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Nathan Diament, public policy director of the U.S. Jewish organization Orthodox Union (Guy Raivitz)
Last update - 10:33 27/11/2007
Jewish, Christian leaders to U.S.: No compromise on Jerusalem
By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Ehud Olmert, Annapolis 

WASHINGTON - Representatives from Orthodox Jewish organizations and Christian organizations met with President Bush's National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley along with other senior White House officials Monday, and raised concerns regarding the diplomatic meetings in Annapolis.

The members of the group oppose future Israeli concessions in Jerusalem. According to some participants, Hadley told them that Jerusalem is not on the negotiating table now. He also told them that no American pressure was applied before Israel decided to attend Annapolis. The participants got the impression that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was the enthusiastic partner behind this process.

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he group was led by Nathan Diament, public policy director of the Orthodox Union, and included representatives from Agudath Israel, the National Council of Young Israel, Christians United for Israel represented by David Brog, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Coordinating Council for Jerusalem, headed by Jeff Ballabon. It also included Christian leader and former presidential candidate Gary Bauer.

Following the meeting with Hadley, Diament issued a statement that "we had a constructive and meaningful conversation with Mr. Hadley and other White House senior officials. On the eve of the Annapolis meetings, we were happy to share with them the perspective of Americans who in their synagogues and church pews regularly pray for the peace of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem."

Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Monday categorically rejected assertions by American Jewish leaders that Jerusalem is not an Israeli issue but "a Jewish one."

The Jewish leaders are demanding that American Jews should have a say in any discussion about dividing Jerusalem.

Speaking at a news briefing Monday, Olmert said that the Jerusalem issue had "been determined long ago" and that "the government of Israel has a sovereign right to negotiate anything on behalf of Israel."

He said that at this stage, the matter was a theoretical rather than practical one, as the subject of Jerusalem was not yet on the negotiating table.

In recent weeks, as the Annapolis summit approached and rumors and leaks of future compromises in Jerusalem increased, several Jewish American figures, mainly from the Orthodox community, coalesced to present a hard line against the possibility of the capital's division.

Among other things they set up the Coordinating Council on Jerusalem, an umbrella organization identified with Jewish Republican circles, to resist any compromise regarding the city. The Orthodox Union (OU), the umbrella organization of Orthodox communities in the U.S., set up a Web site intended to mobilize people "to protect Jerusalem from being divided."

The OU adopted a resolution after the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, breaking with its tradition of refraining from intervention in controversial political issues in Israel. It announced that it would no longer desist from expressing positions opposed to those of Israel's government when it believed this was called for.

A number of Jewish leaders have been saying lately, mostly off the record, that they do not believe Olmert's government would make what one of them called "irreversible decisions" concerning Jerusalem without consulting world Jewry.

Commenting on Olmert's statement Monday, the OU issued a statement saying that the organization's activity for Jerusalem was not intended to "dictate" moves to Israel, but to express the OU's "resolute stand" that all the Jews in the world had a share in "the holy city of Jerusalem" and that its partition was a move the Israeli government should not agree to.


Related articles:
  • Shas: If J'lem even mentioned in Annapolis, we'll bolt coalition
  • Right-wing activists hold anti-Annapolis rally at Western Wall
  • Arab leaders warn the PA against making concessions to Israel on Jerusalem.
  • Hamas: Abbas has no right to give up one inch of Palestine

