M.D. 09/10/07   11.   Hey Mimi,where are you?What does the WPI say on this one? 12:11  |  lakshmi 09/10/07   12.   why treat seriously empty talk 12:25  |  www.kibush.co.il 09/10/07   13.   Interesting terminology 12:39  |  Rowan Berkeley 09/10/07   14.   Were Palestine like Finland... 12:42  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/10/07   15.   Entire Jerusalem 12:59  |  Truths 09/10/07   16.   Alas. we are coming to the end of OCCUPATION. 13:18  |  Hamza 09/10/07   17.   Tom Segev is an Osloist & Itnatkutist so he knows about fiction 13:22  |  Oiy Oiy Oiy 09/10/07   18.   Jerusalem `s Old City 13:30  |  Bandar Michaels 09/10/07   19.   Segev as usual 13:30  |  Gene 09/10/07   20.   No to religious considerations 14:08  |  True Moral 09/10/07   21.   #2 Indrahaha,please stick to Jakarta 14:35  |  Hastaroth 09/10/07   22.   The reality is something else 14:41  |  Abu Firas AL Qudsi 09/10/07   23.   Jerusalem-undivided-All Jewish 14:58  |  Eve L Dewer 09/10/07   24.   Unicication /still fiction for many 15:10  |  Anne 09/10/07   25.   To lndrajaya # 2 - There is no such thing.... 15:33  |  Natasha 09/10/07   26.   indrajaya #2 15:51  |  citizen zero 09/10/07   27.   Segev won`t admit that there is no one to negotiate with. 15:51  |  Shalom Freedman 09/10/07   28.   Unification of Jerusalem, Worth it! 15:55  |  Johnny Weintraub 09/10/07   29.   To Hamza # 16 - Your observations sir..... 15:57  |  Pathfinder. 09/10/07   30.   Hamza #16 16:01  |  K Gold 09/10/07   31.   Natasha..How about Brooklyn? 16:04  |  Saint Rachel 09/10/07   32.   THIS PLAN IS AGAINST GOD, IT WILL FAIL)))) 16:09  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 09/10/07   33.   WHEN TERRORISTS FIRE KATYUSHAS FROM AL AQSA,ISRAEL WILL BOMB IT)) 16:14  |  VOICE TO DURSON))))) 09/10/07   34.   Jerusalem is already divided 16:21  |  Inon 09/10/07   35.   Tom Segev`s article. 16:23  |  sandra chitayat 09/10/07   36.   Return of "refugees" is a fiction 16:31  |  McQueen 09/10/07   37.   no need to divide or unite. 16:46  |  khairi janbek 09/10/07   38.   They say Israel should be a jewish state only 17:31  |  Tamir Palestine 09/10/07   39.   Haim Ramon`s perspective and correct approach has been known for 17:45  |  Smadar 09/10/07   40.   too bad israel has such faithless gutless weak leaders-for now 17:51  |  yahn goodey 09/10/07   41.   #40 yahn goodey 18:26  |  Smadar 09/10/07   42.   # 3 No, Fatmah, the acsa belongs in Mecca or Medina... 18:55  |  Misha 09/10/07   43.   # 11 Sure, Lopsh, self determination on the Moon... 19:12  |  Misha 09/10/07   44.   To Indrajaya 19:18  |  Otto Rand 09/10/07   45.   To Bill from New Zeeland 19:22  |  Otto Rand 09/10/07   46.   Saint Rachel # 31 19:26  |  ChanahS 09/10/07   47.   Jerusalem is united in our heart for thosand years 19:58  |  Issy Hass 09/10/07   48.   Lakshmi, you have obviously busied yourself with attacking me... 20:53  |  Mimi 09/10/07   49.   Issy - But let us all remember that there are other people in the 21:06  |  Ignorance Kills 09/10/07   50.   Heading to December 22:08  |  RonH 09/10/07   51.   To Eve L Drewer 22:43  |  Otto Rand 09/10/07   52.   Dangerous pple 22:44  |  sweis Melbourne 09/10/07   53.   Issy Hass 22:48  |  Otto Rand 09/10/07   54.   Get rid of Cain! 22:59  |  Paul 09/10/07   55.   * 51 OTTO RAND WAS THERE A JEWISH LAND BEFORE 1948 ?? 23:32  |  Bill 09/10/07   56.   #2 23:48  |  Paul 09/10/07   57.   Tom Segev Has His Snowshoes ? 23:51  |  Yoram 09/10/07   58.   Its time to get the Jews OUT! 00:04  |  Virginia Pearcy 10/10/07   59.   Virginia Pearcy # 58 00:35  |  ChanahS 10/10/07   60.   #54 a state in 1312BC? 00:37  |  hala 10/10/07   61.   OF COURSE IT IS INTILL ARABS RETURN STOLEN LAND 00:40  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 10/10/07   62.   I`m grateful to you, Virginia Pearcy 01:12  |  YH 10/10/07   63.   