Incitement Day in Jerusalem
As proximity talks with the Palestinians begin, Israel's real policy is being revealed vis a vis the government's incitement which drowns out its whispered promises to the United States.
Haaretz EditorialFor a long time now, Jerusalem Day has served as an excuse for the far right to excoriate Arab residents of the city's eastern part and violently demonstrate their presence in their neighborhoods. But this year, the baton of incitement has passed from the delusional fringes to the very heart of the political arena - the government.
Of all the places the city has to offer, the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva is the site where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to celebrate the day. In front of the students devoutly singing "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning," Netanyahu promised the yeshiva's head, Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, that "we have never conceded Jerusalem."
It would be better not to make such statements right now - and especially not in a place so identified with stubborn resistance to any division of the capital. But Mayor Nir Barkat went even further: He promised that the freeze on construction in the city would not continue.
Then, as if all this were not enough, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch hastened to respond to Washington's request that Israel refrain from provocative actions by announcing that "we will resume razing houses in East Jerusalem over the next few days."
The greatest achievement of all, however, belongs to Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who has doubled the number of schoolchildren visiting the Temple Mount and the City of David, from 200,000 two years ago to 400,000 since the start of the current school year. Under a new program drafted by the Education Ministry on the minister's orders, students are obligated to visit Jerusalem at least three times during their 12 years of school.
In theory, there is nothing wrong with this. Yet the visits tend to focus on sites like the Old City's Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall tunnels, Zion Gate and the archaeological excavations of the Temple Mount's southern wall - all disputed areas that are on the agenda during negotiations with the Palestinians, and are also associated with new Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem. Moreover, the tours, which are led by guides from the extreme right-wing organization Elad, blatantly ignore the Palestinians' existence and bear the clear stamp of religious nationalist indoctrination.
The government's stance is particularly worrying given its aggressive actions on the ground: the tightening of the belt of Jewish settlement in neighborhoods to the east and south of the Old City that overlook the Temple Mount.
The government's dangerous incitement, which drowns out its whispered promises to the United States, appears this week to be Israel's real policy as proximity talks with the Palestinians begin.
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The Western Wall in Jerusalem |
| Photo by: David Bachar |
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Your editorial claiming that the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Wailing Wall are "disputed" is an incendiary piece of propaganda unworthy of a Jewish newspaper. If the Hindustan Times in delhi advocated a similar stance, to wit, that the Taj Mahal was "disputed" by the muslims and should not be under sovereign Indian jurisdiction, that newspaper would be closed. Is Haaretz seeking to be shut down by the Israeli authorities for its inflammatory views in print?
Has israel ever made a promise, whispered or otherwise that it COULDN'T drown out? mark aleshnick Okinawa, japan
What nerve according to Haaretz! Israel wants to bring Israeli students to sites having major historical importance to the Jewish nation. Perhaps Haaretz would rather bring students to the zoo, the Negev town of Rahat and to Mikes in Tel Aviv. Perhaps Haaretz should find out from Obama where it is permissible to take Israel's students.
Israel will never accept Palestinian state let alone giving any part of Jerusalem away.
It is not only the Palestinians do have to wonder , IF PM Netanyahu realy believe in the PEACE PROCESS. No Wonder the World communities are just fed up with Israel's present policies.
You know when the Christians moved in to Jerusalem in the wholly war of Christ, they slew all Moslems, Jews and…all Christian Arabs too, on the streets of Jerusalem. The blood was tainting the streets and running in the guts. After that the city was undivided. Is that your scope? Christians, Moslems or Jews, you have no self righteous right to Jerusalem. Please do not cite the holy book, because it will bring us to a holy war, and the Moslems will win, have no doubt about it. Christians are not Christians any longer, making the sacrifice of life to the faith, the Jews are in the same position, why die for Jerusalem, a dirty city in land. But the Moslems, they are in the mood to fight. They have the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Mousque Far East, where Mohamed went to meet the dignitaries of the Bible. They are willing to give life, to save the place from slandering and division. (And by the point, how do you recognize Jerusalem? It is by the cupola of the mosque). Get together with the rest of the world and unite Jerusalem!!
I am completely puzzled by the editors comments on Jerusalen day. What does he suggest? should Israel tell the world that we give up Jerusalem so they can destroy again all Jewish existance there. NO, better to let the world know that we never will give up Jerusalem, which was offered to Arafat on a silver platter and was refused. In united Jerusalem more Arabs live than Jews and the rate of birth is the same (4 per family). If people want to live in Jerusalem houses must be build for them, also for Arab, Christians etc.
geneva is not applicable since the west bank was not part of any sovereign territory. hence the territory is disputed. territorial disputes are solved on the basis of bi-lateral negotiations. obama has made an enormous mistake by siding openly with the palestinians. all he has achieved is the freezing of negotiations between israel and the pa. as i had said, certain areas will never be relinquished. you and others like you better understand this. neither the kotel, nor the jewish quarter, nor the jewish neighbourhoods will be given up. pretending otherwise will only inflame passions on all sides.
You guys are disgraceful. Whispers to America? I ask you!! What has Obama done for (or whispered to) Israel? It's about time the Israelis stopped placating a no-friend-of-Israel Obama who is more intent on licking up to the Arabs than he is about the safety and security of the Jewish state.
To please the US gov and the Pals, jews should simply travel all together to Uganda or Birobidjan. Thus no more problems in the world and Osama and Obama will be happy. Haaretz writes this BS because they are more Israelis than Jews. Jews are mentionning Jerusalem at leat 6 times a day, 3 in regular prayers and 3 after meal. And by the way, International law ? Wow, yes the one that democratically elected Lybia to be a member of the Human Righrt Council, What a joke. I am wondering what would had happened if the 1947 resolution would not had been voted. All Jews would have travelled to Birobidjan ? Get real, stupid guys that are believing in International Law. International Law is OK, just for those that have automatic majorities. The Jewish people relies on other criteria. This must not please to every one. But who cares. When not the US, China is desperately waiting his time just to say f.... you to the US.
Leave our heritage, our capital, our country our land, our name alone, has not the last thousands of years of persecution by Muslims and Christians not been enough? Jerusalem is our capital and if you want it back so badly then I suggest growing a pair and try to take it back.
Palestinians should not be deceived by Israel's facade. Israel speaks peace but practices an erosion of Palestinian land and human rights. If there ever is a settlement, it will not be based on justice. It will be a photo opportunity for Israel and the USA. Following any agreement, Israel will again renew its attacks on enclaves of West Bank Palestinians. It will always be in the interest of heightened security. This will go on until the West Bank evolves into a majority Jewish population.
The editorial erroneously distinguishes between the Israeli government and the 'far right delusional fringe'. They are one and the same ideologically. The editor must know that whatever was 'whispered' had no meaning and basis in reality and that Israel's basic policy has not changed one iota. I hope that the US government policy makers and the president have internalized this stark reality.
The editorial erroneously distinguishes between the Israeli government and the 'far right delusional fringe'. They are one and the same ideologically. The editor must know that whatever was 'whispered' had no meaning and basis in reality and that Israel's basic policy has not changed one iota. I hope that the US government policy makers and the president have internalized this stark reality.
One needs to remember what the Arabs did to that part of the city they controlled.
One needs to remember what the Arabs did to that part of the city they controlled.
essntially, the editorial advocates that jews should ignore and forget their history and "acknowledge" athe new falsification of history in order to meet a "one world" political philosophy seemingly held by only left wing jews who apparently wish they were not considered jews, since that is so tribal and illiberal. haaretz seems to advocate that if only jews would disappear as jews and judaism as a religion cease to exist, all of humanity would join hands and sing songs of love and brotherhood, and peace would reign throughout the world. How can people (only jews, of course, be so foolish and ignorant
When in Arab hands, Jews could not visit or pray in Jerusalem and dozens of Jewish sites (synagogues and archeology) were destroyed. In Israel's hands, Jerusalem has flourished, and Muslims and Christians can visit all their sites, all protected. How can anyone suggest that Jews not be allowed to visit the tunnels, and see the entrance of the Holy Priest to the Temple Mount? How can anyone deny a Jew's right to see King David's Jerusalem? Any peace must maintain everyone's right to their holy places, and that means Israeli control. Look at the destruction of the archeology under the Temple Mount by the Wakf!
For an Israeli media source to even suggest that the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall is "disputed" land is abominable. Post Zionism at its best. What's next? Maybe the Torah is not part of the Jewish people?
your fondness for lecturing blinds you to the issues. first, there is no present document that states that the all territory beyond the partition line is disputed. quite the contrary. second, none of this is a legal issue. the issue is political. israel will never under any circumstances or government renounce certain areas that at present are under her sovereignty. that much even obama understands. The Old City and the Kotel, as well as the present Jewish neighbourhoods will remain part of the sovereign State of Israel.
What I cited is the basis for US policy from Johnson and even back to Truman to the present. And it is the same international law, the Geneva Conventions that were put in place, largely by US and Allied diplomacy after WW II. What you claim may become part of Israel legally only when there is an internationally recognized settlement, negotiated with the Palestinians that recongnizes their right to their country and it boundaries as well as Israel's boundaries. It is a Legal AND political issue.
The agreement signed by Israeli upon admission to the U.N. Limited it's territory and rights to annex territories and in that sense there is no dispute that the 'disputed' territories do not belong to Israel. The problem arises as to whom the territories belong. Given the liberal democratic underpinnings of modern international law, one would have to conclude that the inhabitants have the right to assert self determinative sovereignty which as you point out, is a political question.
CJK: "first, there is no present document that states that the all territory beyond the partition line is disputed." Indeed true, just as there is no documents that say that the tide can come in twice a day. But here is the rub: there **IS** a document that says that the "Jewish state" shall have sovereignty over 55% of the Mandated territory, and that document has never been superceded by any other document. N.E.V.E.R. What Israel has to do is ALLOW THAT ARAB STATE to be established so that it can then (actually, simultaneously) sign a treaty with it. And UNTIL that happens then it remains true that the Partition Plan remains the first and last word on this issue.
Which would be ironical as they would end up with a lot less than if they had stuck to the '67 borders! This is what the US EU and UN should be pursuing now -stick to the old Partition Plan as Israel has shown that it has no intention of pursuing it's own 2 state solution.
242 Supercedes the partition plan. 242 came after, it is a UNSC resolution, which makes it legal and the partition plan is not
will remain under Israel's sovereignty. But Mark is also correct in saying that the issue is political and legal from an international perspective.
None of this is a legal issue. The fate of the West Bank will be decided in negotiations and nobody knows exactly how the borders will be defined. Most probably the model of settlement the Americans will promote is something around Clinton parameters, that Palestinians have already rejected. Hard to believe they will accept this time either.. The Palestinians do not want a state but want the end of Israel.
If Israel were to have 55% of the Mandated territory it would have all of Judea and Samaria and 27% of Jordan. You either never knew or failed to remember that about 78% of the territory given to the UK to administer in their Mandate was given to form Jordan. It was the Arabs that refused to form their state. When a nation wages an offensive war they may lose territory when they lose. Just look at the result of WWII.
Bibi and his government have been consistent and open that Jerusalem will not be divided as it shall remain the capital of Israel and no building freeze. This is no surprise.Neither, by now, is Obama's bending to Muslim world. They two nations disagree on the issue. Bibi was elected and his government continues.
but - i cant think of a more stupid, destructive strategy to achieve that legally, as what bibi & co does... in fact, it was him who (already) gave jerusalem away. praise him.. i will never forgive him...
"Disputed" is a euphemism for "under military occupation." When modern Israel was founded, it was allotted certain territory. Everything else is holds is militarily occupied. You and many Israelis seem to think that the Geneva Conventions that Israel signed don't apply to Israel. Why this is is unfathomable. The Conventions that Israel signed do not contain any language that says, "except Israel" or "except in the case of defensive war." You should read the conventions sometime. You'll be enlightened. All the exceptions and counter-reasoning is invalid, because there are none. They are multinational treaties and all signatories have to agree on exceptions. Israel can accept that or withdraw from them. So yes, those disputed areas are not-Israel under the Laws of Nations. Negotiate a treaty and some of them might become part of Israel some day. The right of conquest expired before 1948. Get over it.
All of the land of Israel is Israel's. Your points are moot and your understanding or interpretation of law is illegal and immoral. Disputed means disputed. Open a book one day and you will notice many nations have disputed borders but unlike Arabs they do not respond with terrorism and the murder of innocent children to settle disputes.
because she is just a conservative (it could be genetical!) 1948….that is so resent (like yesterday) that any conservative will brace them self. They will ask: Are you saying that the Viking ways are out? The rule of divide and concur? We like this, why change???? We never want change, it is our principles!
You should look to a map of Europe before and after WWII. When a nation wages offensive war and loses, it can lose territory. At the end of wars borders are often reconfigured. The areas are "disputed" because there never was a Peace Treaty signed. Borders are formed as part of Peace Treaties, not armistices. The lines after fighting has stopped due to a cease fire are temporary until treaties are negotiated. If you think that the "right of conquest expired before 1948" check the maps of Europe, Asia and Africa before and after WWII.
Excellent letter, hitting the nail on head. States that ignore international laws are "rogue" states. No doubt about that.
Incitement and aggression are the standard operating procedure for the Israeli government & all related agencies. Israel is one of only 3 or 4 countries worldwide not to have a formal constitution. You know what they say, "if you don't stand for something then you stand for nothing." Unfortunately for Israel it gets worse since they do stand for something..... land theft, national terrorism, oppression, violence, lies, lies n more lies
the kotel is disputed?! the jewish quarter is disputed?! the zion gate is disputed?! have you all gone mad?!
No, Cipora, it's you who are mad. The settlers rampaged through many other places than those you mention yesterday, their blasphemous utterings safeguarded by phalanxes of uniforms and machinery you didn't even know existed.
Bravo, I hope you are Israeli. Because I believe that Israelis should adopt that stand. It is with them we should make peace, and they have to be convinced that they are on the wrong and dangerous track right now.
I dislike them, wherever I am.
Is Wiesel going to visit Jerusalem any time soon? Or is the weasel not willing to leave his U.S. digs for a short fact-finding tour to see for himself just how "free" the Palestinians are to buy and build anywhere in Jerusalem as he so vulgarly claimed?
You may not agree with everything Elie Wiesel says. But he is neither a "weasel" nor "vulgar" and you should be ashamed of yourself. Elie Wiesel is a voice of commitment, passion and reason that emerged from the horrors that ultimately emanated from people who blithely spewed hatred at the Jews. You should have the decency to show some respect.
The Israeli government keeps on provocing the the so called 'friends' in the West. Although The West (EU and US) do their best to support Israel in its difficult stance in the Middle East, The Israeli government disrespects this support (not only billions of dollars, but also political support). Please be informed that the West will only take up this up to point. What will Israel do once the support is over?
There are 25 Jewish Senators, 40-some Congressmen, and of course, there is AIPAC. If they don't own us, they at least have us by the sh*rt hairs.
You must understand - Israel does not conduct a normal type of politics. Israel has its very own brand of politics - it's called DAVKA POLITICS. Not very successful but too much fun for its practinioners to stop themselves.
No, there are only 13 such senators, though the supreme court will soon be 33% Jewish
the obama administration knows that the real super jews are not in Israel but indeed in the US. However, I feel that something is cooking at the moment...
Now is the time for Palestinians to begin the struggle for equal rights in one state. Its time to call out the only democracy in the middle east. Lieberman has ripped the clothes off of Abbas in Haaretz showing Abbas in collusion with Israel in cast lead.