Rabin-Clinton deal makes East Jerusalem freeze possible
In April 1995, government authorized expropriation of 530 dunams of land beyond the Green Line.
By Akiva Eldar Tags: Israel news East Jerusalem Yitzhak RabinUnder a precedent established by prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, the prime minister is authorized to freeze construction for Jews in East Jerusalem. Following pressure from then U.S. president Bill Clinton, Rabin agreed to halt the expropriation of hundreds of dunams of land meant to expand the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem.
In April 1995, the government had authorized the expropriation of 530 dunams over the Green Line, most of it owned by Palestinians. The land was located northeast of the neighborhood of Ramot, near Beit Hanina, and in the neighborhood of Sarfat, west of the Beit Safafa. According to the plan, 800 to 900 apartments were to be built there.
The cabinet decision followed an acrimonious debate, with Meretz party ministers strongly opposed. Both the Palestinians and the Arab states responsed angrily. The Clinton administration also voiced opposition to the decision, saying it undermined peace efforts.
At Rabin's suggestion, however, the cabinet decision also included a promise that the government would not expropriate any more land in East Jerusalem for housing.
Daniel Seidemann, founder of the Ir Amim organization, said Thursday that because of the U.S. reaction, the expropriation of additional land for housing was in fact halted.
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A Palestinian working at an Israeli construction site beyond the Green Line. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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Clinton did not tell Netanyahu Pollard would be freed. At the Wye River conference, which lasted almost a month, a day or so before signing the agreement that had been reached, Netanyahu told Clinton that he must take Pollard home with him or there would be no agreement. When Clinton reported this conversation, the Director of CIA threatened to resign if Pollard were released, the Defense Department became furious, and congress threatened hostile hearings if Clinton agreed. When Clinton told Netanyahu no, Netanyahu said there would be no agreement. But the Israelis signed the agreement anyway. A few days after returning to Tel Aviv, Netanyahu abrogated the agreement.
No matter what the settlement freeze is of this or that the absolute say is the uppers not an American President or his wife. The man is a great speaker of peace I agree some of the settlement needs to be frozen and some needs to be expanded. WE need land expansion purchased then from the other side.Neither Jew nor Palestinian will be injured but we need all buildings inspected with noone being evicted till there is alternate housing.It takes a wax sealed order to accomplish an alignment.The next parliment meeting is not till December 7. We need the truth aligned we need the way open for mind thought without hate and we need the light aware no matter who you are that in 1999 there was another sealing of the wax seals of the crown. How much are the Clintons cashing in one and can we in Israel have them audited or confirmed? We need peace to expand in truth with a NATION called Israel not a state of the United States called Israel. With a nation called Israel. Rankoo (Karoon)
Wasn't it Clinton who told Netanyahu that Pollard would be freed? So much for upholding agreements. It's 25 years now.
as a palestinian if you decided to join them in the future state.
Had Rabin know about Arafat's intifada, would he have signed the Oslo agreement? Had Rabin known about Arafat's so called "right of return" would he have signed the Oslo agreement? Had Rabin known that the clause in the Oslo agreement about adjusting the border between Israel and Palestinians meant according to Arafat NOT to adjust it, would he have signed the agreement? If he would have, then he would have made a grave mistake. Arafat signed the Oslo agreement in bad faith.
or listen to incompetent us presidents !
The question that needs to be asked is whether that decision by the late PM Rabin helped the advancement of peace. lt seems to me that the result of that decision and others like it is creating the opposite effect. The arabs are not pressed by time and no matter what they do or don't do, it is without consequence
I can only understand a freeze on building in East jerusalem if the Palestinians have a freeze too. It was Rabin's policies that got him killed so why bring it up now. He should have had a referendem then and Israel should do it now. If Israelis can live with Palestinians so can the opposite occur.
It's vague, ideological, and convinces no one of anything--except dyed-in-the-wool ideologue leftists such as Eldar.
Rabin is no longer with us and his rulings as precedents not accepted as a way that Jerusalem must adhere to. He was a weak PM doing not what was good for Israel but only the wishes of the Americans.To-day we feel the repucussions of these cowardly acceptances.There will be no freeze of construction in Jerusalem The media expression that E jerusalem is maybe somewhere in africa does bambuzal the readers.
The Likud won big - Bibi Netanyahu became Prime Minister and the Israeli left disappeared - because Likud murdered Rabin. Israel voted Likud, after Likud murdered Rabin. That is all that matters.
I recommend PM freezs all construction IF HAARETZ WITER FREEZ WRITING FORB A YEAR
Everyone knows what happens to Israeli's who pursue peace with Arabs. If Netanyahu pursued peace he would be murdered - as was Rabin - by a member of his own party. Israel established the right of political parties to commit murder for political gain. A Likudnik murdered Rabin and Israel elected Netanyahu. As long as Israelis approve of murder as a method of political gain, then they must expect that murder will become a means of political accession .