Durson # 3 01:28  |  Philippe 10/10/07   64.   Slibovitz # 1 01:31  |  Philippe 10/10/07   65.   #55 So, Bill, why don`t you cut to the chase? 01:59  |  Johnboy 10/10/07   66.   48Mimi,this guy sounds pretty amateurish! here`s an example: 02:06  |  lakshmi 10/10/07   67.   The sky already fell 02:41  |  Dr David i. Gross 10/10/07   68.   55 Bill,the Old Testament mentions several tribes&peoples who wer 03:55  |  lakshmi 10/10/07   69.   # 58 It would be NICE to transfer you to a local.... 04:01  |  Misha 10/10/07   70.   Jerusalem should always be a united city 04:06  |  El-birawi 10/10/07   71.   Lakshmi 04:29  |  Mimi 10/10/07   72.   bill from nz 04:36  |  maria 10/10/07   73.   History is not your cup of tea, Bill 04:39  |  Otto Rand 10/10/07   74.   virginia pearcy....doesn`t really know HIS[story] 04:45  |  maria 10/10/07   75.   Bill`s history 04:51  |  Otto Rand 10/10/07   76.   Bill`s hisrory #3 04:51  |  Otto Rand 10/10/07   77.   Bill`s history#3 04:56  |  Otto Rand 10/10/07   78.   hey chanahs,virginia pearcy will be moving also. 04:57  |  maria 10/10/07   79.   To Dr. Gross 05:12  |  Otto Rand 10/10/07   80.   the covenant passed to jacob[israel] and his... 05:13  |  maria 10/10/07   81.   yerushalaim 05:29  |  David BEN ISRAEL 10/10/07   82.   VIRGINIA 05:55  |  david 10/10/07   83.   Jews, Please Stick to Islam 06:21  |  Mohammad 10/10/07   84.   otto rand 06:28  |  maria 10/10/07   85.   why do palestinian arabs can`t accept.... 06:38  |  maria 10/10/07   86.   otto rand...what do they call palestinians 06:50  |  maria 10/10/07   87.   #2 Fake Indra 07:04  |  indrajaya 10/10/07   88.   Otto Rand and his revisionism 07:58  |  the truth 10/10/07   89.   Lakshmi, regarding saying anything outside the box... 08:44  |  Mimi 10/10/07   90.   To OTTO RAND # 74 - Arabs 08:49  |  Dagma 10/10/07   91.   Otto Rand # 74 Jerusalem Arab?????????? 09:03  |  Dolly 10/10/07   92.   Lakshmi 09:03  |  Mimi 10/10/07   93.   Otto Rand the revisionist #2 of 2 09:11  |  the truth 10/10/07   94.   Jerusalem 09:47  |  Ralph 10/10/07   95.   Jerusalem-Mekka deal 09:50  |  Ralph 10/10/07   96.   Otto Rand 12:06  |  Dr David I. Gross 10/10/07   97.   Berlin united and Jerusalem divided? 12:16  |  Burned Liberal 10/10/07   98.   OTTO RAND has proved himself to be.... 12:17  |  Dolly 10/10/07   99.   Mimi,the 64million dollar question remains:IF the U.S. 12:39  |  lakshmi 10/10/07   100.   ALASKAN TRANSFER 14:56  |  soggy liberal 10/10/07

Today Online Amir Oren: Extremist Islam is the enemy, not the Palestinians Responses: 69 Ephraim Sneh: When it comes to Iran, Israel must expect the worst Responses: 30 Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinian borders Responses: 38 German historian publishes chilling read: Hitler's fan mail Responses: 27 U.S. gov't said split over Israeli intel on N. Korea- Syria ties Responses: 33 Daniel Levy: It's no wonder 'Israel Lobby' book is a bestseller Responses: 61 More Headlines 13:50 Abbas lays out first precise demands for Palestinian borders 13:10 New York Times: U.S. gov't split over Israeli data on Syria-N. Korea ties 14:56 PA sources: IDF kills Fatah militant, wounds another in Nablus raid 13:40 PA: Israel grants permanent residency to 3,500 in W. Bank 14:14 Poland honors 20 who risked lives to save Jews in WWII 14:48 Despite strike, classes to resume in Gaza envelope schools Thurs. 14:02 German historian publishes chilling read: Hitler's fan mail 13:53 Russian President says Iran is not building a nuclear weapon 11:33 Transport Ministry to issue tender for operation of flights to N. Israel 10:05 Haredi Taglit-style program scores government funding Previous Editions Select Day 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 05 oct 04 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 28 sep 27 sep 26 sep

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