Jerusalem master plan: Expansion of Jewish enclaves across the city
The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee is set to approve a master plan that calls for the expansion of Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.
By Akiva Eldar and Nir Hasson Tags: Israel news Jerusalem East JerusalemThe Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee is set to approve an unprecedented master plan that calls for the expansion of Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, a move largely based on construction on privately owned Arab property.
The committee's proposal would codify the municipality's planning policy for the entire city. In essence, Jerusalem would uniformly apply its zoning and construction procedures to both halves of the city.
Before giving the go-ahead, the committee will give objectors to the plan 60 days to submit their reservations. This is the decisive stage in the planning process, because only rarely are plans altered.
Once the 60-day period expires, the plan's approval is a fait accompli. Such a development would probably invite a hail of criticism from the Palestinians, Arab countries and the international community.
The United States has recently communicated its expectation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will prevent any change in the city's status quo pending the conclusion of final-status talks with the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington early next month.
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Jerusalem's Har Homa neighborhood in 2008. |
| Photo by: Emil Salman |
For over a decade, dozens of architects have worked to draw up the latest Jerusalem master plan, meant to replace the one in effect since 1959, eight years before the Six-Day War. While the plan did not attract opposition from the international community and leftist organizations, political developments over the last year - including the spat with the United States over the Ramat Shlomo building project - are likely to touch off renewed diplomatic tensions.
According to a document prepared by Ir Amim, an NGO that "seeks to render Jerusalem a more viable and equitable city," the master plan vastly underestimates the construction needs of the Arab population in the city. While the plan calls for 13,500 new residential units in East Jerusalem for Palestinians, updated demographic studies indicate that this amount barely represents half the minimum needs for the Arab population by 2030.
Ir Amim officials also said that while the plan allows for Palestinian construction in the north and south of the capital, it barely provides for an expansion of Arab construction projects in the center of the city, particularly in the area next to the holy basin.
The group added that the plan creates a spate of bureaucratic obstacles for Palestinians who wish to build in the city. Ir Amim warns that the plan is likely to be perceived as an Israeli provocation because most of the Jewish building projects are designated for areas east of the Green Line.
In October 2008, the district committee opted to promote a master plan submitted by Moshe Cohen, formerly the chief Jerusalem planner at the Interior Ministry. Right-wing political parties in Jerusalem protested to Interior Minister Eli Yishai over the plan's intention to add significantly larger residential areas for the benefit of the Arab population at the expense of green areas.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat instructed his subordinates to alter the plan in line with his policy of thickening the Jewish presence around the holy basin and the eastern half of the city.
Despite the National Planning and Building Committee's decision to designate the City of David - which sits in the heart of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan - as "a national park," the new master plan allows for the construction of residential units in the area.
The Ir David Foundation, a nonprofit group that seeks to increase Jewish settlement in the City of David and whose heads are close associates of the mayor, has in recent years bought houses near the Old City in an effort to "Judaize" the area.
Last week, the Jerusalem municipality's planning and building committee approved a controversial plan for the Silwan neighborhood that calls for razing 22 Palestinian homes built without permits and constructing a tourism center in their place. Barkat said the illegal construction in the area is preventing the municipality from building a tourism center, which would include restaurants and boutique hotels.
Earlier this year planning officials received an internal memo circulated by Cohen, who was later dismissed as head of the master plan staff. Cohen wrote that the plans for the City of David are an example "of the district committee's ambitious intention to satisfy contradictory positions." He warned that this would not pass legal muster.
Cohen objected to the city's decision to convert 2,500 dunams that were listed as "open areas" into residential neighborhoods.
A Jerusalem municipality spokesman said in response: "Indeed, the plan will be brought for a discussion before the district committee." A spokesman from Yishai's office said: "Professional deliberations are taking place in an effort to approve the plan."
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This Master Plan reflects an abject disregard for peace and world order. Worst, it incorporates a lie that suggest that the mythical city of David needs to be rebuilt on lands that are off limit to Israel. Hubris lends to the corruption of one's soul. National hubris leads to the fall of a nation-state. Respect the Palestinian.
