One argument for Jewish settlement of East Jerusalem that is heard quite often is based on a principle of civil rights: Jews should be able to build their homes in East Jerusalem because Palestinians are able to build theirs in West Jerusalem. "There can't be a situation where only Jews are prohibited from building in Jerusalem, while Arabs are allowed to both build and buy," said Minister Lieberman this week in the Israeli media. It's time to tell the truth: Palestinians can't really buy and build freely in West Jerusalem.
Take a look for instance, how the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, is trying to sell this excuse, when the anchor did some homework.
Before I explain, let me say that even if it was true that Palestinians could buy properties in West Jerusalem, still, it would be against the Israeli interest to continue to settle in East Jerusalem. In order to get to a two state solution we will have to compromise in Jerusalem so that the Israeli neighborhoods will be part of Israel's capital, and the Palestinian neighborhoods will be part of the Palestinian capital. If we continue the construction for Israelis in East Jerusalem, we might end up without a possibility to make a compromise in Jerusalem, and that would lead to a bi-national state.
Now to the facts: The truth is that West Jerusalem is effectively closed to Palestinian ownership. Why?
In the standard agreement of the Israel Land Authority, when one buys land from the state (which is actually a long term leasing agreement), article 19A(3) says that if the buyer is not one of the above the agreement is annulled, unless the buyer obtained an authorization in advance and in writing from the chair of the Israel Land Council.
The instructions of the director of the ILA from 12/1/09, specifies the special procedures for selling/leasing to foreigners. A special committee must confirm it, and the chair of the Israel Land Council should authorize it.
So, who can buy houses and lands in West Jerusalem? Jews and Israeli citizens. It is true that 20% of the Israeli citizens are Arab, and they can buy properties in any place in Israel. But this is not a privilege but a basic right of every citizen no matter what his ethnic background.
And another thing, even in East Jerusalem, in the Israeli neighborhoods that Israel built after 1967 on lands confiscated from the Palestinian owners, Palestinians from East Jerusalem can't simply buy properties, because it is also considered "State Lands."
For more bogus excuses see here
Co-authored by Kate Stoia.
Follow Hagit Ofran on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hagitofran
If the Israeli government decides to essentially keep building settlements in the WB and East J'lem, (as the settler ideology, with its goal of "Greater Israel" calls for) then the Palestinians don't HAVE to fight -- indeed all they have to do is wait.
Surely you are aware of the demographic trends. (I guarantee you the Palestinians are).
If there is no peace along a two-state solution, which the PA IS still willing to take (but it WILL mean giving up the settlements and most of East Jerusalem-- IMO the OLD City should be shared -- joint sovereignty, if you will, then, as Israeli Defense Minister Barak has pointed out there will be only two possible outcomes:
Either Israel will become an apartheid state (his words) with the Palestinians in a permanent non-citizen state (with little or no rights) -- and I would have you ask South Africa how that turned out -- the sanctions ruined their economy, and don't think Israel would escape the same.
OR Israel would become a single, bi-national state -- WITH AN EVENTUAL PALESTINIAN MAJORITY!
And I don't have to explain what that means in a democracy.
ctd
In other words, if the US is to support Israel, we expect Israel to ensure equal rights for all people under its control. It's the American way.
These are your words. It would seem that the Israelis treat Arabs far better than any Arab country treats Jews.
Arabs living outside of Israeli "annexed" area with property within it, of which there are many because Israel was choosy about what it took -- often annexing the lands belonging to an Arab village while leaving the villages in the non-annexed West Bank without even residential rights. Since the owners were not allowed to "infiltrate" Israel by going to use their property it was taken by the State and and came under the control of the ILA and subject to the conditions described by Ms Ofran.
But for your sake, chaim, I, for one, will certainly "admit" that while they do not have equal rights, Israeli Arabs are, for the most part, treated better in Israel than Jews are treated in many Arab states. However, there are countries like Morocco and others that are notable for their respect for and treatment of their Jewish citizenry. As is noted in a wikipedia article on the subject:
"Despite their current small numbers, Jews continue to play a notable role in Morocco; the King retains a Jewish senior adviser, André Azoulay; they are well represented in business and even a small number in politics and culture, Jewish schools and synagogues receive government subsidies. However, Jewish targets were attacked in the Casablanca attacks in May 2003. King Hassan II's invitations for Jews to return have not been taken up by the people who emigrated."
For example, if one perhaps looked to the past--say 31 years ago this exact day--they would NOT hear about 6 Palestinian non-violent protesters were killed by the Israeli's after protesting the on-going theft of their land. And people would not be commemorating this day as Land Day in rememberance of these 6 fallen "Palestinians" and the decades of illegal expropriation.
How ignorant it is to say the Palestinians in East Jerusalem are facing a 'plight' because the state of Israel requires people to lease the land to be citizens. Wait a minute, so let me get this straight. Palestinians in East Jerusalem were never extended 'equal' rights with an Israeli citizenship, but the country none-the-less annexed the land they live on, and permits citizens to purchase/lease land on this annexed territory.
...So, when a resident of East Jerusalem is evicted from their home--let's say it occurs in a made up neighborhood called Sheikh Jarrah--are they still allowed to purchase or lease land in Jerusalem after being rendered home-less by the Great Jewish State?
The Israeli State leaves, they get their own administrative authority and that's it. See how simple it is when you don't try and steal?
The Palestinians recognized Israel decades ago, what Israel haven't recognized is that they are supposed to exist within boundaries so others can do the same.
What you fail to understand is that the reason the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem do not become citizens of Israel is that they do not consider themselves to be Israelis. They consider themselves to be PALESTINIANS.
This doesn't mean that they refuse to RECOGNIZE Israel-- that is something a government does. I don't have diplomatic relations with the UK-- because I am not a government. i am a citizen of the US -- which DOES have diplomatic relations.
Now the PA DOES recognize Israel (as did the PLO before it way back in 1988!) Hamas is another matter (a problem which Israel helped to create, by the way.)
What the Palestinians want is a state of their own along the Green Line -- the 1949 cease-fire line. This would include the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
In my opinion, the only deviation I would make would be the Old City (the Walled City) -- which is actually a tiny part of East Jerusalem. (You can walk across it in about 5 minutes).
Because of its sensitivity, I would propose JOINT sovereignty -- and joint government by Israel and Palestine. Residents could choose which nation they wished to be a citizen of -- Israel, or Palestine.
Neither of these makes any sense.
If all Palestinians apply for and receive Israeli citizenship they together with the peaceful Israelis vote the old reactionary Generals out.
Israeli law on foreign ownership of land is no different than that of many countries. Thailand prohibits direct foreign ownership of land. Poland has restricted areas where foreign ownership is illegal, as does Mexico. Switzerland has many restrictions on foreign ownership of land, etc..
On the other hand, under palestnian law, land sales to "Jews" are prohibited. In fact, palestinian law stipulates the death penalty for any arab who sells land to a "Jew". If a palestinian sells a home to a "Jew" in east Jerusalem, they can be executed.
PA COURT: DEATH TO MAN WHO SOLD LAND TO JEWS
April 29, 2009
http://spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=5448
Also notable none of those discriminate on the basis of religion or race unlike Israel.