Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 15, 2008 Shvat 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:53 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 10:35 10/12/2007
The Har Homa test
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: Annapolis, Israel, Har Homa 

It is difficult to think of a place more suitable than Har Homa for holding the first test in the spirit of Annapolis. The comparison between Har Homa Crisis No. 2 and the development of Har Homa Crisis No. 1 can teach us whether the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has indeed started a new track or whether all the players are stuck on the old line.

Does Ehud Olmert, who pressed for the establishment of the new neighborhood in East Jerusalem, really see something different from the Prime Minister's Bureau than what he saw from the office of the mayor of Jerusalem? Will President George W. Bush pay lip service and eventually have to eat his words, just as Bill Clinton did 10 years ago?

Meanwhile, it is difficult to find the differences. Har Homa Crisis No. 1 also broke out a short while after an American attempt to revive the peace process. In February, 1997, a few weeks after it signed the Hebron agreement, the Netanyahu government decided to erect 6,500 housing units on the southern border of East Jerusalem, about one-third of them on private land owned by Palestinians. In the Palestinian Authority (and the Israeli peace camp) this plan was seen as another step in a scheme to cut off their capital from the West Bank. Yasser Arafat threatened to declare the establishment of an independent state and the Palestinian Legislative Council announced a general strike in the territories.
Advertisement
That crisis was the focus of Arafat's visit to the White House the following month. Clinton asked the Palestinian leader to be sensitive to Netanyahu's "coalition pressures." Arafat explained that he, too, had troubles at home and begged the president to at least demand that Israel delay the implementation of the decision to establish the neighborhood. The president sent envoy Dennis Ross to Netanyahu with a letter in which he demanded that the establishment of the neighborhood be postponed.

On the other side were the settlers and the activists from the right. They were flanked by then-mayor Olmert, who a short while earlier had pushed Netanyahu into the Western Wall tunnel - an adventure that ended with the death of 16 Israeli soldiers and dozens of Palestinians. Olmert declared that Har Homa was "the most substantive test of the government's ability to withstand pressure and demonstrate leadership." Work at the site began four days later. The U.S. secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, called U.S. Ambassador Martin Indyk at 5:30 A.M. and instructed him to go to Netanyahu with a firm message stating that the United States saw the establishment of the new neighborhood as "a step that undermines everything that we are trying to do."

The ambassador made his protest, the Arabs demonstrated, the UN Security Council met, the United States cast a veto - and Har Homa was taken off the international agenda. Arafat licked another wound and Hamas threw more salt on it.

The new neighborhood - or, from one point of view, the "settlement" - which arose on the southern hills of Jerusalem became a mark of Cain on the forehead of the Oslo camp in Ramallah. Ed Abington, who was then American consul general in Jerusalem, said later, "Arafat understood that we do not understand, or do not want to understand, the enormity of the troubles that the settlements cause him at home. Arafat understood that he was left alone in the campaign."

Netanyahu identified the weakness of the international community and continued to nurture the settlers. The response today of spokesmen for the Olmert government gives rise to the fear that the Annapolis conference did not change the situation on the Israeli side. They claim that "the neighborhood is within the area of the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, over which Israeli law is binding, and therefore there is no prohibition to building there, just as there is no obstacle to building in any other part of Israel."

We have already forgotten that the prime minister agreed that everything would be open to negotiation, including Jerusalem. Is this the way to build a wall to fortify the status of PA President Mahmoud Abbas? And what will "the world" do - all those people who were in attendance at Annapolis - if Olmert decides to hide behind "pressures from the coalition" and approves the new construction?

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said over the weekend that new construction in the territories does not contribute to building mutual trust. She also stressed the special importance of refraining from moves that could have influence a final status agreement. The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, said that the decision to expand the neighborhood "is not helpful."

