Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 30, 2008 Shvat 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:51 (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
The Western Wall in Jerusalem. (Daniel Bar-On/Jini)
Last update - 18:38 29/01/2008
World Jewish leaders gear up to block division of Jerusalem
By Barak Ravid
Tags: Ehud Olmert 

Negotiations over Jerusalem may take center stage at Tuesday's meeting of the World Jewish Congress board of governors: Delegates from rightist political parties are trying to muster a majority for a resolution on the matter that would embarrass Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

At a meeting of the executive of the WJC's Jerusalem chapter on Monday, Yoav Blum, chapter vice chairman and a representative of the Likud Party, proposed submitting a resolution stating that "united Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel and must not be divided." But chapter chairman MK Shai Hermesh, of Olmert's Kadima Party, prevented a vote and closed the meeting.

In response, some delegates decided to submit the resolution on their own - but only if they are confident of a majority.
Advertisement
The WJC's battle over Jerusalem began three weeks ago, when organization president Ron Lauder - who is considered close to Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu - published an open letter urging Olmert to take world Jewish opinion into account during talks over Jerusalem. Olmert subsequently canceled his planned speech to the board of governors, which is meeting at the Inbal Hotel in the capital.

Olmert confirmed Monday the report in Haaretz that he plans to defer discussion of Jerusalem to the end of his talks with the Palestinians.

"The negotiations with the Palestinians will deal with all the issues," he told a Kadima faction meeting. "However, that doesn't mean they will deal with all the issues simultaneously?The issue of Jerusalem is very sensitive, and it is better to begin with issues on which there is a chance of reaching understandings than to start with matters in which the initial disagreements are large."

The Haaretz report also attributed this decision to his desire to keep Shas in the government - the party has threatened to quit if Jerusalem comes up for discussion.

Related articles:
  • Shas rabbis: Party will quit coalition immediately if J'lem discussed
  • Israel-Diaspora relations / Olmert snubs WJC after Lauder's open letter on Jerusalem
  • Peres: Government has no intention of dividing Jerusalem

    More Jewish World news and features
  • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Pride of Shas
    Shas MK: Gays are causing Israeli society to self-destruct.
    In bad taste
    Local Jewish group protests 'Holocaust float' at Rio Carnival.
      1.   international jerusalem, no state capitol 07:50  |  bashar 29/01/08
      2.   Jerusalem is exclusively Jewish. 08:50  |  Harold Lane 29/01/08
      3.   No need to even discuss Jerusalem since there is no one with whom 09:09  |  Avihu 29/01/08
      4.   The Jebusites Should Have a Say 10:40  |  MaoSayTongue 29/01/08
      5.   #1 Bashar. "International Jerusalem, no state capital." 10:41  |  Maureen Ann 29/01/08
      6.   Herod might have been from modern-day Jordan. 10:54  |  Michael 29/01/08
      7.   "ALL the land of CANAAN, for an EVERLASTING POSESSION:" 11:14  |  mary for jews 29/01/08
      8.   Being a Jew seems to be all about greed 11:33  |  Natallie Durson 29/01/08
      9.   Maybe Jerusalem should be declared a world heritage site.... 11:33  |  Deborah 29/01/08
      10.   UN control over Jerusalem 11:47  |  Mohammad 29/01/08
      11.   IT CAN, IT WILL, IT SHOULD BE DIVIDED 11:58  |  indrajaya 29/01/08
      12.   #7 mary for jews 12:11  |  Jimmy 29/01/08
      13.   #Natalie Durson" 12:16  |  H 29/01/08
      14.   To Natalie Durson 12:18  |  MG 29/01/08
      15.   Jerusalem 12:21  |  MG 29/01/08
      16.   One Israel One Jewish Jerusalem 12:45  |  Petra 29/01/08
      17.   save their breath 12:46  |  Truth 29/01/08
      18.   # 4 And where and who are the Jubusites? Certainly NOT Muslims, 12:47  |  Petra 29/01/08
      19.   # 12 Jimmy Muslims ? Pain? 9-11 12:48  |  Petra 29/01/08
      20.   Natalie Durston 12:49  |  Jean Jacques R 29/01/08
      21.   Jerusalem is partly occupied 13:28  |  Minda 29/01/08
      22.   " Being a Jew .." #8 by Natalie Burston 13:31  |  Claire from Toulon 29/01/08
      23.   Negotiate DealBreakers First, If Anything 13:40  |  Raoul Isaac 29/01/08
      24.   as bush h. just said, palestine will be 14:18  |  bozhidar balkas 29/01/08
      25.   Why either united or divided? 14:20  |  sh 29/01/08
      26.   Jerusalem is the capital of Israel 14:37  |  JI aka Yussef Gideon 29/01/08
      27.   All This Historical Banter Is Besides The Point 15:13  |  Yaakov Sullivan 29/01/08
      28.   Jerusalem 15:15  |  Jacob 29/01/08
      29.   Jerusalem is not the democratic capital of Israel 15:18  |  SJ 29/01/08
      30.   The Jewish people v Natalie Durston 15:57  |  S Marshall 29/01/08
      31.   JERUSALEM MUST NOT BE DIVIDED 16:10  |  MJ 29/01/08
      32.   Petra 16:25  |  Said 29/01/08
      33.   International Capitol? 16:29  |  Steve 29/01/08
      34.   MJ Jerusalem Is Already Divided 16:31  |  Yaakov Sullivan 29/01/08
      35.   God and the Holy Land 16:31  |  Said 29/01/08
      36.   S Marshall and what slums do you come from? 16:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 29/01/08
      37.   One Thing Is Clear 17:04  |  Yaakov Sullivan 29/01/08
      38.   .......Divided we fall 17:23  |  Edward H 29/01/08
      39.   letters coinciding with the planets becoming part of belief? 17:41  |  montgomery rosen 29/01/08
      40.   Yaakov 17:50  |  Mark 29/01/08
      41.   TALK OF SPLITTING JERUSALEM IS FANTASY 18:14  |  Lou Knee 29/01/08
      42.   #1 ,Bashar.Jerusalem the International enclave... 19:06  |  Hamza 29/01/08
      43.   The Arabs Catagorically Rejected UNGA Res. 181 19:15  |  Tom 29/01/08
      44.   World Jewish leaders destroying peace for Israelis and Pals 19:18  |  peacelover 29/01/08
      45.   JERUSALEM WAS UNITED, ZIONISTS DIVIDED IT 19:47  |  TrippleJump 29/01/08
      46.   #43.Tom of DENVER(USA)What the...... 20:02  |  Sandy Gabriel 29/01/08
      47.   Erm...#45 seems to have missed a bit. 20:05  |  Tom 29/01/08
      48.   Some real questions 20:13  |  Analysis 29/01/08
      49.   BInational regime for the Old City 20:18  |  Danite 29/01/08
      50.   The only way for Peace is to adopt the SAUDI PLAN. 20:20  |  Al Sa`d 29/01/08
      51.   what will happen ..... 20:31  |  flimflam 29/01/08
      52.   Sandy Gabriel/Jewish Jerusalem 20:33  |  Tom 29/01/08
      53.   Nonsense 20:37  |  Gene 29/01/08
      54.   Haaretz re #8:"Being a Jew seems to be all about greed" 20:39  |  Morris L 29/01/08
      55.   Better Divide than Apartheid, religious lunatics out ! 20:41  |  Joe W 29/01/08
      56.   re no : 30 Natalie Durson 20:48  |  Stephan J 29/01/08
      57.   `mohammed` # 10: if un to run jerusalem, then mecca & medina too 21:05  |  frenz 29/01/08
      58.   Mark, I was Not Defending Her Statement 21:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 29/01/08
      59.   Nattalie Durson 21:08  |  Stephen 29/01/08
      60.   Yaakov 21:26  |  Mark 29/01/08
      61.   Stephen # 53 re Natalie Durson 21:29  |  Emily Broomfield 29/01/08
      62.   No Jerusalem and no W.B Jordan is Palestinian State 22:02  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 29/01/08
      63.   #58 Stephen - if Ha`aretz did what you asked, this forum..... 22:16  |  Don Camillo 29/01/08
      64.   no 36 re S Marshall 22:16  |  Nadav 29/01/08
      65.   One Jewish Jerusalem 22:41  |  Robert 29/01/08
      66.   Even "Yaakov Sulivan" sees the racism 22:43  |  Tom 29/01/08
      67.   #22 Claire from Toulon re Natallie 22:46  |  Labhras 29/01/08
      68.   hey Zionist or Jew Get a life flim flaN 23:03  |  Robert 29/01/08
      69.   #56/59/61 et al re Natallie Durson 23:11  |  Labhras 29/01/08
      70.   #64, That would be a perspicacious 10 year old, indeed 23:20  |  Tom 29/01/08
      71.   Jerusalem MUST NOT be Divided 23:30  |  Mannesah 29/01/08
      72.   #63 the don asks for serious debate 23:55  |  v hardman 29/01/08
      73.   #69, Labhras cannot resist defending racism 23:57  |  Tom 29/01/08
      74.   It is time to start question islam as a religion 00:03  |  Johnny 30/01/08
      75.   Occupation of Jerusalem ends in 1967 00:04  |  IDF Supporter 30/01/08
      76.   #67/69 et al re Labhras 00:05  |  Labhras 30/01/08
      77.   #6 Michael and Herod the Great aka "the Arab" 00:40  |  hala 30/01/08
      78.   Why even worry about it??? 00:48  |  Jason 30/01/08
      79.   Minda in NYC 02:10  |  Robert 30/01/08
      80.   JERUSALEM 03:08  |  DANIEL 30/01/08
      81.   Jerusalem capital 04:59  |  Lynn 30/01/08
      82.   Robert in Atlanta 12:19  |  Minda 30/01/08
      83.   Jerusalem is God`s City...... 15:33  |  bob_boston 30/01/08
     Today Online
    Ahmadinejad tells West: Accept Israel's 'imminent collapse'
    Responses: 178
    Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals'
    Responses: 35
    Amira Hass: Finally, there's a popular uprising in Gaza
    Responses: 57
    UN envoy: Gaza women feel coerced into covering heads
    Responses: 76
    High Court okays cutting fuel and power to Gaza
    Responses: 67
    Rosner's Domain
    Jewish vote in Florida: 58% for Clinton (WTR)
    The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one
    Guest: A concept for modern Zionism.
    Lieberman: Why McCain's the man for Israel-lovers
    Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama?


    More Headlines
    20:21 Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals', but approving it was essential step
    20:16 PM vows to implement war report as rightist, leftist MKs demand he resign
    18:59 ANALYSIS: IDF has already learnt lessons of Second Lebanon War
    17:13 High Court okays reducing fuel and power supply to Gaza Strip
    20:50 Hezbollah: War report will corner Olmert, make him lose credibility
    19:31 German cabinet will visit Israel to mark Jewish state's 60th year
    19:28 Egyptian police kill two Africans during bid to cross into Israel
    20:36 John Edwards drops out of Democratic presidential race
    20:07 Israel to send thousands of vaccines to Gaza after border breach
    16:00 Abbas rejects talks with Hamas on control over Gaza-Egypt border
    12:41 Ahmadinejad tells West: Accept Israel's 'imminent collapse'
    10:40 Report: Egypt thwarts suicide terror attack against Israel
    08:59 Libya rescinds bid for UN condemnation of Israeli blockade on Gaza
    15:32 Schools closed, rescue personnel on alert in snowy Jerusalem
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Dead Sea Salt
    Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
    FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film
    The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer
    Inbal Jerusalem Hotel
    Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
    U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person.
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved