Problem with East Jerusalem? Not enough construction

The main fact of hearing Islam and Muslims, pains you greatly I see. I am afraid it will continue to pain you for a very very long time..because there is no stopping it. No matter what kind of losers keep popping up...

will it not be stoped? is there no geert wilders there? or some such like? islam has occupied the jewish homeland for too long. they think they own the place, as well as malmo, rotterdam and anywhere else with significant demography. new york or washington dc next? has it been promised them too? 50,000 units not enough. make that 250,000. and if they want to build mosques, let them go to switzerland.

Israel should simply state the plain truth: the Arabs have been at war for more than a century with the Jewish state, even before its creation. By any objective standard, the Arabs lost, and Israel won. Rather than pretending otherwise -- mostly it seems to indulge Arab fantasies -- the negotiations should continue on that basis. The war is over, one side won. The other lost. The Arabs should be glad they lost to a civilized democracy like Israel. Had they lost lets say to Syria, the peace would be far less generous (as the residents of Hama could testify to, if only we could find a good medium).

When will you rest and allow Israel to become a normal country and a normal society?

Militant Anti-Israeli Arabs Will Never Rest..until they completely destroy Israel. Why wait, build all you can now in JERUSALEM and GAZA. Begin by relocating the so-called Palestinians out of GAZA to the WB, and declare the WB a Israeli protectorate. Declare the 2-State solution dead..may it R.I.P. Enough already!

We need to build less in some areas and create more openess for families with trolleys to those zones. Rethink in beauty. Look at Louisville Ky where I live and the water front park Jerry Abrahamson is the mayor. With so many we need to rethink. ON certain accounts we have proposals and attorneys release one by one as proof of purchase not just flat out cash payouts. Park areas with building areas around and open spaces. Faxing over ideals as well. Look at areas around the world. Also help people with trauma induce conjestive heart failure like if you get tortured. The fluid comes back and then away. It mass injury caused. I for instance can never fly again due to that and skull fracture. They were mass exterminating jews, muslims, and catholics by private corporation in land grant area in eastern europe. Hundreds were killed. Funny you hate Jews some muslims do but they all died together and we tried to save their children. Rankoo-Karoon Lamb

Thank you for clarifying your opinion on religion and wars. However, you say that the whole world accepts the 1967 borders. No, the world accepted the UN partition plan, which clearly shows that the jewish settlement of Omer is on occupied arab land. The world has not had a meeting on the issue since (un general assembly). In addition, even if the world accepts the June 1967 (1949 armistice) lines, we don't! We accept what is rightfully ours - the arab portion of the 29 Nov 1947 UN General Assembly Partion Plan. As you live in Omer, you are a jewish settler, pure and simple, and thus an obstacle to peace, no different from those Jews living in Ashkelon, Nahariya, Kiryat Gat, Beer Sheva and those other settlements in the areas grabbed by Israel between 1947 and 1949.

....the governement...??? And why are their "illegal" houses regularly being destroyed, while the Jewish "illegal" houses (settlement outposts) aren't...??? You see, that is the true lickmus test, when it comes to the term Apartheid or not.... Maybe we both can agree on the term "Apartheid light"...???

....if you only have a gun! Honestly, you are offering us here a rather strange interpretation of the 10 command- ments...:)

Mr. Harel criticizes Israelie for not rallying to defend PM Nethanyahu's honor--but objects to the U.S. reaction to Israel's flagrant (and not only, as he puts it, 'clumsy') insult to Vice-President Biden on his visit to Israel???

Dear Fatima, You're absolutely right, there are several wars that were not inspired by religious beliefs (although most of them were), and I mistakenly omitted the word 'there' (Jerusalem). See the corrected statement below. As for the '47 plan, well, the world pretty much accepts the '67 borders, and along those lines a Palestinian state should arise. That's the reality. One can of course go back in time, why stop at '47, let's go to the Ottoman empire, or give it all back to the Romans - hey, there's an idea, let's all live under Berlusconi's rule and watch RAI all day long! That'll do it, peace guaranteed! Michael "What`s actually far more important for the future of a healthy Jerusalem is try and reach a secular majority. All the conflicts that ever were there (and will be) are related to religion. So the solution is beautifully simple: stop being so incredibly religious!"

is the only goal along with settlement of the entire west bank. Welcome to South Africa and then Belgium, with the end of teh Jewish state in the menatime.

Israel should make a single big plan to build in all of east Jerusalem. say, 300,000 buildings. And funding that plan will cost, say, $100 billion. Get AIPAC to tell the US Congress to fund it this year. Announce the plan and get AIPAC to demand that Israel's security requires an extra $100 billion for Jerusalem. Get that money locked in before something happens that might cause problems.