So the gentiles say these things - and thousands of Jewish residents laugh all the way to Har Homa. And what will happen to the spirit of Annapolis? The same thing that happened to the spirit of Hebron.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Diskin's faulty math
The Shin Bet's estimate of civilian casualties was revealed to be too low.
Wooing minorities
The color of Barack Obama's skin has returned as an issue to the campaign.
  1.   ANOTHER REASON WHY 10:57  |  indrajaya 10/12/07
  2.   What is at stake here....???? 11:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/12/07
  3.   more pie in the sky from akiva on spirit 11:06  |  victor hardman 10/12/07
  4.   No, Contrary, THE ARABS ARE SABER RATTLING AND ATTACKING. PEACE? 11:25  |  Pavel 10/12/07
  5.   Duplicity, Lies and Subtrafuge 11:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/12/07
  6.   The spirit of Annapolis 11:46  |  sh 10/12/07
  7.   to #2, on Israeli leaders 11:51  |  Fabio 10/12/07
  8.   it is clear to all 12:02  |  RM 10/12/07
  9.   #5 is yaakov cousin to doris and uncle to labarse 12:04  |  victor hardman 10/12/07
  10.   when it comes to building 12:09  |  rm 10/12/07
  11.   Moreover, Dino 12:12  |  Fabio 10/12/07
  12.   For The Sake Of Peace, Prevent Arabs From Building In Jerusalem 12:20  |  Yishai Kohen 10/12/07
  13.   A blind eye to Pal missiles, angst at Israeli houses 12:20  |  Sam 10/12/07
  14.   It`s really all based on assumptions about media control 12:31  |  Rowan Berkeley 10/12/07
  15.   Paddy Sullivan and Eldar,Catholic lovers united in hatred for Isr 12:52  |  Absolute Sweden 10/12/07
  16.   Any attempt to raise the question of building in areas that 12:56  |  Moishele 10/12/07
  17.   Undermining Annapolis? That`s the whole point 13:11  |  newageblues 10/12/07
  18.   To be or not to be, the status quo, or peace??? 13:12  |  Ivar 10/12/07
  19.   hardman, read the article and come out of the time warp 13:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/12/07
  20.   # 7 / # 11 Fabio 13:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/12/07
  21.   #19yaakov and the time warp of the us constitution 13:39  |  victor hardman 10/12/07
  22.   @10,rm. we have no finantial aid of USA 13:53  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  23.   @10, rm btw we paid back all your military aid, you cannot 13:59  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  24.   Yaacov Sullivan 14:00  |  Hilda 10/12/07
  25.   hardman on the constitution #21 14:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/12/07
  26.   Fabio 14:05  |  Hilda 10/12/07
  27.   @20, swiss dino, i see that cocain in your country 14:11  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  28.   #23 Vladimir, thanks for the advice that I should keep quiet 14:19  |  newageblues 10/12/07
  29.   Thank you Hilda, for your Hanukah Greeting #24 14:20  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/12/07
  30.   #12 is right 14:37  |  JD 10/12/07
  31.   #24,26 Hilda, that`s a nice one 14:50  |  Fabio 10/12/07
  32.   THe Left in Israel 15:04  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  33.   newageblues, @28. 15:07  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  34.   Victor Hardman 15:08  |  Gabe1 10/12/07
  35.   # 26 Hi, Hi, Hilda is calling in question Fabios identity........ 15:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/12/07
  36.   I agree with Moshe (16) who claims that this issue 15:16  |  Dubi 10/12/07
  37.   @28, newageblues 2 15:18  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  38.   What, Sullivan claims to be Jewish? Ha! You mean 15:18  |  Dubi 10/12/07
  39.   # 27 vladimirinski 15:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/12/07
  40.   SOLUTION for AKIVA 15:33  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  41.   #25 yaakov the binding treaty is san remo 15:35  |  v ictor hardman 10/12/07