Israel doesnt deserve peace
The whole world hates us, the whole world hates us! Why? Why?
The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee is set to approve a master plan that calls for the expansion of Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and at the same time, the "peace loving" Netanyahu calls on Abbas to get back to the negotiating table, knowing full well that his actions will deter Abbas from talking anything, let alone peace and will create more tension and complications to resume the peace process altogether. This is a master dissaster.
Its time Israel puts their backbone to the job and take over all Israel and let the chips fall where they may.. listening to Obama has led to more lies and deceit and its time they get a leader which will not cave in to arm twisting...Oh Jerusalem where is King David?
If Greater Jewry wants to know about anti-Semitism, they need to look no further. This is more megalomaniac greed and a wish to dominate by illegal subterfuge.
I once had a room mate that wouldn't contribute financially or invest in the social harmony of our living arragements. In desperation, I had him evicted.
Jerusalem is the spiritual and physical capital of Jews and Israel, and the plan is right to increase the Jewish presence in the Holy Basin and the Eastern part of the city. Jews need more places to live in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is the united capital of the Jewish nation. Am Yisrael Chai!
When will Israelis learn that they cannot continue to destroy the Palestinians? Reconciliation becomes more and more unlikely. Israel is propagating new generations of Palestinians that can never trust Israel and doing damage to Judaism in the process. Israel fails to exercise the generations of Jewish wisdom available to it. Instead it has adopted a new religion of greed and power for personal gain at a debilitating cost to another people.
Americans provide financial, military and political support to Israel. This is an endorsement of Israels oppressive and racist policies and actions. American politicians are putting American citizens at risk by openly supporting the most oppressive western nation on earth. If the American government really wants settlement expansion stopped then don't whine to Israel. Stop supporting Israel. If America really wants mideast peace, then stop making it profitable for Israel to avoid peace. The greatest obstacle to mideast pace is America and American politicians.
or vote in any locale elections? I guess they have no citizenship in any country but if the became Israeli citizens would they gain anything or lose more?
build, invent, enjoy... Palestinian enclaves never been save for Jewish people. You want to be save then delute those enclaves with real Israelis. Arabs living in Israel proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they are not part of that great country...
Greater Israel will become a reality. The citizens of Israel can defy world opinion and resume settlement construction. US Congress praises Israel no matter what atrocities it commits. Obama is a weak politician with no personal conviction. Build baby build.
The news comes at an unfortunate time for Netanyahu: Just a week before he is to meet Pres. Obama. The timing seems not to be random, as the announcement of the Ramat Shlomo plan during V.P. Biden seemed purposeful. So who is the leaker? There are 2 basic possibilities: 1. Somebody from the Left who tries to have Obama pressure Netanyahu to cancel the plan for now. 2. Somebody from the Right, who wishes to force Netanyahu to fight for the Plan. I don't know yet who did it, but we will wait for more clues.
There is no room in East Jerusalem for Palestinians ( Arabs) who throw rocks and riot. They will not long be welcome in Jerusalem and will have to find 'other' living arrangements.
Wrong! There is no room for Jews who steal land, demolish homes, deny people the dignity of life and human rights in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Withdraw behind the Green Line and then have it with your Master Plan!,
interesting opinion. Lets see, is there a place in Israel for 550,000+ lunatic right-wing machine gun -armed extremist settlers who have no respect for the rule of law nor other human beings? If so, please take them back into Israel proper and rid those stone-throwing palestinians of their menace.
Read the relevant UN resolutions if it is not clear to you whose land East Jerusalem is. Stop the occupation, withdraw the occupation forces and the only ones that will be left throwing rocks will be the crazy settlers that choose to stay there.
Where is this " privately owned Arab property". If its Arab owned they must be building on it.
Israel makes it nearly impossible for Arabs in Jerusalem to build. It wants them to leave the city. Isn't it a 'Jewish state' as it calls itself?
It is NOT Israeli territory...
This is a domestic issue. The lands in question have either been bought by Jews, or have been shown to be own by Jews, or the municipality has taken them over by eminent domain. The residents in question have been offered citizenship in Israel, with voting rights. They can topple the city government if they want, but they refuse to vote.
