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Last update - 22:29 21/02/2008 The lies of Jerusalem By Nadav Shragai Tags: Olmert Ehud Olmert doesn't need a secret channel in order to conduct negotiations on Jerusalem. Whether or not Vice Premier Haim Ramon is talking to Palestinian adviser Mohammed Rashid about the future of the city, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is speaking about it to Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia, with Olmert's authority and permission, openly rather than under the table. Livni herself said as much in a meeting with foreign diplomats over a week ago. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reported this to European lawmakers who visited him in Ramallah two weeks ago. Even in the apparent letter of denial sent to Jerusalem municipal opposition leader Nir Barkat by Livni, a member of his own party, the foreign minister confirmed that all the core issues, as agreed upon in Annapolis, were already being discussed - adding the excuse that "until everything has been decided, nothing has been decided." Moreover, a senior official in the Division for Coordination, Follow-up and Control in the Prime Minister's Office is examining meticulously the building plans for all Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, on Olmert's direct order, and sending the prime minister a summary of the information. Thus Olmert has become the first prime minister since 1967 to effectively appropriate from the Jerusalem municipality and its planning institutions, as well as his own housing minister, the right to have the last word on anything related to approving construction in those neighborhoods, which house some 40 percentof Jerusalem's Jewish population (about 190,000 people). He decides whether to approve construction, and he decides whether to freeze it. Under Olmert, construction in greater Jerusalem - north, south and east of the city, where the governments of Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon had continued to build - is in the deep freeze. Construction of schools and kindergartens has ceased in the 07 neighborhood of Ma'aleh Adumim. In Beitar Illit, which needs 700 new apartments a year, no new construction has been approved. Building in Givat Ze'ev's Agan Ayalot section, where roads and sidewalks have already been paved and sewage, water and electricity infrastructure has already been installed, has also been frozen. Thus are Olmert and Livni advancing, on a practical and conscious level, their plan to divide Jerusalem. Advertisement Shas is not alone in refusing to see and hear, deceiving the entire world, but primarily itself. In another year or two - or five - when it becomes clear that Israel has conceded most of East Jerusalem and that dozens of Jewish neighborhoods have become border areas, exposed to light arms and machine gun fire, just as Gilo was a few years ago, Shas will not be able to say that its hands have not shed this blood. By sitting in the government, Shas is a full partner to the process now underway behind the scenes, a process that Olmert and Livni are, for now, carefully trying to hide from the public. It is certainly possible that in the next few days Olmert will throw Shas another bone, in the form of partially lifting the construction freeze, especially in areas of direct interest to the ultra-Orthodox population: Beitar, Modi'in Illit and Agan Ayalot. If Shas gives in to temptation once again, it will grant Olmert another extension to allow him to complete the negotiations over dividing Jerusalem and bring the results to the public in an election or national referendum. Shas cannot argue that quitting the coalition would allow Olmert to bring in Meretz and perhaps the Arab parties. After Shas quits, it is not inconceivable that fence-sitters within Kadima would also resign. In addition, it would be better if this terrible measure were taken by the left, with Shas left out of it. Behind the scenes, there are already signs of the reasoning that Olmert, Livni and Ramon will use to sell the division of Jerusalem to the public: the demographic inferiority of the Jews in the city, and the danger that they will no longer be the majority. There is no greater lie. In the face of the demographic crisis of the Jews in Jerusalem, the government has a wealth of steps it can take. The plans are on Olmert's desk, and he knows perfectly well what needs to be done. The real story behind the demographic crisis is the great emigration of Jews from Jerusalem. The reasons are well known: a lack of housing and employment. These issues can be dealt with, and the government knows how to do so. Those who choose to do nothing and perpetuate the phenomenon of migration from Jerusalem arouse a serious suspicion that they are doing so in order to justify the division of the city in the future. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A few good celebs Some of Hollywood's top guns congratulate Israel in a clip played in Times Square. Chosen, shmosen 'Religion is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions,' wrote Albert Einstein.   1.   Another lie 11:14  |  Ellie 21/02/08   2.   Jerusalem is ours 11:16  |  Yoav 21/02/08   3.   I REALLY LIKE THIS SO CALLED "SHAS" 11:17  |  indrajaya 21/02/08   4.   The Big Lie about Jerusalem. 12:15  |  Jean Van Daem 21/02/08   5.   G-d gave this land to Jewish people 12:52  |  narat 21/02/08   6.   Preferring Tel Aviv` Vice 12:55  |  Joseph . E 21/02/08   7.   Haredim killed J`lem 13:25  |  attractive hilonit 21/02/08   8.   Jerusalem already divided 13:26  |  Eli 21/02/08   9.   61 Jews will make peace 13:28  |  Ralphie 21/02/08   10.   nonsense 14:03  |  Shelley 21/02/08   11.   Peace will never work; Jerusalem is our eternal capital 15:12  |  Ziv 21/02/08   12.   IF JERUSALEM IS DIVIDED YOU`LL HAVE ANOTHER 15:18  |  Petra 21/02/08   13.   Petra, Petra, Petra, Petra 15:45  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/02/08   14.   Is Indrajaya being sarcastic? 15:48  |  sandra chitayat 21/02/08   15.   Jerusalem. 16:00  |  sandra chitayat 21/02/08   16.   SHAME on OVADIA 16:26  |  B 21/02/08   17.   I really like this so called Indrajaya 16:52  |  Herbert Kaine 21/02/08   18.   God gave the land to the Jews? 18:26  |  Palestinian Brit 21/02/08   19.   Jerusalem`s doom 18:55  |  David 21/02/08   20.   Herbert Kaine. Israel supported Indonesia 19:13  |  examiner 21/02/08   21.   Temple Mount 19:19  |  Said 21/02/08   22.   It`s not the housing.... 20:00  |  Ex-Jerusalemite 21/02/08   23.   #18; Palestinian Brit, The Best Is The Pal Propaganda 20:12  |  Doc Holliday 21/02/08   24.   G d and norat 20:18  |  joe fiasco 21/02/08   25.   Londonistaner Said: Do you ask you Muslim childhood friends? 20:31  |  Genuine Tosefta 21/02/08   26.   this faded old book 09:22  |  Antoine 14/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: We owe the Palestinians a state Responses: 41 Editorial: Israel should go along with Egyptian efforts for Gaza calm Send response Akiva Eldar: Plan puts synagogue in heart of Arab East J'lem Send response Clip shows IDF officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range Responses: 13 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is trying to change the world, for the good Send response More Headlines 08:36 Two militants killed, two hurt in IAF strikes in Gaza 07:35 Israel to transfer security in Jenin area to Palestinians 07:37 Defense officials: Egypt to open Rafah, cease-fire or not 07:32 Police quiz U.S. tycoon Sheldon Adelson as part of Olmert probe 09:07 Clip shows IDF officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range 08:53 Shas official says gov't to okay hundreds of homes in W. Bank 08:43 Two Israelis found in China; 3 still missing since Mon. quake 06:15 Mazuz asked to explain plan for synagogue in East J`lem 03:15 MK Orlev wants to end former MK Bishara's retirement payments 05:17 Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer slam Bush's Mideast policy 06:27 Israeli, Jordanian architects plan peace park in Naharayim 03:00 Welfare Min. launches plan for savings accounts for every Israeli kid Previous Editions Select Day 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr

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