The Jerusalem Puzzle: Jewish Enclaves in Arab Neighborhoods - by Dina Kraft
While most eyes are cast on the West Bank for a showdown over Jewish settlements there, there is another important battle going on - one that could also shape the future of the conflict’s resolution. It centers on the creation of Jewish enclaves in predominately Arab East Jerusalem. It has begun to heat up in the area in and around the Old City called the “holy” or “historic basin,” a patch of land chocker-blocked with sites holy to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The Israeli government says Jewish Israeli citizens are allowed to live in any part of the capital. Critics say it’s a cynical attempt to make East Jerusalem as “Jewish” as possible and foil any future attempts to divide the city as part of a future peace deal.
This week a plan for building a housing project with 104 apartments for Jewish Israelis was filed for approval with the city south of the Mount of Olives. Inside the complex are plaques thanking generous American donors like Irving Moskowitz, the Miami bingo parlor king who is one of the major backers of the drive to settle East Jerusalem with nationalist Jewish enclaves. About $25.4 million has been donated by Americans for the project of buying property for Jewish groups in East Jerusalem.
1 comment:
It's interesting no one complained when the Arabs took over many homes in "eastern Jerusalem" that belonged to Jews, but now that some of the Jews have finally been able to get their property back, everyone is up in arms about it.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no apartheid in Israel - Jews can and do raise money to buy land in Jerusalem. Saudi Arabs are purchasing vast tracts of land in the Galilee in "Jewish" areas. No one complains about that. Native Jewish Israelis have no less of a right to buy land in their own country than do foreign Arabs.
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