... occupying as much Pal land and property as possible... before the Obama et al fully realize what-is-going-on...
UNSCR446 & 476 invalidate the claim that E.Jerusalem is an integral part of Israel, and give it the status of occupied territory, similar to the West Bank and Golan. Israel has no right to build illegal settlements there, nor the judicial right to adjudicate on land and property laws in a way that's detrimental to the rights of the indigenous Palestinians..
The land was formerly Jordanian land, and Jordan has relinquished any claim to it. Furthermore, according to the Oslo accords, the status of Jerusalem is for a final negotiation stage. Similarly, the PA is allowed to build as much as they want in Area A. So, the PA had better be willing to sit down and discuss things about Jerusalem. Time is not on their side.
It was never Jordan's. Jordan's boundaries were fixed in 1946. Jordan relinquished CONTROL to the Palestinians. READ the agreement.
People seem to forget that in order for land to be occupied, it needs to be sovereign territory of a different state. In the case of E. Jerusalem & WB, Jordan was that state, but they dropped their claim. Trust me, if E. Jerusalem & the WB were "occupied" like everyone claims, there would be international courts dragging Israeli officials to trial. E. Jerusalem and the WB are disputed areas and they are not sovereign territory of the yet to be created Palestinian state.
People seem to forget that in order for land to be occupied, it needs to be sovereign territory of a different state. In the case of E. Jerusalem & WB, Jordan was that state, but they dropped their claim. Trust me, if E. Jerusalem & the WB were "occupied" like everyone claims, there would be international courts dragging Israeli officials to trial. E. Jerusalem and the WB are disputed areas and they are not sovereign territory of the yet to be created Palestinian state.
... then Jerusalem does not belong to Israel, because UNTIL an agreement is reached Israel can not change the status of this city, which is an "Israeli-occupied city". Your argument is fallacious because it amounts to saying that UNTIL Israel comes to an agreement with the Pals THEN Israel can treat Jerusalem *as* *if* it already belonged to her, even though it does not already belong to her. Both logic and law say that this is incorrect.
Israel, stand tall and do what is best for Israel. Keep up the good work in spite of opposition.
You are so right.
Do you really think this is what is best for Israel? Total isolation from the rest of the world? More distant relations with your only ally, the USA? More hatred from the Arab world? Not ever knowing peace? People like you are the ones that cause Israel to be hated and will eventually cause Israel to be in severe danger of being a pariah in the international community and a rogue state!
Do you really think this is what is best for Israel? Total isolation from the rest of the world? More distant relations with your only ally, the USA? More hatred from the Arab world? Not ever knowing peace? People like you are the ones that cause Israel to be hated and will eventually cause Israel to be in severe danger of being a pariah in the international community and a rogue state!
In next visit to US (if not cancelled) Netanyahu should ask President Obama to give back Manhattan to the Indian tribes. It is to be noticed that the refrain of protecting Israël's security is not invoked in this case, indavertent omission probably, but such a folly in the face of the world will certainly improve Israël security.
Will also result in a situation that will never be resolved by peace.
By now, you must get a clue that there is nothing in common with the equation of LAND FOR PEACE Such is the fact, the Peace you wish for and I , will only be achieved when and if the Arab world accepts a non Islamic state in their midst in the Middle East and only then there will be peace when Israel is accepted by all the neighbours without any more nonsensical cessations of the myth that giving up land will achieve the end result
There will no peace until Anti Christ fools the leaders of Israel and only then will it be a short time until they have been fooled.. then Our Lord Jesus Christ Son Of The Most High Living God of Israel will bring the true ruling peace..
On what date was it LEGALLY annexed to Israel.... Just the date will do fine.....thx
Integration of Jews into segregated Arab neighborhoods is a victory for civil rights, good for peace and long overdue. We must reunite Jerusalem and this will bring peace to Israel.
also stay in East Jerusalem and celebrate their 'victory for civil rights' when East Jerusalem becomes the capital of the Pal state? Or are you not planning for that?
