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Holy stones, not stumbling blocks
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Jerusalem

The State of Israel was established without Jerusalem. The United Nations decreed, in its resolution on partition 60 years ago, that Palestine should be divided into Arab and Jewish states, and that Jerusalem would be placed under international administration.

The fledgling state put up with this decree, although Jerusalem had been an object of the Jewish people's yearning during 2,000 years of exile and was a mainstay in the national anthem. Israel's military power in 1948, and its political strength in the cease-fire agreements and secret negotiations with Jordan's King Abdullah I, were insufficient to enable it to gain control of the Old City. The state concentrated its efforts on persuading the world to recognize, at least de facto if not de jure, Israel's unilateral declaration of West Jerusalem as its capital.

Forty years after the Six-Day War and the capture and annexation of the Old City, Israel is finally on the threshold of an opportunity to make peace with its Palestinian neighbors. But Israeli political spoilers, with the help of a large and influential group of Diaspora Jews, now want to convert holy stones into stumbling blocks. These groups have recently launched a vigorous campaign to foil any attempt to reach a compromise on Jerusalem.
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The Palestinians' triple demand has not changed from Yasser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas: a state within the 1967 borders (possibly with slight amendments and territorial exchanges), with Jerusalem as its capital and a solution for the refugees of 1948.

A large Israeli majority is willing to accept the first demand. The same majority adamantly objects to the third demand, if the Palestinians insist on bringing back the refugees, with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to within Israel's borders.

The bargaining lines on the issues of borders and the refugees are clear. So will the distribution of blame for the negotiations' failure be, should Israel refuse to withdraw to the '67 lines and the Palestinians refuse to accept financial compensation for the refugees and settling them in their own state.

Reaching arrangements on these two core issues would leave only Jerusalem, which was already debated at the Camp David conference held in the summer of 2000. The peace objectors, or those who speak in favor of peace but are unwilling to pay its price, are now forming a fortified wall around Greater Jerusalem. If their plan succeeds, they will convert the city of peace into an obstacle to peace.

The method is simple, having been tried and tested repeatedly on the Israeli public, involving pulling out the slogan "Peres/Barak/Olmert will divide Jerusalem." Right-wing politicians, with financial and political support of American rightist Jewish and Christian groups, launch a preemptive attack. They intend to sway public opinion, parts of the coalition that may support them and the next Knesset elections.

In the face of all these, the government and a majority of the public must respond clearly and confidently: Yes to concessions in Jerusalem, as distinguished from conceding Jerusalem.