  42.   #15 Absolute Idiot 15:36  |  Jari 10/12/07
  43.   Swiss Dino`s interesting point 15:47  |  Ben 10/12/07
  44.   jew power 15:54  |  edgar 10/12/07
  45.   Vladimir, you`re either lying or astonishly ignorant 16:15  |  newageblues 10/12/07
  46.   # 43 Ben 16:16  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/12/07
  47.   @39, my lula??? not mine and never was. 16:16  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  48.   Freezing Construction 16:32  |  Jeff Northridge 10/12/07
  49.   #43ben jews have been praying for peace for 2000 years 16:55  |  v ictor hardman 10/12/07
  50.   One State or Two States? 17:03  |  Janet 10/12/07
  51.   Old Shmatta Eldar hasn`t a Jewish bone in his body 17:16  |  Maya 10/12/07
  52.   ACTUALLY JANET #50 17:17  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  53.   newageblues # 45 U.S. Aid To Israel 17:23  |  Jeff Northridge 10/12/07
  54.   Preserving the coalition and Har Homa 17:25  |  Tosefta 10/12/07
  55.   Peace :What is it? 17:25  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  56.   Janet- one state and that state is Israel 17:30  |  JD 10/12/07
  57.   To # 50 Janet 17:32  |  The Teacher/Instruct 10/12/07
  58.   TURNCOAT SULLIVAN 17:36  |  * BEN JABO 10/12/07
  59.   Watching Their State Slip Sliding Away 17:36  |  Dorothy 10/12/07
  60.   To # 52 EPHRAIM 17:38  |  The Teacher/Instruct 10/12/07
  61.   Akiva there was no "spirit"...... 17:47  |  Mary 10/12/07
  62.   @45, newageblues 17:55  |  vladimir 10/12/07
  63.   #53, Jeff, thank you for your informative and polite post 17:59  |  newageblues 10/12/07
  64.   Janet in far away Canada 18:13  |  Mary 10/12/07
  65.   # 53 jeff 18:17  |  Axel 10/12/07
  66.   #49 victor paul harrisman in TA 18:19  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  67.   # 56 JD 18:24  |  Axel 10/12/07
  68.   Settlers? 18:27  |  The Teacher/Instruct 10/12/07
  69.   Spirit of Annapolis ? Gimmee a Break ! 18:30  |  Tod Zuckerman 10/12/07
  70.   #61 Mary 18:34  |  Boycott 10/12/07
  71.   #63 newageblues re US aid to Israel 18:35  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  72.   Boycott why I am not surprised you quote nazis? 18:52  |  Mary 10/12/07
  73.   #67 Axel 19:00  |  JD 10/12/07
  74.   Axel the Good German 19:02  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  75.   TOSSI FETTA the Infantile Pisher 19:11  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  76.   What is the spirit of Annapolis? 19:13  |  Herbert Kaine 10/12/07
  77.   Boycott #70 19:14  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  78.   Axel # 65 Not Quite 19:15  |  Jeff Northridge 10/12/07
  79.   To #38 Dubi re Sulli 19:17  |  David 10/12/07
  80.   The hopeful lack of symmetry (Dorothy #59) 19:20  |  Tosefta 10/12/07
  81.   Dorothy #59 19:25  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  82.   EU Apartheid, dont let Jews in E. Jerusalem.sound like 20s repeat 19:25  |  David 10/12/07
  83.   Ben Jabo the asterix 19:25  |  Tony 10/12/07
  84.   #72 Mary 19:28  |  Boycott 10/12/07
  85.   Tosefta- Politics Schmolitics & Appeasement 19:32  |  Dorothy 10/12/07
  86.   #77 Ephraim 19:35  |  Boycott 10/12/07
  87.   #78 Jeff Northridge re Axel and US Aid. 19:38  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  88.   #71, Labhras, I view settlements as illegal, not occupation 19:41  |  newageblues 10/12/07
  89.   Boycott you said and I quote 19:43  |  Mary 10/12/07
  90.   Labhras # 71 That`s History 19:50  |  Jeff Northridge 10/12/07
  91.   #86 Boycott 19:51  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  92.   The Gaza test 19:53  |  Eli 10/12/07
  93.   Ephraim-regarding denigrating Israeli check the mirror 20:04  |  Dorothy 10/12/07
  94.   More BS from Eldar - an itnatkutist & Oslo Criminal 20:05  |  Mr Transfer 10/12/07
  95.   Ephraim=Gabe1 #75 20:13  |  Tosefta 10/12/07
