The 90`s

Even in 1993: 'If I forget thee O' Jerusalem'

Note: Written by Howard Barbanel, Published Week of July 7th - July 13th, 1993

Between pronouncements being promulgated by the Clinton Administration, the Rabin government and the Palestinian Arabs, one gets the impression that the Hold City is under siege and that the City of Gold needs a savior right quick.

Here are some of the recent pearls from the Clinton State Department: "There arose a Pharaoh who still knows Bush" - there is no difference between the Clinton team and the Bush people over the Jerusalem issue.  From the latest $2 billion installment in the $10 billion loan guarantee program the Clinton folks sent a questionnaire to Jerusalem asking precise details on where the money will be spent and where Israel is spending in the territories in general.  The U.S. says it will hold up additional guarantees until it is satisfied that the money isn't being spent in the "occupied territories...including East Jerusalem." The Clinton Administration has made it clear to the Israelis that it views East Jerusalem as occupied territory, the same position taken by former President Bush.  This Bush position garnered the ire of most American Jews during the election. Additionally, as a candidate, Bill Clinton advocated recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's captial. Recent statements from Washington would indicate a reversal in practice from what was campaign promise, but, hey, Bill has been doing that a lot lately.

Meanwhile it looks as though Labor just can't stop itself from giving away the store before there's even a customer in it.  Prime Minister Rabin, in an interview given to the Palestinian Arab newspaper, Al-Kuds, said that "he had no objection to Palestinians in East Jerusalem voting in  elections for a Palestinian Governing Council, but they could not be a candidate for election." Yo, Yitzhak, what if their "legal address" is in Bethlehem and they only have a "second home" in Jerusalem? How would this be policed? How can Jerusalem Arabs vote for a Palestinian authority and still be under Israeli jurisdiction.  A vote of this kind would certainly bolster claims by the Arabs for a bi-capital arrangement or partition of the city.

This "Vaticanization" of Jerusalem (Vatican Cit vis-à-vis Rome) is all ready being supported by many foreign countries who hold separate receptions and meetings for Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, who sometimes have separate consulates there for each community and the like.

The Israeli government tolerates the existence of an "official Palestine National Headquarters" building in the Arab part of town where Feissal Husseini (a relative of the beloved Grand Mufti) has his digs.  The H.Q. is guarded by "Palestinian Security" people. Foreign journalists and diplomats regularly make pilgrimages there. This exists just some miles from the Knesset and Kotel. 

Meanwhile, Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek continues to advocate a policy of "separate by equal" for Jews and Arabs - believing in obstructing Jews from buying property or living in non-Jewish neighborhoods.  In making a case for his re-election this November, Kollek in a New York Times interview a couple of weeks ago stressed the need for "reasonableness and flexibility" regarding Jerusalem's governance in light of possible progress by the Labor government in the peace process.  How can Labor make any concessions in the Holy City if a Likudnik like Ehud Olmert became mayor?

Olmert, the Likud candidate, in contrast said that "it's inconceivable that Jews would be unable to live anywhere they want in their own country and in their captial."  Olmert also cautions about potential Labor concessions to the Arabs in Jerusalem and stresses that it "is important that Jerusalem's next mayor be someone who will speak out for Jerusalem from Jerusalem concerning the city's unity under Israeli sovereignty."

Here's some of what our Arab friends are saying about Jerusalem just in the past couple of weeks: Our best and most-trusted pal Yassir "some of my best friends are Jews' Arafat prophecized that "Jerusalem will be the capital of an independent Palestinian State." He made this prediction while rubbing shoulders with the "moderate" King Hudsein of Jordan.  While meeting with reporters and editors or American Jewish newspapers a week later, he was not any more flexible on the issue.

Feissal Husseini (remember him?) is, however, more flexible.  Kol Yisrael radio quotes Husseini (the head Palestinian delegate to the peace talks in Washington) as having said on June 17 that "Jerusalem should be an open city with two capitals, one Israeli and one Palestinian."

To back-up their position, the Palestinian Arabs are planning an international business conference in East Jerusalem in July to raise $10 billion.  Eight hundred and fifty rich Palestinians from all over the world have been invited. Al Kuds reports that the conference is being sponsored by the PLO and "large Western Europe concerns and will focus on concrete plans for investment..."

In spite of this, Jerusalem is gearing-up for the 1996 celebration of the 3,000 year anniversary of the city becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Israel.  The "Trimillenium", as it's being dubbed, will feature King David prominently. The Trimellenium organizers say that "Jerusalem is the tangible historical testimony of the Jewish religion and its heritage on one hand, and independence and sovereignty of the Jewish people on the other.  This identification as both spiritual and national symbol...and its eternal tie between the city and the Jewish people...has parallel in the history of nations." Amen, brother.