You guys are just way off. Jerusalem was ruled by the Otamons, the British, the Jordanians, and now the Israelis. It was never ruled by the Palestinians and none of the other previous rulers claims her. Now the Palestinians want the city, but it was never theirs before. They have no claim to it. Likewise, the idea that Israel is an apartheid and police state is laughable. Come and visit and see all the Israeli Arabs in the malls, hospitals; they go to the movies. The non Jewish Israelis vote for Keneset members; they are free to libel the Jews -- which many of Haaretz's readers do.

Michael, you are on occupied land too! The land where your settlement Omer is built was supposed to be part of the arab-portion in the 1947 UN parition plan. In addition, you say that all wars are connected to religion. Well what about: 1st World War 2nd World War Korean War Vietnam War ? Please think properly before spouting your untruths. You are a secular fanatic and a settler.

Austria is a sovereign nation. Switzerland is a sovereign nation. Israel is a sovereign nation. Palestine is not and never has been. You know exactly what UN Res 242 says. Israel took back from Jordan in 1967 what Jordan had seized in 1948. It takes two sides to negotiate. Neither has done a good job. Do wish though that your Swiss ancestors had been "too rational of a people" (as you write it) back when you were assisting the Austrians and the Germans as they looted the Jewish treasure in your "get along well with our neighbours" banks. Must be lovely to be so holier than thou.

"Democratic Israel builds a Jewish neighborhood." Hummmm, nothing strange, right? Then how does this look: "Democratic US builds a white neighborhood". Or Irish, black, Chinese, Latino, Anglo, whatever. Still no shivers down your spine? The Arabs are not a demographic problem. They have a right to be there. The Jews are not colonists. They have a right to be there. One state, two states - peace and respect for all.

READ post # 43 from "UR Filth and Scum" Read it and then, please, ask yourselves: "What the hell have we, Haaretz, become"?

"foreigners are building house all over sothern europe and othe sun spots world wide !! no doubt many of them are intelligent swiss !!!!!!!!!!!!!!" By the looks of all those exclamation marks you really nailed it there... One tiny little detail though: Switzerland does not think that it gets territorial sovereignty over the land that those Swiss people build on. Do you see the difference here?

it is only the question when, but nobody would be able to stop this, not Obama or Clinton.... Pals will need to be relocated to the arab world, or some other countries who would help them. This must, and will become the agenda of all peace loving nations.

"the building of Jerusalem will continue after the condemnatory dust settles, as it always does." Benjamin second that with his "We have been building for 42 years and nobody stopped us". Mr President as Commanedr in Chief you have the duty to your soldiers in the field to protect them and your Supreme Commander of the theater has stated clearly that Status Quo endagers the lives of US soldiers. Don't be spineless and dissapoint us, put your foot down and impress us. "an end to the occupation that started in 1967". The Palestinians deserve freedom for their children, as do every human being in the world.

You have your definition of Jerusalem. The US President is allowed his. Who cares if neither is what was Jerusalem in the days of King David or even in January 1967? Ramat Schlomo is not inside 1948 Jerusalem and isn't today by any standard except yours. Who's to say Tel Aviv doesn't meet the US or UK definition of a Jerusalem suburb? Don't like it? Negotiate something with the Palestinians that they'll accept. Maybe then the US will.

should negotiate with Iran for 17 years about their nuclear program. The is the same time Israel has been negotiating with the Palestinians since Oslo was signed. This is the best answer to Israel's intransigence.

With a government that lies and lies, insults everybody, behaves like a 5 year old and is, in fact an occupying police-state? Why on earth should any civilized country give you the time of the day?

jack, is the general talking out of the top of his head ? what are the usa doing in iraq and afghanistan ? handing out candy bars ? n korea is supplying iran because there is no second palestine state ? india and pakistan are at war ?china is in tibet ? saudi arabia is worried about iran ? wake up "und ein cafe trinken "!!

Headquarters of U.S. naval activity in the Persian Gulf since 1948 - Bahrain al-Udeid air base - Qatar "..Saudi defence minister said that, since US and British patrols over the Iraqi no-fly zones had ended, there was "no need" for the American forces to be there. "This does not mean we have requested them to move," he said. "The co-operation between our two countries was going on even before Desert Storm and it will continue even after the end of the war in Iraq." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2984547.stm

not being recognized when you annex land didn't stop Jordan in 1948 to 1967. Oops...I forgot, Jordan's occupation was recognized by both Pakistan and the UK. BTW, the US did not vote in favor of the UN resolution regarding Jerusalem, they abstained.

Why do people keep hammering on that we need a jewish majority in Jerusalem? Aside from the fact that the whole concept sounds rather racist, we do in fact have a large jewish majority in Jerusalem. And once the city will be divided, the Israeli part will be almost completely jewish. What's actually far more important for the future of a healthy Jerusalem is try and reach a secular majority. All the conflicts that ever were (and will be) are related to religion. So the solution is beautifully simple: stop being so incredibly religious!

In every country in the world construction is considered a good thing. Israel needs to stop apologizing for growing. Just because the Koran says that it is not supposed to be a nation, and is nevertheless, who cares!! Israel needs to grow regardless of what the stateless people want. Israel is the de facto government of the Arabs living in Samaria, Judea and Gaza. The local Arab government is a provincial authority, not a national authority, and the surrounding Arab nations have no more right to dictate how things will be than does the Pope.

When Gen. Petraeus makes it clear that Israeli policies are endagering the lives of US combat soldiers, the leg that Israel stands on gets infected by gangrene. Obama is Commander in Chief and the Pentagon isn't what Israel should take on.Instead listen, act and survive. Israel Harel represents a lot of Israelis that will have to understand, the hard way, that when it comes to adding to the danger of US soldiers lives in the field you have become the enemy. Stupidity at best, suicidal at worse.

Israel is one of the few countries in the world where Americans don't hear, "Yankee GO HOME". That alone is worth the $3B in military credits it gives Israel. However Israel also gives the US a foothold in the ME which certainly no Arab country will allow. 9/11 was directly attributed by Bin Laden to US presence on Saudi Arabia's sacred soil during Iraq war I. Appearantly he thought American presence was rendering the sand 'unclean'. Furthermore the US gets to sell Israel billions in 'defence sheild' interceptors, which the Americans get to man, in Israel. Also how much do you think one of those US fighter planes is worth? Maybe Israel should see if they can get a better deal on the MIGs then they won't need the US 'signing bonus'. Therefore all you indignant Yankees should either stop the rhetoric about cutting off the arms discount or GO HOME.

there is no cure...kill yourself piggie and make the world a better place

Joe, I can't agree with you more. If they would have accepted the peace agreement, they wouldn't be in a shitty situation.

...is that Israel pretends that it is part of Israel when no other political entity on the planet, including the USA acknowledges the illegal annexation. It's a rare ability to unite the entire world against you, but Israel has managed it.

I love opinion pieces like this one, it makes it so clear to those that still hasn't got what is going on.More I say.

Meig, those who write nonsense do not require much courage. But those few, who speak truth to authority require a great deal of courage. It was very refreshing and encouraging to read your post. I hope Israel's leaders and the leaders of the Palestinians wake up in time to begin to build a better future for all of the people in the region.

Since the majority of East jerusalemites had properties in West jerusalem neighborhoods of Baqa'a, Katamon, Talbiyya prior 1948, and since greater Jerusalem has been re-united after 1967, then give those people their properties back, as after all they are Jerusalem residents, and Israel is a democratic state..

You wrote: "I am a loyal American but I have a very strange feeling about Obama." Since you are a loyal American, let me help you out. He is the first American President born of a union between a black man and a white woman. Our President is highly intelligent, and a very charismatic and serious leader. He is in every way a true American. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

all ambassadors to israel are received in jerusalem not tel aviv , does thta suggest anything to you hans !

ope and othe sun spots world wide !! no doubt many of them are intelligent swiss !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is Jews of conscience like yourself that will ultimately change Israel for the better.

1. It is not true to say that "the entire government and banking system is controlled by Jews." 2. This false assertion is a racial slur that has it's origin in the 19th Century Viennese gutter politics led by the anti-Semite Karl Lueger. 3. None other than Hitler would have agreed with your false and racist assertion (see "Mein Kampf." 4. I find this to be particularly offensive and am surprised that others haven't called you on it. 5. This calls anything you write into question and unless I hear an apology I can't take you serious.

What's the reason, why we aren't doing it...??? a) We aren't cheeky enough b) We are too rational of a people c) We like to get along well with our neighbours Well, I would say it's probably a mixture of all 3 of them, that is distinguishing us from our friends in Israel...:)

Wow, it staggers me that so many in Israel are unable to accept responsibility for anything. The claim that socially engeering a people out of a place by knocking down their houses and throwing-up walls is perfectly reasonably is madness. The poor ordinary Palestinians, I feel sorry for them - Israel must be the worst neighbour imaginable anywhere.

I think this is the most sense I have read from a writer for HaAretz. I was beginning to feel like I was reading from my favorite site Arutz Sheva. I just hope that the average Israeli takes these words to heart. Obama and Biden are not friends of Israel and are like wolves in sheeps clothing. I am a loyal American but I have a very strange feeling about Obama. There is something fishy about him and he will be exposed for what he is. Keep these awe inspiring articles coming. We need to assert the Jewish right to the Temple mount, where the Holy Temple stood so many years ago. The arab provocation and the claims of no Jewish sites is just absurd and the world needs to be made aware of these provocations.

When do you anticipate that the first Israeli of Arab extraction will become Israel's Prime Minister, or President? Let me know if you're interested in buying my bridge. I'll give you a good price. The bridge is located in Brooklyn. You may have heard of it.

I despair. Sure your country and your decisions, but the blindness, the waste, the mindless shuttered vision. I hope that country of yours is still there in 7 years.

This country sorely lacks a master plan..and GUTS to build and to develop infrastructure for ALL without falling prey to party politics(= socio economic and ethic discrimination). The Zionist dream of a Jewish state for Jewish People must be replaced with the Zionist dream of a Jewish state that deals fairly and equally with ALL INHABITANTS as the book of Leviticus commands

I suggest starting a fund of billions of dollars, then splitting it evenly between Israel and the Palestinians in the form of weapons. Add a few very low kiloton atom bombs as well to concentrate their effect on the said areas. Then you go at each other. Both believe they have the only true god on their side, not so? The real god will let the good guys win, surely? STOP MAKING YOUR SUPERSTITIONS OUR PROBLEMS AS WELL!

1. It is not true that "the entire government and banking system is (sic) controlled by Jews." 2. It is a racial slur right out of 19th century Viennese gutter politics (see Karl Lueger). 3. Hitler and Goebbels would have agreed. Read "Mein Kampf." 4. If you want to really offend, keep on repeating that garbage.

Mr. Harel does not want to see that the real Intifada is not coming from within, it is a World Intifada against the Isreali occupation and the BS that has been fed to the word about Israel the victim. Time to grow up Mr. Harel!

Build as usual just do not talk so much about it.

im sorry but all those claiming horrible palestinian treatment should come to israel and see how well they are doing here, how they get great medical care, and how they dont have to go to the army either. As to the treatment of palestinians in the terrirories, it is their own fault for being stubborn and not acceptin Olmert's peace plan which gave them 99% of what they wanted

One or one million the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people will lament and protest so I say build one million homes and fill them with lovely Jewish families so that Jerusalem remains the capital of Israel and peace prevails.

The US Embassy is located in Tel Aviv. Does that suggest anything to you?

... would never countenance annulling their eternal right to Jerusalem, the captital of Israel and the capital of Palestine... the sooner we internalize that, the better...

stop constructing settlements, which are illegal under international law. East jerusalem, or al-Quds, depending on which side you're looking at it from, is NOT your territory. You're hurting the peace process, and the netanyahu administration keeps laughing in the face of middle east peace with these blatant violations of international law and accord. The only reason the U.S. keeps kowtowing and kissing your asses, is because the entire government and banking system is controlled by Jews. STOP BUILDING SETTLEMENTS AND RETURN TO PEACE TALKS, AND STOP TREATING THE PALESTINIANS LIKE ANIMALS, FOR THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO! Kthnxbye.

I think you misunderstood what Brent wrote.

In other words, if builing up in East Jerusalem would really be an insult to America, Obama should cut all American financial and diplomatic aid to Israel. But here comes the truth. A lot of bla bla bla, a lot of "let's put Nataniahu on its knees" and nothing else. May be Obama will get some of it for a while, but...the botton line is that Israel will build in Jerusalem and the United States will fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and will stick to its efforts to build the great coalition against a real world threat, Iran.

I also sense a note of underlying desperation. How else to explain such rashness. Poor Israel Harel, forgive him and @Dan #1. They just don't know better.

Simple: Stop begging for our dollars. Stand up on your own and show us that you've got some spine, which we all know Israelis like you, don't. Please, don't prove to us that you are an idiot. Leave us to guess.

have you heard of bothsides of the question ? evidently not try learning the subject before commentiing !

nuttie congress voted in 1995 to move the embassy to jerusalem ! it does not say west east north or south !

If this article is representative of the majority viewpoint inside Israel or within it's governing coalition, I as an American citizen would urge my government to rethink the US relationship with Israel. For now, I will assume that this writer represents the extreme fringe in Israeli politics. Nevertheless, the article is an eye opener. Perhaps it's time for Haaretz to call on more objective writers.

... for the Pals, as West J'lem is for the Jews, Israelis... don't let Harel or anyone else confuse you about that...

... not in J'lem, nor anywhere else on their legally owned territory... that is what should be jump-started by the Pals themselves, with financial help from EU and USA... after all, the Pals are the builders and construction workers... they should be pouring their efforts into establishing themselves on what we Israelis have left them of their land... content neighbors are good neighbors...

"Instead of drawing such intense fire every year or two, it can all be concentrated into one anticipated blast, and the building of Jerusalem will continue after the condemnatory dust settles, as it always does." As it "always" does. When you lose the American bucks, "always" just might go the way of all the other "always" uttered by people who think that they are invincible because of the American umbrella. There is a new sheriff in town and he ain't handing out cash like in the old days. Israel needs to stop biting the hand that feeds it and make peace with the Palestinians. Who suffers more, the displaced locals or the po'po'Israelis? Get off your zionist high horse and make peace.

"Americans' brutality or the affront to the prime minister's honor" Is this satire? This is the worst article on Ha'aretz. You know, Israel always has the option of refusing military aid of $3 billion a year, has the option of refusing diplomatic aid by the US etc. If you are so affronted Mr. Harel and like-minded Israelis why don't you call for these actions by Israel. Let Israel stand on its own two feet, proud and arrogant and alone. Then you can continue abusing the Palestinian people without all this annoying interference by that big bad USA. You want to have all the cake you can get, but do absolutely nothing in return. Do you think the US has nothing better to do than have to deal with this issue? Do you think the US citizens could not make better use of their tax dollars? We give each Israeli taxpayer a tax rebate every year in the form of military aid. That should end.

Fact: Israel is not holding up their end of the "two state" bargain. Fact: You are losing the support of the majority of the Amercan people. Yes, you still have our Congress in your hip pocket, thanks to the much hated AIPAC, but once you lose the average American's support.... it's only a matter of time until we elect legislators that put our own country number one, and use those billions currently going to Israel annually to correct American problems. We have more than enough problems without worrying about the selfish, dishonest actions of our "nr. one ally". Some ally. Take, take, take... give nothing back.

"It was not peace, but rather opposition for its own sake that motivated Joe Biden's irrational conduct and Hillary Clinton's statements, which were presumably okayed by the White House." That statement is an unjustified provocation.

The WHOLE THING is the fault of everyone else in the world with the solitary (and shining)exception of the State of Israel. IT has nothing to do with illegal occupations, immoral blockades, asymmetrical wars against terrorists (civilians), separation barriers, assasinations, evictions, land grabs. The country that gives Israel 3 billion in aid every year, that stands alone at the UN voting against motions sanctioning Israel, that says it is Israel's closest ally is really just a tool in the plot to destroy the jewish nation. If only the world would let Israel do what it wants. We would see there would be no more intifadas. No more resistance. Thank you for making us understand Israel. Please forgive us.

the simple truth is that under these circumstances palestinians will never make peace with israel. palestinians traditionally demand that all palestinian lands be freed (read all of israel, westbank). Since 1993 palestinians have agreed for a settlement that includes the 67 borders including east jerusalem. those are the terms, they will never change as palestinians are ready to accept only 22% of the total land. Israel gets to keep 78%. Both sides believe it is an unfair settlement, but a settlement nonetheless. continuing to build will not change history, east jerusalem will be part of palestine. settlers living there will either be expelled, re-settled by israel, or become palestinian citizens

American policy is opposed to settlement building and has been for decades. Several presidents from both major parties have openly objected to settlement building. Israel has always ignored them. After decades of this, the Obama administration gets openly irate over Israels over reaching in EJ. The right wing Israelis call him "unreasonable". They are entirely correct. If Obama was being reasonable, he would cut all aid to Israel and seek sanctions. This is how you treat a moocher that spits in your face.

the crisis is an opportunity to detach jerusalem from the peace process. A demilitarized Palestinian state is a humanitarian need. A palestinian capital in east jerusalem is not a humanitarian need. A palestinian capital in East Jerusalem is not necessary for a palestinian state. A future peace process should assure the development of the city for both jews an arabs. until a peace treaty is signed, development of the city will continue. period. like the 2006 war, which was an opportunity to destroy hizbollah and was lost, this crisis is an opportunity to draw a red line. it should not be lost.