  96.   Sullivan Israel-hater, the word is subterfuge, moron 20:23  |  McQueen 10/12/07
  97.   Ephraim-Think about this, it may be difficult 20:32  |  Dorothy 10/12/07
  98.   Settlements, Occupation, and Annexation (Newageblues #88) 20:39  |  Tosefta 10/12/07
  99.   The true Annapolis spirit: Arabs refuse to shake Livni`s hand 20:43  |  Moishe O`Reilly 10/12/07
  100.   McQueen can`t spell either 20:47  |  Jacob 10/12/07
  101.   #90 Jeff Northridge 20:55  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  102.   Spelling 21:00  |  Jacob 10/12/07
  103.   Continual indifference gets us into hot water 21:03  |  Smadar 10/12/07
  104.   #89 Mary re Boycott 21:11  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  105.   Moishe 21:14  |  Bill 10/12/07
  106.   Swiss Dino 21:15  |  Ben 10/12/07
  107.   Victor, 21:17  |  Ben 10/12/07
  108.   Dorothy #97 21:24  |  Ephraim 10/12/07
  109.   #89 Mary 21:25  |  Boycott 10/12/07
  110.   #91 Labhras, #95 Tosefta 21:30  |  Boycott 10/12/07
  111.   #102Jacob 21:33  |  tbora 10/12/07
  112.   Har Homa 21:34  |  Elliott Miller 10/12/07
  113.   #110 Boycott- Strange World 22:11  |  Dorothy 10/12/07
  114.   Smadar of Toronto 22:14  |  Gabe1 10/12/07
  115.   #66 more fun with the boston arse who sits on a blarney stone 22:14  |  victor hardman 10/12/07
  116.   #110 Boycott 22:15  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  117.   David about Sullivan 22:18  |  Dubi 10/12/07
  118.   Perhaps a Bargaining Chip 22:42  |  DoubleClick 10/12/07
  119.   #71-irish rubbernecker tries to make a point 22:48  |  peter 10/12/07
  120.   Labhras # 101 The Whole Truth 22:50  |  Jeff Northridge 10/12/07
  121.   Israel should be sanctioned and boycotted 23:08  |  Ibrahim 10/12/07
  122.   Don`t blame the illegal settlers or the right wing. 23:10  |  Maureen Ann 10/12/07
  123.   # 106 Ben 23:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/12/07
  124.   Of course "Jews out of E.Jerusalem" 23:10  |  Schtarker Y id 10/12/07
  125.   #107 ben has high hopes after 90 years of failure 23:12  |  victor hardman 10/12/07
  126.   #119 Peter says military aid to Israel benefits Israeli Arabs 23:16  |  newageblues 10/12/07
  127.   victor paul harrisman whose posts are so 23:24  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  128.   Labhras and you want to see where that money goes to! 23:25  |  Gil 10/12/07
  129.   Jeff you have hit the LABHRAS Question! 23:35  |  Gil 10/12/07
  130.   Haaretz bias 23:36  |  leo 10/12/07
  131.   TO MARY # 61+72+89 23:40  |  The Teacher/Instruct 10/12/07
  132.   # 73 JD 23:40  |  Axel 10/12/07
  133.   Israelis Intrepatation of Annapolis 23:41  |  Billy T 10/12/07
  134.   My daily message to the bashers 23:45  |  leo 10/12/07
  135.   # 74 ephraim 23:46  |  Axel 10/12/07
  136.   Bah Humbug 23:46  |  Don 10/12/07
  137.   #128 Gil 23:55  |  Labhras 10/12/07
  138.   # 78 jeff 00:00  |  Axel 11/12/07
  139.   Israeli lobby is to blame 00:03  |  Palestinian 11/12/07
  140.   #113 Dorothy 00:10  |  Boycott 11/12/07
  141.   #121 Ibrahim 00:26  |  Labhras 11/12/07
  142.   #126 newageblues, arabs drink coffee too 00:27  |  peter 11/12/07
  143.   No Alex (#138) 01:10  |  Gil 11/12/07
  144.   evidence please, Peter, of my alleged racism 01:21  |  newageblues 11/12/07
  145.   #126 Newageblues 01:29  |  Labhras 11/12/07
  146.   Jeff Northridgere; Yor ignorance about American aid 02:00  |  American in NY 11/12/07
  147.   Jeff Northridge # 120 What did Ireland do? 02:06  |  Dorothy 11/12/07
  148.   Leo, Are you Sure you are there??? NY or TA? 02:07  |  Ibrahim 11/12/07
  149.   Labhras on Isareli Aparthied 02:10  |  Ibrahim 11/12/07
  150.   #142-newageblues singing he`s a racist too 02:19  |  peter 11/12/07
  151.   The Jewish Right 02:34  |  Tom 11/12/07
  152.   Labhras # 141 Apartheid In Israel 02:44  |  Jeff Northridge 11/12/07
  153.   #147 Dorothy re irish foreign aid 02:46  |  Labhras 11/12/07