...into the Jewish Quarter of the Old City... alloting them houses or second-floor appartments here-and-there among the elitist Jews... or even a small plot of land would do, to build a little park for the Pal kids to play in...
That is a fine idea--just as soon as they renounce islam and become Jews.
I would rather Pal children play in playgrounds than attend Hamas/Fatah terrorist training camps as they do currently.
Nor am I preparing for a nuclear fall out caused by a Iranian attack, but both are possibilities of great tragedy occurring.
James , the problem is when they teach their children that there was no Palestinians in Palestine , they came from nowhere , they stuff their brains with myths ( the promised land ) , it resembles the case in Jaffa , Haifa , Akka , Bisan , Lid , Tabaria and Nazareth
James, you DO sound so ignorant making a statement such as you did Arabs put pressure on those Arabs living in Israel as traitors if they continued to live there. So they located on what is called the Palestinian area. Israel never kicked them out... that is propaganda by both the Palestinians and the Arabs that would have been first to condemn them for living in Israel. BTW, the term Palestinian was first adopted 20 years after Israel was a state... IOW, in 1960 there were not Palestinians, but simply Arabs living near Israel.
the Palestinian arabs were fed myths that they are the original Palestinians in "Palestine" before 1967 war waged on Israel, the Palestinians didnt exist they were called arabs. Arabs of Jordan and Arabs of Egypt or Iraqi Arabs... before 1948 the only palestinians were the Jews who lived in Palestinian region Palestine was never a country it is a region.. encompasses Jordan up to Iraq. anyone from this region was called Palestinian just like if you say you live in America , NOrth< South> both are Americas its a region I do hope your accusation that Israel fills people's heads with myths is not true so please correct your mindset who is the myth sayer
The Missionary William Thomson described Jerusalem in his comprehensive book Southern Palestine and Jerusalem (1882) as follows: " At present the walls of the pool [of Siloam] are so broken, and the access to the water is so encumbered with rubbish, that it must be difficult to get down to it. I am sadly disappointed with Siloam and all its surroundings. There is nothing very picturesque about it, certainly, and the crumbling walls and fallen columns in and around it give to the pool an air of neglect, unusual even for this city of ruins and forsaken sites.” P 454. “Milton’s famous invocation, ‘If Sion’s hill Delight the more, and Siloa’s brook, that flowed Fast by the oracle of God, I thence Invoke thine aid to my adventurous song’ Would never have been written if the poet had encountered the sights and scents which so disgusted us there. Milton, however, never visited this country, and withal was blind… Where, therefore, the geographer fables, the poet surely may dream.” P. 457-458.
Israeli law recognizes Jerusalem as their undivided capital. As such, they are doing what every other large municipality in the world does, and that is to perform urban planning. Arabs and the "international community" want to view that as a provocation...so be it. The sooner they accept that Jerusalem is Israel, the sooner there can be peace.
We cannot deny that the Jewish people, as a state society, having the first presence in Jerusalem from time immemorial, as is the Muslim presence from the 7th century. I have two etching prints of Jerusalem by a Canadian woman artist which were dated 1936, indicating how sparse the region was at the time. Today both growing populations of Jews and Palestinians hold significant attachment to the Holy City and it's only reasonable to recognize that our peaceful future relies on coexistence and accepting this significance to one another. It is therefore vital to proceed with direct talks on this core issue of Jerusalem's status for the region. It's quite rare to see municipal town planning proceed before the regional border plans between nations - quite rare.
A clear message must be sent--Jerusalem is Jewish~end of story!
If you can afford to live in a certain section of town your ethnicity should not be a factor. And if, when peace comes to the region Arabs find themselves on the Israeli side of town and they chose to stay they'd be Israelis. If Jews find themselves on the Arab side of town and they choose to stay they'd be Palestinian. For Israel to build in a section of town that may ultimately be ceded to the Arabs sounds dumb and wasteful. If you need to build new housing so badly build it on the Israeli side of town in an area that is not in dispute.
...is that the people financing and approving the building refuse to face the reality that East Jerusalem is eventually going to have to be handed over to the Palestinians, and the building is being done in strategic ways to try and make a future Palestinian reclamation harder. The longer Israel holds out on this the more people will be traumatized by losing their homes - Arabs now, Jewish settlers later.