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  1.   Here is the thing............ 03:06  |  Bill Pearlman 11/12/07
  2.   Not One Centimeter Of OUR Capital- Jerusalem 09:26  |  Yishai Kohen 11/12/07
  3.   Jerusalem, D. C. 09:27  |  Johnny Weintraub 11/12/07
  4.   Pals and Jews don`t seem to think like Haaretz 09:43  |  Sam 11/12/07
  5.   Boy, oh boy 09:52  |  Nechama 11/12/07
  6.   Peace = concession 10:01  |  Olly 11/12/07
  7.   Please show arab concessions!!!!!! 10:04  |  lily 11/12/07
  8.   OBEY G-D NOT SATAN KEEP ISRAEL JERUSALEM JEWISH ?? 10:09  |  Bill 11/12/07
  9.   Haretz is correct, compromise or lose all in this last chance!!! 10:17  |  Ivar 11/12/07
  10.   If concessions are made... 10:31  |  Walter 11/12/07
  11.   For Jerusalem to Live, Part II 10:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  12.   Returning stolen property is no a concession 10:35  |  Chanalau, Tova 11/12/07
  13.   If Only 10:35  |  Matthew 11/12/07
  14.   THE STATE OF ISRAEL WAS ESTABLISHED BY HASHEM - NOT THE BRITISH 10:37  |  Miriam Ashkelon 11/12/07
  15.   And If Not?? 10:40  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  16.   Help, Help, Help...... 10:53  |  Ralph 11/12/07
  17.   MIRIAM ASHKELON on God, Jerusalem and Haaretz 11:01  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  18.   Ok, one half of Jerusalem Another Gaza? 11:03  |  Petra 11/12/07
  19.   Reply to # 2 Your City ? 11:04  |  sj 11/12/07
  20.   #8 Miriam amen lady, amen!!! 11:06  |  Petra 11/12/07
  21.   How many `civilizations` lusted for Jerusalem? 11:11  |  Petra 11/12/07
  22.   This same editor would be horrified by a Jewish demand for Mecca 11:12  |  Burned Liberal 11/12/07
  23.   #9 Sullivan in New York 11:14  |  Miriam Ashkelon 11/12/07
  24.   Stumbling blocks or stumbling editorial 11:18  |  Gabe 11/12/07
  25.   THIS IS GOING TO BE A NASTY STRUGGLE 11:22  |  indrajaya 11/12/07
  26.   Bill you dishonor the Bible and the God of the Bible 11:32  |  Ivar 11/12/07
  27.   your script belongs to 1938 not 2008 11:40  |  victor hardman 11/12/07
  28.   If there is no G_d, concede & hope for the best! 11:47  |  Daniel 11/12/07
  29.   indrajaya @ 20, That is all in your mind, due to the choices you 11:50  |  Virginia 11/12/07
  30.   Burned Liberal on Mecca #22 12:02  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  31.   Which concessions? 12:04  |  Joseph 11/12/07
  32.   Sullivan remaking the world 12:07  |  Jasmine Murphy 11/12/07
  33.   Olly that`s right, concede Jerusalem to the Israelis 12:08  |  Israeli 11/12/07
  34.   # 29, VIRGINIA 12:13  |  indrajaya 11/12/07
  35.   When scripture speaks of stumbling blocks... 12:17  |  Virginia 11/12/07
  36.   A lesson in history for the Editorial 12:17  |  Avrohom Hacohen 11/12/07
  37.   Dear editor.... 12:22  |  Esther 11/12/07
  38.   Holy Stones not stumbling blocks 12:34  |  Pearl 11/12/07
  39.   Moshiach and Divisions 12:36  |  Yitz 11/12/07
  40.   The Old city should be Israel 12:46  |  Ofer Maimon 11/12/07
  41.   There is no offer of peace pending. Whoever wrote this is a fool. 12:50  |  Pavel 11/12/07
  42.   Haaretz doesn`t care about Jewish history or Israel`s safety 12:55  |  Steve Randolph 11/12/07
  43.   Pearl on Memory and Sacrifice 12:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  44.   Jasmine Murphy Trives in the Blood and Guts 13:00  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  45.   indrajaya....your thirst for blood is truly unequaled... 13:03  |  Ofer Maimon 11/12/07
  46.   Avraham HaKohen, why in the world would anyone 13:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  47.   Jasmine Murphy thrives on peace and security 13:16  |  Jasmine Murphy 11/12/07
  48.   # 45, OFER MAIMON 13:33  |  indrajaya 11/12/07
  49.   NO to Concession 13:47  |  Brod 11/12/07
  50.   There Are Ways To Do This 13:47  |  dyinglikeflies 11/12/07
  51.   Yaakov Sullivan...arrogant or not - he is right 13:54  |  Ofer Maimon 11/12/07
  52.   I have been told 13:56  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/12/07
  53.   How about? 13:58  |  Paul Wood 11/12/07
  54.   NO to J`lem Division and Yes to arabs deportation , 14:02  |  Joseph E . 11/12/07
  55.   miriam Ashkelon,better change your moniker,since ashkelon stands 14:03  |  lakshmi 11/12/07
  56.   the land was partitioned in 1922 with a land for arabs no more 14:04  |  victor hardman 11/12/07
  57.   the land was partitioned in 1922 with a land for arabs no more 14:04  |  victor hardman 11/12/07
  58.   What do East Jerusalem Arabs think? 14:04  |  Joseph 11/12/07
  59.   Amman? 14:08  |  Motic 11/12/07
  60.   Some corrections to this editorial,abbas is willing to do 14:12  |  lakshmi 11/12/07
  61.   # 46 Jerusalem & the Arab world 14:23  |  Moshe from Haifa 11/12/07
  62.   Holy Yerushalayim Hakodesh 14:28  |  Annette K 11/12/07
  63.   YERUSHALAIM shel Zahav 14:34  |  Ephraim 11/12/07
  64.   Paul Wood # 53 The Capital Of Israel 14:36  |  Jeff Northridge 11/12/07
  65.   Haaretz ;sanity at last 14:41  |  Jacob 11/12/07
  66.   Jerusalem, Jerusalem, if I forget thee.......... 14:42  |  Jim 11/12/07
  67.   REports that Haaretz suppresses 14:45  |  Ephraim 11/12/07
  68.   # 3 Johnny from Sugar Land 14:52  |  Jim 11/12/07
  69.   Olmert seeks world acceptance. So does God. 14:58  |  Selah 11/12/07
  70.   Divided, we stand 15:30  |  Tosefta 11/12/07
  71.   #5 Obey G_d??? 15:31  |  Jim 11/12/07
  72.   Haaretz, please post my earlier response to indrajaya 15:42  |  Virginia 11/12/07
  73.   #55 lakshimi 15:44  |  Jim 11/12/07
  74.   How Much Did You get Paid For Writing This 15:47  |  Joe Levinson 11/12/07
  75.   One country 15:57  |  Husam 11/12/07
  76.   Haaretz Speak (part 2) 15:58  |  Jeff Northridge 11/12/07
  77.   #64 Jeff Northridge 16:03  |  Paul Wood 11/12/07
  78.   OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 16:05  |  Ben Uziel 11/12/07
  79.   Jasmine Murphy on peace and security 16:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  80.   Mr. Hacohen, your lack of knowledge 16:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  81.   Moshe from Haifa is guilty of the same arrogancee 16:16  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/12/07
  82.   #64 Jeff Northridge 16:22  |  Paul Wood