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      1.   Olmert and Jerusalem 00:00  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 27/11/07
      2.   olmert is right, but not for the reason he thinks 00:14  |  henry 27/11/07
      3.   Why not. . . 00:25  |  Steve 27/11/07
      4.   Yes - finally some sense 00:34  |  Ramzi, a Palestinian 27/11/07
      5.   All Jews 00:37  |  Rodney Stack 27/11/07
      6.   This Haaretz article is a real joke. 00:41  |  Etoile 27/11/07
      7.   OLMERT TELLS JEWS TO STAY OUT 00:42  |  Rich 27/11/07
      8.   He is very wrong on that Olmert is No Jew 00:47  |  ralphsrant1 27/11/07
      9.   Olmert "we will take your money & kids, just not your opinions" 01:05  |  this is why im here 27/11/07
      10.   When he needs it, he knows how to shmooze 01:16  |  Gilad 27/11/07
      11.   EVERY JEW IN THE WORLD OWNS JERUSLEM,OLMERT HAS NO RIGHT NEGOTIAT 01:20  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 27/11/07
      12.   Amarican Jews` Imperial Chutzpah should be out. 01:31  |  Fortuna Benmayor 27/11/07
      13.   US Jews determined all policies 01:39  |  El-birawi 27/11/07
      14.   5229428 01:39  |  Rabat Greenberg 27/11/07
      15.   Olmert seeks Arab League views, but wants to ignore world Jewry 01:43  |  Dr. L. Brnd 27/11/07
      16.   Israel`s say 01:44  |  David 27/11/07
      17.   Want a say? Move your tachat here 01:48  |  Yael 27/11/07
      18.   JERUSALEM BELONGS TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE. 01:57  |  World Jewry. 27/11/07
      19.   The Holy Land belongs to the Jewish people where ever they live. 02:00  |  David 27/11/07
      20.   US support 02:05  |  moisherabaynu 27/11/07
      21.   Olmert GO HOME 02:06  |  ralphsrant1 27/11/07
      22.   Wrong. Israel will decide the future of Jerusalem. Not Olmert. 02:06  |  bat yam 27/11/07
      23.   MANY OTHER S HAVE OPINIONS 02:08  |  TOBIA 27/11/07
      24.   Jason_M 02:23  |  Jason Mundstuk 27/11/07
      25.   only this traitorous criminal gangster has the right 02:23  |  chaim schonbrun 27/11/07
      26.   Henry, please explain... 02:25  |  Ben 27/11/07
      27.   Olmert the Lackey 02:28  |  George Kaplan 27/11/07
      28.   Response to VOICE OF M 02:32  |  VICTOR 27/11/07
      29.   US Jews: Israel, not Olmert, 02:35  |  Russian Jew 27/11/07
      30.   Gilad # 4 & Henry # 1 02:36  |  Philippe 27/11/07
      31.   Nice first step... 02:37  |  Ira U. Crazy 27/11/07
      32.   Wrong, Olmert has no right to decide! 02:39  |  gb 27/11/07
      33.   Wake up before it is to late 02:40  |  Jack 27/11/07
      34.   you gotta go with olmert on this one! 02:41  |  eric 27/11/07
      35.   Negotiating Jerusalem 02:58  |  Neil Kuchinsky 27/11/07
      36.   Ben Gurion said that no Jew has any right to relinquish Jerusalem 02:59  |  Terry 27/11/07
      37.   No fan of Olmert...... 03:13  |  Nemesis 27/11/07
      38.   Henry, if million ofJews moved to Israel, Olmert `d import Arabs 03:14  |  Terry 27/11/07
      39.   UNGA 181 03:16  |  jjvanka 27/11/07
      40.   The chosen Jews of the world must unite to Dump Olmert Now! 03:24  |  Rick 27/11/07
      41.   Olmert 03:25  |  Dave 27/11/07
      42.   Dual Loyalty is Showing 03:35  |  Purely American 27/11/07
      43.   # 4 Ramzi...I totally agree!!!! 03:36  |  Lynn 27/11/07
      44.   Can`t stand Olmert 03:40  |  Jon 27/11/07
      45.   Lest anyone misunderstand 03:59  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/07
      46.   Isreali Jews should decide 04:01  |  Dave 27/11/07
      47.   The only chance for peace 04:04  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/07
      48.   Would the world`s Muslims let Saudis divide Mecca? 04:09  |  Jerusalem = Israel 27/11/07
      49.   Divide Tel Aviv for peace 04:38  |  Herbert Kaine 27/11/07
      50.   # 19 David ....YOU live in NY 05:06  |  Lynn 27/11/07
      51.   why is jerusalem different than gaza? 05:18  |  naftaly 27/11/07
      52.   The Same as Abu Peres , Abu Beilin , Abu Ramon 05:20  |  Joseph E . post 1 27/11/07
      53.   The Same as Abu Peres , Abu Beilin , Abu Ramon 05:22  |  Joseph E . post 2 27/11/07
      54.   Religious Freakshows want to keep what they STOLE!! 05:26  |  POP 27/11/07
      55.   Chridstian leaders 05:44  |  Pierre 27/11/07
      56.   My guess is no Christian Palestinians are included in these. 06:01  |  Nabeel 27/11/07
      57.   Olmert is misguided - Jerusalem is Jewish patrimony 06:04  |  Raymond from DC 27/11/07
      58.   #11. "Every Jew in the world, owns Jerusalem." Dream on! 06:16  |  Maureen Ann 27/11/07
      59.   Jerusalem 06:24  |  Moslem Half Jewish 27/11/07
      60.   Telling U.S. Jews who`s boss 06:28  |  Jason_M 27/11/07
      61.   Re: Only Chance for Peace, Mark Lincoln 06:32  |  Jason_M 27/11/07
      62.   Not just every Jew in the world shares Jerusalem... 06:42  |  David 27/11/07
      63.   Jerusalem 06:59  |  Moslem Half Jewish 27/11/07
      64.   THERE`LL BE PEACE WITHOUT PALESTINE.NO JEW HAS RIGHT TO SURRENDER 07:03  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 27/11/07
      65.   The Same as Abu Peres , Abu Beilin , Abu Ramon 07:15  |  Joseph E . post 2 27/11/07
      66.   Well Said Ramzi, A Palestinian # 4 - Jewish Americans And Others 07:18  |  Eli 27/11/07
      67.   Raymond From DC # 56 - You Don`t Playah The Gemah 07:30  |  Eli 27/11/07
      68.   Olmert`s words 07:42  |  Choni Davidowitz 27/11/07
      69.   American Jews Need A Slap in The Face 07:53  |  Adam B. 27/11/07
      70.   US Christian Zionist pressure on Jerusalem not Biblical