Jerusalem will never be ceded to the Arab occupation and continuing the Arab occupation will only keep the conflict going indefinitely.
facts are facts... if otomans conquered the city and turnED it into a muslim one... why we jews can't RECONQUERED our city and turn it jewish again? Israel is not expelling the arabs as they did in 1967... WHY all the world is against Israel and WHY nobody was against the romans, otomans and specially arabs when they conquered the city and expelled it jewish population?? ... WHY!!??
Maybe because there was no communication other than by foot/animal/boat...no tv/radio/internet to immediately tell the tale of which group was destroying another....duh. When you know what is going on, you have to take sides...
We are not living in the middle ages now, we've got human rights, and the jungle law does not apply.
This is no longer the Age of Empires, and the acquisition of territory by war became illegal even before the state of Israel was declared.
As soon as the Jews do it, it's not allowed.
WHEN the Jews did it, it was ALREADY illegal
I was reading a book written by a Christian Pilgrim in the 1850's. The Jews outnumbered the Muslims.
These decisions are being made by the government of Israel, not by "the Jewish nation". Neither Netanyahu nor Barkat has (to my knowledge, anyway) ever proclaimed themselves to be King Of The Jews nor have they ever presumed to be acting in the name of "the Jews". You presume too much, Yosemite.
The Jewish state.
You are claiming a Jewish exceptionalism when int'l law allows no such exception. That "the Jews" insist that Israel is "the Jewish state" is of no concern to anyone who isn't Jewish. The question is this: does the state of Israel have sovereignty over Jerusalem? The answer under int'l law is clear-cut i.e. No, it does not have sovereignty over Jerusalem.
Though the Arabs and Islam would love to hynotize the world into believing their revisionist history of the area which according to them was devoid of Jewish presence, the G-d of Israel won't stand for this nonsense. That Jerusalem is a city built upon its own heap, is currently the most controversial city whose status is so contested, and which is to become a burdensome stone for the whole world, is no accident of His-Story.
"according to them was devoid of Jewish presence" Strange, we're mentioned in the Koran numerous times.
If you're going to drop the god card then surely you believe Lebanon out not be a country, but rather part of Israel, right?
Small problem in the fact that Jerusalem was founded at least 2000 years before the arrival of the Israelites. If we use 1000 BCE as an arrival point and 70 CE as when Titus destroyed the Temple and drove them out then Jerusalem has been controlled by Jews for about 1000 years.
But it's not worth doing a war to take it over. We've go enough on our hands here. Besides, it's not clear exactly where the border is there.
...i think religion is the major cause of the problem. They should nuke the place, bull doze all holy places to the ground (Jewish, Arab, Christian), and trust me, then there will be peace.
Seriously. Who cares about Iran. New construction in Jerusalem should be a priority. Let's focus on new construction. Haha. Good luck with that.
...if the Israelis are allowed to make unilateral decisions. That provides a powerful incentive for Israel to AVOID an agreement, all the better to "accomplish" more "fait accompli"s. Now, think about that from the USA's point of view: they can not allow Israel to get away with this because otherwise Israel will NEVER agree to peace with the Palestinians, precisely because Israel will have no INCENTIVE to ever come to an agreement with the Pals.
Jerusalem is for the Jews. Period.
Palestinians need to come to an agreement with Israel. Jerusalem is simply not theirs, as Mecca is not Israeli. They have no ties to the city, simply a war between Israel, which has claims to the land, and extremist members of a religion that think they own it just because there's even a single muslim in thre and a mosque they built over our heritage
They've been LIVING there for centuries. I'd call that a pretty big tie. Religious connections aren't the only ones that count.
Then why don't you talk all Jews everywhere into coming to live in J'lem? Because much of the Diaspora thinks you are crazy.