  154.   #149 Ibrahim 02:48  |  Labhras 11/12/07
  155.   OK, Peter not 100% wrong on one point 03:13  |  newageblues 11/12/07
  156.   American in NY # 146 U.S. Military Aid 03:23  |  Jeff Northridge 11/12/07
  157.   Rice considers this doesn`t contribute to the peace process? 03:45  |  Johnboy 11/12/07
  158.   Akiva,if you pay for a property and you are told 03:53  |  TOMY 11/12/07
  159.   #149 Ibrahim,so Israel is more racist 03:59  |  TOMY 11/12/07
  160.   Does Israeli Greed For Land Make One-State Solution Inevitable? 04:03  |  chet 11/12/07
  161.   #13 SAM 04:07  |  Courcey 11/12/07
  162.   har homa 04:39  |  shmuel 11/12/07
  163.   Reply to Moishe O`Reilley (Post No. 99) 06:18  |  Johnny Weintraub 11/12/07
  164.   HAR HOMA 06:49  |  AL 11/12/07
  165.   #49 Say Paul Harris, cut the BS! 07:01  |  ballistic 11/12/07
  166.   Say Ben Jabo re Yaakov 07:10  |  ballistic 11/12/07
  167.   the racist newageblues shuffling 07:43  |  peter 11/12/07
  168.   #146 America: US has had no worse allies than Israel? 07:45  |  newageblues 11/12/07
  169.   156 chet finds arab plan ironic 07:52  |  peter 11/12/07
  170.   #158 c het should go out and buy some history books 08:19  |  victor hardman 11/12/07
  171.   newageblues: Arabs are Israelis as well! 08:40  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/12/07
  172.   Al 08:44  |  sigh 11/12/07
  173.   To Courcey in Barbados 08:50  |  Sam 11/12/07
  174.   Palestinians Do Not Own Land and Jerusalem is Not Up For Debate 09:25  |  Efox 11/12/07
  175.   @88newageblues, lost interest can be included only if 09:37  |  vladimir 11/12/07
  176.   @164, al. we will flatter bethlehem in this case 09:58  |  vladimir 11/12/07
  177.   PUBLIC NOTICE 21:04  |  * BEN JABO 11/12/07
  178.   Vladimer # 23 04:03  |  American in NY 12/12/07
  179.   Jeff Northridge # 156 04:12  |  American in NY 12/12/07
  180.   #174 Efox still beating his tin drum from NM 18:57  |  ballistic 12/12/07
  181.   re: ballistic 10:42  |  Efox 20/12/07
  182.   The Har Homa test 20:31  |  Roy 26/12/07
  183.   Spirit of Annapolis 19:39  |  BARUCH AHSEM 15/01/08
 Today Online
Diplomat: U.S. firmly opposes all W. Bank, E. J'lem construction
Responses: 183
IDF kills 17 Palestinians in raids on Gaza City
Responses: 211
Israel offers Jewish Anglo doctors $60,000 to immigrate
Responses: 101
Ex-U.S. envoy: Slim chance for Mideast peace by end of year
Responses: 51
Historian threatens to expose post-Shoah pogroms in Poland
Responses: 104
Hamas sniper kills kibbutz volunteer near Gaza fence
Responses: 155


More Headlines
19:37 Power out in Sderot after rocket barrage; four hurt
18:20 Beirut explosion targets U.S. Embassy car, killing at least four
19:13 IDF kills 19 Palestinians in raids on Gaza Strip
19:46 Romney needs a win in Michigan primaries to stay in the game
11:47 Israel offers Anglo doctors $60,000 in immigration incentive
18:55 Yishai to Lieberman: If PM, Abbas discuss J`lem, Shas will quit gov`t
19:38 Egyptian FM says Israel incited U.S. Congress to withhold aid
14:02 Diplomat: U.S. firmly opposes all W. Bank, E. J'lem construction
16:28 Eight-year-old Bedouin girl dies from severe cold spell in Negev
14:45 Bush warns Iran: New provocations will have serious consequences
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Dead Sea Salt
Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
Teach & Study Program
make a difference in Israel
FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film
The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer
Inbal Jerusalem Hotel
Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem
Long-term Israel programs
MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
AMERICANS CHOOSE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE
U.S. citizen in Israel vote in Democrats-Abroad official global primary.
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved