EU envoys: Israel trying to sever East Jerusalem from West Bank

Isreal should pull out of West Bank Jerusalem should be a beacon for all three faiths and therefore should become independant of both Israel and Palestine the decision makers should be moderate representatives of all three faiths.

Yes, I would like to see more balance reporting. Perhaps, you could start with the truth about the homicidal invasion of Gaza last January, the wanton destruction and killing without mercy. IDF needs to be renamed to reflect it's true intention and nature. Every war except the 1973 was initiated by the IDF. I'm sick and tired of my tax dollars supporting Israel's land grab of the West Bank and Jerusalem. No two state status, but one state, Arab and Israeli. That's what your government polices are creating. All I ever hear is that any criticism of Israel means one is anti-Semitic, one sided and creating the circumstances for another Holocaust. It's time to stop the name calling critics of your government and settlers policies and actions.

I do not understand anybody who talks about Jews "illegally occupying" East Jerusalem. History tells us that the whole of J'lem was occupied by Transjordania in the Independence war. It stayed so, until 1967 when Israel, facing attacks by enormous arab armies, took it back. International rules say,if you are attacked by aan enemy, you have the right to defend yourself and move your borders into enemy land. borders which he has not shown respect for. You were then hindered by UN from peace negotiations on your terms by UN. Now they want what they couldnt get by the war in 1967. It is a great pity that the Arab and Palestine leaders use the misery of th ordinary Palestinian population to mislead the UN and the EU to reshapen your land and take away your security. Don't be fooled and work at your unity- how can your government protect you? Ulf Emeleus, Finland

Hello Danny, Please do not loose hope and do not be ashamed. Not be ashamed because unfortunately nowadays in many countries, all over the world including Europe, the right and non-laic and short minded wings, weaves are gaining more and more force. But this should not lead you and others to loose hope so easily and be ashamed but remember and love your country history proudly and please be determined to fight these illegitimate actions with calm, cool-headedness and with optimistic resolution. It is "your unique" country. Many countries experienced in their history such facts, but they hold strong to their laic and just values and overcame it. Do not loose hope and support your for example "yesh dean" organisations and do your best but do not be ashamed nor loose your hope. As a lover of your country, I believe that at the end the justice of the state will find the right way to overcome these harmfull illegitimate actions.Miryam

though the city being divided by war, and the construction of the Jerusalem Wall makes it seem apt. The better parallel is Johannesburg, a city divided by race, with the singled out race having pretty much no rights (other than what was intended to be a token population, who while technically being equal before the law, face institutionalised discrimenation the same way the technically equal Blacks of the southern US states did). And a reminder to those declaring that the EU can't dictate on an 'internal matter', that didn't stop them in South Africa. My advice is to stop trying to obtain recognition for the annexation of East Jerusalem, and jump at the opportunity to cement recognition for the annexation of West Jerusalem, before you find that the Palestinians can see that that is in trouble too. People who attempt to take it all usually find themselves left with next to nothing, and even the few that succeed usually find themselves regretting it.

You make the massive Jewish immigration and expulsion of thousands of Palestinians sound quite benign....the Jews merely returned after being absent for 19years? Jews and Arabs lived amicably together for centuriew. The Israeli greed for more and more land and the political scheming to change the balance of the population which has created the crisis. Unless the Palestinians have their fair share (and what could actually be fair, considering they lost it all?) there will be no solution and Jews will never find peace, even in their homeland.

...and should be boycotted and sanctioned world wide.

European anti-semitism, you probably mean opposition to Israeli policies, not anti-semitism, and colonialism, unless it is Israeli colonialism, have nothing to do with the chaos in the Middle East. Do you say that because you think no one has noticed the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory for 42 years, and its violation of international law, UN resolutions and articles of the 4th Geneva Convention? Don't you think that may be the basis for the chaos?

Well, Haaretz never posts anything that goes against Israel. However, it is OK with bashing Pals. Double standard and please do not hide it. At least accept it.

"Though 35 percent of Jerusalem residents are Arab, only 5 to 10 percent of the city's budget goes to Arab neighborhoods" If you don't recognize East Jerusalem as a part of Jerusalem - why do you think that Jerusalem's budget should cover it?

"1. You are implying that Jewish, Christian and Roman history all all bunkum relative to the Jewish presence in Jerusalem/Holy Land" They are in respect to today's International Law, the UN Charter, Laws of War, Geneva Conventions and the Declaration of a Jewish State. "2. Did Jesus actually paid a visit the to Al Aksa mosque and no-one recorded it?" Who cares it's irrelevant to today's law "3. Interesting that Europeans recently celebrated an anniversy of the re-unification of Berlin but some of their "leaders" are pushing for the division of a city which is not European and is none of their business." What Israel does outside it's Sovereign territory is the business of the International Community of states. The EU represents quite a few. "Have a little look at the history of the establishment of Australia.." The British and one of the reasons there are now laws against colonization by war. "Is your dwelling place is on occupied land" Really. Show me a UNSC resolution...

"Is it the EU or Israel which is the colonial raj?" The EU. It's hundreds of miles away. The Middle East conflict is derived from a civil war in a territory where BOTH people have lived. Jews renewing their presence after only being absent for 19 years is hardly, "colonial" in that regard. Jews were ethnically cleansed for 19 years. They were attacked again and moved back in. That's NOT colonialism.

Let's hope these recent reports are true. A strong EU defence of Palestinians' rights (yes rights) to East Jerusalem is key. GHo the EU!

Well, maybe it's time to stop this "sensitivity" and not only publish the report ( big deal !!) but actually DO something about it. The report alone will simply end up in "Bibi"s wastepaper basket together will othr suh reports. David

Minneapolis & St Paul Chicago & Evanston Evanston & Skokie Kansas City & Kansas City Rafah & Rafah Each pair is contiguous, yet has separate governance. In three cases they are in difference states and/or countries. Opposition to separate governance isn`t about anything other than greed. And the WAQF is hardly likely to cede Al Aqsa or the Dome for destruction.

No one is disputing the role East Jerusalem antiquites has and does play in Jewish history but that is not the only history. There are strata that go back long before the Judean history in the city. The Islamic period is also rich and plentiful in the city which is also held sacred in Islamic tradition. No religion or ethnic group holds complete possession of its history. Further, those Jews who fled or were expelled from the Old City's Jewish Qt in the 1948 War took over neighbourhoods in West Jerusalem from which Palestinians had fled or were expelled, ie; Talbieh, Katamon and the Greek Colony. East Jerusalem has been annexed by Israel and that annexation is not recognised by any nation. It is the capital of Palestine and the attempts by Israel to judaise the entire metropolitan area (already expanded from the municipal)hence blotting out any reference to its Arab past is to be resisted. This courageous move by the EU will help establish its own identity.

Israel's strategy has been clear for all to see for years. The very raison d'etre for the construction of Ma'ale Adumim is meant to achieve this objective. This, in combination with fanatic, religious/nationalist groups who attempt to drive out Arab residents from areas ie Silwan and Sheik Jarreh neighbourhoods, has been employed as a demographic too to ethnically cleanse East Jerusalem. These steps by the EU, recognising East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, along with their recognition of it as that capital have begun a momentum that cannot be stopped. The EU should soon follow up with holding cultural events of major proportion in East Jerusalem and expand cultural relations between palestine and the EU countries.

with the doings of the jewish state to hide its own shortcomings?are they trying to hide the massive hatred for islam in europe?

pal brit do you have any idea how much trouble we had getting out of the place.i believe there were plagues brought down on egypt.the red sea was parted to allow us to get out.the egyptian army were drowned when the red sea closed down on them.and you want us to go back. what would we say on passover?

Canaanites, Phoenicians and Egyptians where living in present day Israel over 3000yrs ago. The Jewish people have a old history in this area but so do others. 100yrs ago there was only 30,000 Jews in this area most came after the wars. Both sides have fair claims and a divided city is bad. So there are no good or fair solutions, the city should be part of Israel but Muslims and Christians should be allow to live or move there and not be treated as 2nd class.

There is no point for them to hit their head against a brickwall. It is time EU envoys know that Jerusalem is the eternal, indivisible capital-city of Israel since ancient time. All other entities were occupiers and usurpers.

First the Jews were given a homeland - an unprecedented international action. How much more do they want? Nile to the Euphrates perhaps?

It may have to be divided, but through negotiations. European anti-Semitism and colonialism is the reason for all of the chaos in the middle east, and they should just butt out.

1. You are implying that Jewish, Christian and Roman history all all bunkum relative to the Jewish presence in Jerusalem/Holy Land. 2. Did Jesus actually paid a visit the to Al Aksa mosque and no-one recorded it? 3. Interesting that Europeans recently celebrated an anniversy of the re-unification of Berlin but some of their "leaders" are pushing for the division of a city which is not European and is none of their business. Have a little look at the history of the establishment of Australia and the treatment of its indigenous inhabitants. Is your dwelling place is on occupied land?

And unlike Bibi's phantom freeze, the EU has the means to enforce it, and may finally even find the will to do so.

The recommensdations you see in the Times of London about the Swiss voting to ban minarets is nothing about Israel's illegal actions in East Jerusalem. It is aboout whether people want to preserve the traditional architecture of their country or society. In the West that obviously does not include Islamic houses of prayer. However, what you are not, and this interesting, is stating in your post that Moslems are still ebing allowed to build mosques and practice their religion in Switzerland. Unlike in East Jerusalem where they are being ethnically cleansed.

Here we thoguht that being sneaky would work with the "spineless" EU and all of a sudden they don't pretend not to see what is going on. What happened?

information about the role of archaeology in the conflict at: www.alt-arch.org

their letter pages carry readers comments.each comment can in turn be "recommended" by other readers who tick remarks they agree with. recently readers in massive numbers agreed with the swiss actions against islam generally and minarets in particular.many thousands of recommendations were ticked for those who agreed with the swiss actions. the numbers were truly astonishing.the british hate islam as does europe. europe tells us do as we say not as we do.

'Unilaterally reconcognising E/Jerusalem, part of a capital city of a nation, as capital of another new "nation" by a country or person is, as someone said somewhere here, a declaration of war.' Except that the EU is not doing that. They are remembering that E J'sem was an Arab municipality until 1967, when Israel 'unilaterally' and ILLEGALLY annexed it. We can't have countries running around illegally annexing their neighbours' territory, can we, or about 192 wars would break out over the globe tomorrow morning. That's why the UN Charter and GC4 established, post WW2, that it is prohibited to gain territory by war, nations can no longer legally do it. (For the chap who cites Karelia, Poland, etc, these were BEFORE the new international laws came into being, they belong in the 'ancient history' file).

the eu is shamelessly attempting to arrogate for itself the powers of the sovereign state of israel. the eu has no standing in israel, nor in any part of its territories. israel should immediately reduce the number of staff of embassadors and consuls from the eu and certain member states. if israel does not respond strongly to this abrogation of her sovereignty, soon all of israel's sovereingnty will be trampled under foot.

'parts of "East Jerusalem" for example are to the south and west, as in Gilo.' This all presupposes that anyone recognises the new city boundary that Israel imposed in 1967. The problem is that no one does. An occupying army can not legitimately meddle in civil affairs or annex land, both are prohibited in international law. So Gilo, Giv'at HaMatos and Har Homa legally remain in Bethlehem Governorate, illegal settlements on illegally-annexed land. Just like Ramot Allon, Pisgat Z'ev, French Hill etc are illegal settlements in Ramallah Governorate. The term 'East Jerusalem', which pre-1967 referred specifically to the Arab municipality of E J'sem, is today used generically - by the USA (Baker), UN, EU, international courts etc - to describe ALL the land surrounding Jerusalem which Israel illegally appropriated.

news has recently been reported that there have been huge numbers of crimes against civilians committed by british troops in basra. many of these offences have been rape of young boys. the bbc presenter asked the iraqi who represented the victims the following question: "by reporting these stories you make british soldiers targets in the middle east.does that not bother you?" so the bbc wishes to keep quiet on violations by their own soldiers while lesser crimes by israeli soldiers are repeated on their world service every hour on the hour.

Apparently, these people are forgetting that East Jerusalem and it's holy cites were formally annexed by Jordan in 1950. Jordan lost this territory when they shelled Jerusalem in the 1967 war (after being asked by Israel to stay out of the conflict) and were subsequently pushed out in the Israel response. There never was a "Palestinian" nation containing Jerusalem. When the Arabs controlled East Jerusalem, Jewish access to holy places was forbidden, and Jewish holy sites were desecrated. Talk about the "return" of East Jerusalem to Arab control after all of Iberia is given back to the Moors. After all, the Muslims ruled Spain and Palestine at the same point in history, so why one without the other?

'There are no Palistinian people they don`t exist made up in what 1968 by Arafat?' No, made up by the British in 1922. Palestinians have thus been a recognised people for 87 years. 26 longer than the Israelis in fact, since the UN made them up in 1948. The new boys on the block seem to have a bit of a problem with their chronology.

activities Israel has been engaged in. "The EU is actually complaining about the creation of Jewish neighborhoods, some to replace Jews displaced in 1947 and 1948 and some new, in the greater and expanded municipality of unified (and annexed) Jerusalem-" ILEGALLY acquired by war and ILLEGALLY annexed = not Israeli. The facts on the ground are ILLEGAL!

been Israeli's. http://talknic.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/simple-logic-tells-us-jerusalem-is-palestinian-its-in-palestine/ "Becuase fact is Jerusalem as Israel is the Jewish homeland." It isn't in Israel. It was ILLEGALLY annexed, illegally acquired by war. "People are not so stupid as you think they are" Even more stupid.. "There are no Palistinian people they don`t exist made up in what 1968 by Arafat? Matter a fact tell me one leader before him ?" The Mufti, installed by a Jewish chap. " Well we are waiting... That`s what I thought." Uh huh. " Now go back to Jordan and be nice this time." Jordan is not Palestinian. http://tinyurl.com/y8ewves/myths-mis-conceptions-propaganda/#Palestinian-state-in-Jordan

occupying power have not been legal. http://tinyurl.com/y8ewves/the-laws-united-nations/#occupation

There are valid arguments that Israel is embarking on discriminatory policies but how is this one valid: These digs, it charged, focus mainly on Jewish history. "Archaeology in this case has become an ideologically motivated tool of national and religious struggle carried out in a manner that modifies the identity and character of the city and threatens to undermine its stability," How do Archaeologists focus mainly on Jewish history? If they find an ancient pot that's not jewish, they destroy it? throw away? In some digs, you may not even be able to tell which era the dig's from till much later...The job of an archaelogist is to unearth. whatever certain sections of the public do with the information after is up to them. This above all raises the issue of how honest a broker the EU is...

the earliest english literature like chaucer included antisemitism.the author accused jews of kidnapping children and killing them. the story has changed but jew hatred is the essence.join the foreign office pal brit.you will be at home.

Israel is trying to make sure the Roadmap can never be enforce by changing facts on the ground. The Israeli plan seem to be that the PA gets 40% at most and in 10yrs E. Jerusalem will be fully Jewish along with Temple Mount at some point. Without the US vote in UN SC then there is little the EU can do.

The anti-semite theme once more. Change the record. It wore out years ago. It is anti-Israel and quite right too. It is Israel's policies that are now condemned world-wide. Like it or not it is self induced.

The world has allowed Israel to act illegally in East Jerusalem for far too long. It is good news that the EU is leading the way to breaking the control of Israel's occupation

europe has shown it enemity for our nation for a thousand years and more.the narrative changes but the target is one.it is (G-D forbid) perish jew.i am afraid many of our people look to the monstrous europeans for leadership.when will they learn.

Give a thought to the hundreds of thousands of Jews who`ve been stripped of EVERYTHING when forced to leave homes they and their ancestors inhabited for centuries. Not only propety but cash and assets and sometimes lives

that confront it.while we lived with them in their lands they hated us.now that we are in our homeland they seek to harass us.i know we will overcome them.

Because of this document i will vote in favour of joining EU states in next referendum in Norway, thats how proud I am of EU policy in occupied palestine. Well done Sweden for pushing this forward. No More an the world tolerate the treatment of the Palestinians by Israels Occupying force.

The Holocaust was such a horrifying crime and Europe felt so guilty about it for decades. In that environment Israel was always going to be treated with huge leniency by Europe. But the Holocaust is fast becoming history. The last victims and the last perpetrators will soon be dead. Europe has made huge efforts to create open secular societies and ensure that nothing like the Holocaust will ever happen again. Israel is now going to be treated like any other state, and hopefully repeated human rights abuses like these aren't going to be ignored any longer. No doubt Israel will continue taking every available foreign dignitary to Yad Veshem, but the implicit message 'be nice to Israel because of the Holocaust' won't get through like it did in the past.

will come to nothing. They cannot even handle their own Islamists in their own country. They are desperate anti semites who still have not internalised that Israel gets stronger and they are getting weaker. Mass Debaters.com.eu

"Archaeology in this case has become an ideologically motivated tool of national and religious struggle carried out in a manner that modifies the identity and character of the city and threatens to undermine its stability," the report said." How is it that revealing the city's past through archaeology will modify the identity and character of the city? Identity and character through history is what shapes the identity of a city and the Jewish past shaped Jerusalem.

First of all, your saying that the USSR was not involved in East Germany (and East Berlin) leads me to believe that you are trying to rewrite modern German history in the same way you attempt to rewrite modern Palestinian history. My point was that East Berlin (with direct help from their pals in the Kremlin) built walls and artificially reshaped a city with the expectation that it will remain so for all eternity (sound familiar?). This is exactly what Israel is trying to do in East Jerusalem. Your claim that East Jerusalem is steeped in Jewish history is no less irrelevant than the banal claim that New York City is steeped in Jewish history too. The fact is that the entire world will soon recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. End of story. All else is irrelevant.

Note the term: "Alter the demographic reality of East Jerusalem". The "demographic reality", presumably, refers to the supposed Arab majority (which is non-existent if you include Gilo, Ramat Eshkol, and other neighborhoods in "East Jerusalem") which the EU claims should not be altered. Since the Israeli government does not control who lives where, this amounts to a demand that the Israeli government banish Jews from acquiring property, building, and living in East Jerusalem because they were born Jewish. No further comment on the blatantly racist nature of this demand is necessary. Let no one be fooled. The goals of the EU and Israeli Left are racist. All who value individual rights and equality must point this out every time the issue is raised.

Israel is not a "colonial part" of the EU, but an independed soevereign country, which 'allows the EU to try contributing to a "meaningful" solution in a difficult conflict. This means being an impartial and intelligent broker and not put down "descisions". If they are not "up for the job", they should be banned from doing so.

Not surprising at all.

Balanced reporting should provide facts from both sides. For example the City gives between 600 and 850 building permits per year, so 200 is not a small amount. Perhaps he could also inform his readers of the percentage of the budget which the Arab residents pay as this is also relevant.

Every Jerusalemite knows this, every ex-Jerusalemite knows this, and plenty of other Israelis know it... Some regard it with glee, others are deeply ashamed... and nobody does anything about it, sadly... the world just goes tsk tsk tsk from afar... the Pals themselves are powerless...

i've always said there will be more going against israels policies, the list of against is getting bigger and bigger, no matter what the israeli polticians say, more will join the chorus, in the end, israels demise will be done by it's own hands, and america will go down with it, watch and learn.

Now they try to deligitimise Israel. Europe can't bear to see Jews and Israel thrive. East Jerusalem was never an issue when Jordan kicked Jews out and destroyed Jewish holy sights.

No, hardly any surprise that you choose to play victim instead of seeing humanity as greater than one specific group of people ruling Israel. I think there is a shortage of mirrors in Israel.

Judaism has no designs on Mecca or Medina and does not wish to deny religious rights to Muslims in those or any other city. Indeed, Jews don?t seek to deny Muslims the right to pray at their third holiest place - the Aksa Mosque. Rather, they are simply asking that Jews be allowed to pray on their holiest of sites. The Muslims vehemently deny any Jewish rights to the Temple Mount - in their eyes the First and Second Temples never existed - and militantly pursue exclusive rights of religious worship there. More about Jerusalem at : http://xrl.us/bjheo

Paris,London,Hamburg.Islam has less history in Jerusalem and all history in Mecca and Medina.Mohammed was never in Jerusalem but spent his life in Mecca and medina and Jerusalem is not mentioned in Koran.The Islamists are pushing hard and instead of demanding Israel divide its capital they should push for coexistence. Israel should never divide Jerusalem

Would you not say the Berlin airlift was a result of USSR attempts to reshape West Berlin and expand its base into there? As to Jerusalem's history, I don't think any reasonable person will deny that some neighborhoods of East Jerusalem were Jewish a few thousand years ago - however, we are talking about present times,and who lives there now.

problem of another sovereign country? The Swedish Foreign Minister and current EU president should be mindful of the fact that he is leading a group consisting of very civilized nations. Thus, he as a leader of such a group is expected to exercise restrain of the highest order. Unilaterally reconcognising E/Jerusalem, part of a capital city of a nation, as capital of another new "nation" by a country or person is, as someone said somewhere here, a declaration of war. This is very bad course of action if that happens, and I know the EU president knows that. We have long lived past the era in which the aggressive Vikings forced their "solutions" on other people. In these era, such "solution" is no solution but another problem - huge problem - added to already existing ones.

One can hope that there is follow up and action after these reports. It is disgusting to see what Israel has done for so long with impunity and without a word from the world democracies. Two states for two people living side by side in peace, that is a worthy goal and for there to be peace Israel's illegal and immoral actions must be stopped.

Ah yes the Europeans, lets recall now shall we, Germans were expelled from Alscance & Lorraine in 1919, from East of the Oder (now Poland & Russia), Sudetenland in Czech. Austrians from Northern Italy in 1919 (Plenty of mass murder & rape used). Fins from Karelia in 1940 to 50. Well that is an example of Europe but there is more. The Jew were explled from Jerusalem in 48 & 49 by the Jordanians & the majority of the Arab world 1947 to 50. Where was the world then NOWHERE. Jerusalem & modern Israel were almost completely Jewish untill the Romans expelled them about nineteen hundred years ago.

That the EU is asking for representatives to be present during varying processes is laughable. Who the F are they?

...and instead of making a fair and just peace Israel chose colonies. Now there will be an imposed solution, it is inevitable.

These measures are the least the EU can do, having been a major source of the misfortunes of the Palestinians in the first place. Now let us see if we can get the US to do more than talk.

All, This report appears to be completely biased toward the Palestinian side. It sounds like the EU has 'pre-judged' Jerusalem as a final status issue. The Jews have no rights there, no claims there. They never lived there. The Bible is a lie. The border is the Green Line. Jews are to be kicked out of the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter and the Mount of Olives. Obviously, the Jews have no connection there. Abbas said so. It must be true. Jews can't live in the Corpus Separatum of Jerusalem because it will 'pre-judge final status' and Jews can't prove that they have an historical connection to Jerusalem or their Holy Places because it will 'pre-judge final status'. However, the Europeans can declare all of East Jerusalem Palestine. That won't 'pre-judge final status'. It doesn't sound like there will be anything to negotiate.

Hardly any surprise as to which side they took.

If Danny is an Israeli, there is something drastically wrong with the Israeli educational system. The USSR was not active in West Berlin but in East Berlin and indirectly there after the war years of World War ii. The "occupiers" of East Berlin were in fact natives, East Berliners, under a Communist regime. They isolated themselves which is the opposite of the complaint made by the EU--that Israel expands its base at the expense of isolated Arab communities. That said, Israel is next door to "East Jerusalem" and the Israeli national history there goes back literally thousands of years to key landmarks there--the Temple Mount and the City of David. The EU is actually complaining about the creation of Jewish neighborhoods, some to replace Jews displaced in 1947 and 1948 and some new, in the greater and expanded municipality of unified (and annexed) Jerusalem--parts of "East Jerusalem" for example are to the south and west, as in Gilo.

Becuase fact is Jerusalem as Israel is the Jewish homeland. People are not so stupid as you think they are. There are no Palistinian people they don't exist made up in what 1968 by Arafat? Matter a fact tell me one leader before him ? Well we are waiting... That's what I thought. Now go back to Jordan and be nice this time.

Israel is moving closer and closer towards outright illegitimacy. As an Israeli I am ashamed and horrified by what this country is doing in East Jerusalem. It looks more and more like a desperate attempt to artificially reshape Jerusalem, just like the delusional Soviet attempts to reshape Berlin. Israel is looking more and more like an artificial country!