Why is that do you have a reasonable argument or are you going to resort to qouting from the bible..this attitude will condemn the middle east to an endless cycle of violence
"Palestinians need to come to an agreement with Israel." Indeed, but where you go wrong is that you assume that UNTIL that agreement is reached then Israel is entitled to treat this city *as* *if* it was already hers. That assumption is wrong: it is an Israeli-occupied city, and Israel can not change that status WITHOUT that agreement with the Palestinians. An occupier is not a sovereign, Avi, and so an occupier is not entitled to act *as* *if* that territory belongs to it.
Akiva,you where not enough so you get another leftist to help you write maybe and hopfully you are loosing ability to write or you think poeple do not give the @##$% about what you write that is nice
Jerusalem has always been Jewish. Arab invaders and Christian crusaders are the ones who try to change Jerusalem . When and if the Palestinians will get their state. All the Palestinians in proper Israel should be ready to pack and move to their new state. Jewish Mizrahim were forced out of their homes by the Arab states. The UN did not give them one penny compare to the Palestinians who continue to receive money, support and live on welfare. It will be a simple exchange of citizens and a fair deal
2000 BC - 1500 BC canaanites 1500 BC to 1100 BC egyptians 1100 BC to 800 BC jews 800 BC to 600 BC assyrians 600 BC to 500 BC babylonians 500 BC to 350 BC persians 350 BC to 250 BC macedonians 250 BC to 200 BC jews 200 BC to 50 AD romans 50 AD to 500 AD byzantines need i go on? i can list them ALL if you want to. jews weren't the founders, they haven't spent the most time there by a long shot, and they aren't the only ones with holy sites there. they are just one in a VERY LONG LINE of foreign invaders, convinced of their own superiority.
it was still an Arab city for last 1000 years of it's history. if you want go back to Roman days, then maybe we should reinvent the wheel and call it an iphone app.
The Jews are the only ones with a mandate from YHWH. Furthermore, He told them to go in and possess it as He would clear out their enemies from before them. Besides, you have your dates wrong.
But it's also Christian and Muslim, too. You're going to have to come to terms with that.
Couldn't agree more, we live in the present. where Jerusalem is again Jewish. Glad you see it the right way.
jerusalem was jewish, then assyrian, romans, etc etc, otoman, then the arabs of Jordan and finally we jews reconquered our city, and now is jewish. nobody said nothing when Romans, assyrians, otomans conquered the city ( there were no internet, facebook, twitter, CNN, etc etc) and of course NOBODY said nothing when arabs conquered in 1948 and did what they did... and now all the world is against "occupation" of Jerusalem... we reconquered our city... what would happened if were the arabs who would conquered the city in 1967? now jerusalem is jewish again, FOREVER...turks conquered constantinople and now is istambul. we reconquered our city and now is jewish again...if we jews must leave our city, arabs must return to arabia HM talks about the rulers of jerusalem through the time... we were expelled from the city then the christians and muslims came (nobody said nothing at all) and then we jews returned... what is the problem? jerusalem is jewish again, we fought against arab countries and we won (as romans, assyrians, otomans, muslims etc etc did).. Israel is not kicking out the arab population as they did years ago. so you accept living in Jerusalem, the eternal jewish capital
We are the Canaanites. We are the original inhabitants of Jeruslem. We look somewhat like a cross between Fabio and Chris Rock. We want our homeland back. Jews, Arabs and all others may remain IF they are nice and will Share Canaanite land equally and fairly.
Great news. We must keep building our city, a Triumphant Jerusalem will show the Arab enemy how pathetic and worthless they are.
YHWH does not produce pathetic and worthless people--either in the singular or the plural sense. Everyone is here to serve Him in some way. Even if it only seems to be as a chastisement to the Jews who continuously turn away from Him to pursue their own ideas. Do what He says for you to do and everything will turn out just fine.
How do you know....or how does anyone else know what "He" wants you to do. What a bunch of crap in the 21st century. Do you still sacrifice sheep?
full of claptrap.
of Jews by Transjordan after the re-creation of Israel, it's time to properly build Jerusalem without fear of war-mongers, rabid anti-Semitics and deluded extremist Muslims with inferiority complex. The population is growing, and the city needs to deliver the needs of both the city's population, and it's standing as Israel's capital.
Avi : It is not yours - wake up from your psychotic, grandiose delusions.
All in God's time...
History and present-day reality says that you are the delusional one.
Tell us Avi, what's your Master Plan, hmm? Do you have a Final Solution to the Palestinian Question?
All I can hope that Israelis in Palestine will protest against this decision. Haaretz: Can you please call a spade a spade and stop using the word 'enclave' and use 'colony' instead.
What's Palestine?
Oh, it's only the land that you've been stealing for decades, while using the misguided claims of religion, which has no bearing in the 21st Century.
Palestine is the land that you are occupying. What's Israel?
I thought it was a political invention by the Arab states. Tell me, who was the first prime minister? what were the borders? When was the flag created? Ye, thought so
If a native american asked you for the keys to your house, would you hand them over? I don't think so. You're a hypocrit, especially since Christianity motivated the theft of all of the North America. Maybe you should save your "misguided claims of religion" speech for the genocidal Islamists.
It was a land historically occupied by a majority of Jews, who for years long before Israel was reborn bought the land from Arabs who lived on it... in an attempt to return the are into a safe place for Jews to live as it was theirs before they got kicked out. oh well I guess the worlds history is wrong then.
Arab says no to this land in 1937, 1947, and 2000 -> and too this day.
Maybe Obama will feel betrayed. He will yield to Israel. He just is a man without conviction.
you are asking for a war which you know you cannot win. What is the use of building in East Jerusalem and then lose " your country"
It is Islam that is asking for a war when it forces its exclusive, bigoted, militant, religious views on others with its false belief of superiority. BTW, what did Arafat & Co. do with all the billions of sacrificial aid that poured in from the west over the decades? Putting up a wooden sign of promised building while all the budget was blown on militancy and Swiss bank accounts is not very educated,is it? The Palestinian State could have been as old as the revived Jewish State if they were humble and teachable which they weren't.
Stop or change your policies until the whole world knows who you are !! That is the only way that you can loose since you are not interested in peace !!!! Steal , Grab ,Expand. & Follow the Radical Right Wing to your distraction !!!!!!
Was a radical right wing policy ;-)
...if it's done on someone else's land!
that when it comes to expanding on other peoples land, it's called stealing.
. . .having no idea of what your building and prospering costs other people and eventually always seems to cost you.
Imagine that the "building and prospering" in Jerusalem was being undertaken under the authority of Iran, by dint of the Revolutionary Guard having defeated the IDF in battle and capturing Jerusalem by force of arms. Would you be quite so sanguine then?
now pack your back and leave!!!!! I expect you give me the keys ASAP. it is my God's will.
Islam already has their lands and capitals and the only reason they were able to invade and take over the ancient land of Israel in the 7th Century was because the Romans as a superpower at the time had earlier decimated the ancient Israelite defense forces and the Byzantime empire was too weakened by wars to defend their acquired province properly. It was Islam that came to "steal, grab, and expand" their growing empire when they set foot in Jerusalem over 700 miles away. It is very apparent that Israel is very interested in peace in its only one land and Jewish State and it's Islam that's not satisfied till they greedily take over the whole region and eventually the world as you're taught that your religion has superseded both Christianity and Judaism, right? BTW, what contributions did the Arabs make to the world from this city since the CE 691?
There are more Jews in US then the state of israel . Why dont you go over to Israel and settle with your brothers and help them out in their expansion efforts.
Just goes to show how much you understand, Avi.
Israel can and should kick out the Arab squatters from Jerusalem. The Arabs have done the same to the Jews as recently as the 1940s. The Arabs have dozens of large cities. Jerusalem was, is, and should ever be the sole Jewish capital.
except that is exactly what happened in the oil-producing regions of Iran. The Guards stole the land from the Arab residents and polluted it. Weird you've never heard about that. Interesting that the Jews are getting all the attention isn't it.
You really do not have a clue as to why this is so stupid do you take a look at the news? Do you understand wnat you are doing with the radicalisation of Muslim youth. How many Israeli soldiers have died in the last 5 years then look at the cost to the UK and US. I do not support all the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq but Israel's behaviour is not helping.